CALEDONIA, WI — Members of the Caledonia Plan Commission on Monday, April 29, will vote on whether to rezone the acres comprising the former South Hills Country Club to make way for a manufacturing/warehouse development.
Currently, approximately 221 acres are designed as parkland. If approved, the area would be designed for heavy manufacturing.
South Hills Country Club was almost 100 years old
Village President Tom Weatherston is also a member of the plan commission, and he told Racine County Eye this is the first serious interest the village has had about the property.
“We’ve had whispers here and there, but this is the first time a real plan has been put before the village,” he said.
The golf course officially closed on Sept. 30, 2023, and items such as ball washers golf carts, mowers – even a mural – were auctioned by Hansen Auction Group, a story from Wisconsin.Golf reads.
South Hills opened in 1927 on land that originally belonged to Captain Parker who built a house and ran a homestead. His home became part of the country club building, the tory from Wisconsin.Golf continues.
Neighbors worried about development plans
Ashley Capital’s plan (see attached) includes nine buildings ranging from 250,000 to more than 550,000 square feet.
Three of the nine are smaller, at between 250,000 and 300,000 square feet, and face Golf Road. Two of the larger buildings are accessible from the East Frontage Road.
Neighbors of South Hills are worried about the development, primarily because Buildings 1 and 2 will front Golf Road, directly across the street from a residential neighborhood.
Jessica Pliska Ciesielski lives on Bell Road and said she and her husband brought their four-acre property about 10 years ago. Ciesielski remembers being told that subdivisions were planned for the west side of the village, but with rare exception, the only development she’s seen is the construction of large warehouses.
“We chose the west side of the village after doing our research about what was planned,” she said. “I know things can change, and I get that, but I really wonder if this is the first thing we want people to see of our village.”
Ciesielski said looking at the plan, there is little to no buffer between the commercial development and surrounding homes.
“I just think more consideration needs to be given to this plan,” she added. “The homeowners were here first, and the village needs to think about what this commercial development might do to their property values.”
Dream development would support more residential
Ciesielski also voiced concern about how the village is courting prospective developers given the lack of amenities on the west side of the village.
“I drive to Franklin, Oak Creek, and Milwaukee for most everything,” she noted. “I would like us to find more resident-friendly businesses for this area.”
The Caledonia Plan Commission meets at 6 p.m. at Caledonia Village Hall, 5043 Chester Lane.
They should keep it a golf course or a park. Already too many manufacturing and warehouses along 94!
there are several business parks that have space in the area. keep it a park, or the community friendly businesses was a decent idea. a grocery store there would be sweet.