Wetlands Permit For Kohler Co. Golf Course Triggers Debate

A proposed wetlands permit for a golf course that Kohler Co. officials want to build along Lake Michigan in Sheboygan drew mostly opposition at a public hearing Thursday night.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has tentatively approved Kohler’s plans to fill wetlands on the property the firm owns just north of Kohler-Andrae State Park, and a wetland inside the park.

Golf course opponent Jayne Zabrowski, of the Friends of the Black River Forest, told the hearing that the wetlands are extremely valuable.

“These ridge and swale wetlands are globally rare. This makes these wetlands very vulnerable to extinction. The wetland mitigation plan cannot possibly replace the damage this project will do to a globally rare wetland community, ” Zabrowski said.

Other golf course critics said the DNR’s revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement is inadequate.

Sheboygan Mayor Mike Vandersteen and state golf leaders spoke in favor of the Kohler proposal. Rob Jansen, of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, said it won’t be an ordinary course.

“The company’s plan is to create a public course that captures and enhances the natural beauty of this unique property, and to make it one of the top 50 golf courses in the world. That is the type of project that will continue to establish Wisconsin as a premier golf destination in the world and produce numerous benefits for the community,” Jansen said.

DNR officials said they will attach conditions to the wetlands permit, but the agency says those restrictions are still being developed. The state is accepting written comments on the wetland permit application through Dec. 15.

The DNR said early next year, it will summarize and respond to comments as part of preparing the final Environmental Impact Statement, and final determination of the wetland permit. They said other DNR permits for storm water management, wastewater facilities and high-capacity wells will follow proscribed legal processes.