From: Friends Black River Forest To: DNR Kohler Proposal Subject: Public comments on proposed Kohler golf course Date: Thursday, August 25, 2016 4:35:09 PM Attachments: Comments AGAINST Kohler Project.pdf Signatures AGAINST Kohler Project.pdf 308 Friends of The Black River Forest Recipient: Natural Resources Board, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Letter: Greetings, We are asking the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to DENY the Kohler Company's request for an easement across heavily used public recreational lands which are part of the Kohler-Andrae State Park. We ask the DNR to DENY the Kohler Company's request to build a private maintenance shed on over 12 acres of public land. The DNR must tell the Kohler Company they can NOT destroy wetlands, bulldoze rare dunes along the Lake Michigan shoreline, clear cut over 125 acres of forest and use public lands for a private, for-profit, Golf course. The DNR must NOT set a precedent of stealing land from Wisconsin residents and giving to the highest bidder. We are requesting the Wisconsin DNR to PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVE WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC LANDS. 309 Comments Name Location Date Comment Debra Desmoulin Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 In France, everyone has access to nature. We walk the miles and miles of forest there every year. Here we have to beg to keep the tiniest parcel of pristine paradise. Everything has to be developed and generate profits here. But then we ask why our children have no zest for life. They are deprived from what makes life worth living. The artificial world means nothing to them. The natural world is priceless. The Kohlers can't find happiness in their golf greens or green bills. They need to BE GREEN not GREED !!! lisa lehmann sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 It would be insane to destroy this woods/wetlands/lakefront. It's the worst possible place for a golf course. Jayne Zabrowski Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 The Wisconsin DNR must not allow a precedent to be set in allowing an easement to a privately owned golf course and a maintenance building to be built on over 12 acres of State owned lands which are for public use and a part of a Wisconsin State Park. The easement would go across a navigable stream and sensitive wetland areas. This land has been a part of the Wisconsin State Park system since 1965. The Kohler Company gifted this land with Protective Clauses to: 1. Preserve the natural beauty of an unique area along the westerly shore of Lake Michigan. 2. Provide the people of the State of Wisconsin with an interesting and naturally beautiful recreational area. 3. Recognize the contributions to the conservation of Wisconsin's natural resources made by John Michael Kohler and his family. By accepting this gift, the State of Wisconsin agreed the property would become a part of the State Park and used for public recreational purposes. I continue to recognize the contributions to the conservation of Wisconsin's natural resources made by John Michael Kohler and his family. I ask that the Wisconsin DNR does the same. R James Tobin Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 I regularly this portion of the park as do many others. If there must be a golf course and an access road to it, it needs to be to the south of a well-used path (incidentally near a frog pond); but the proposed course is not in a good location, because of the proximity to an impaired river, impaired water quality in Lake Michigan, and it would destroy a significant corridor for wildlife, among other undesirable factors. Judith Guevara Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 This is pristine forest, has natural wetland, dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline for everyone to enjoy. I'm concerned about the negative impact the golf course will have on the above as well as the residential water supply, tranquility and affordable recreation for everyone from this area. Leslie Kohler Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 It will significantly and negitively impact the quality of life that we enjoy in Black River. We live in Black River to enjoy the trees and nature generally and we do not want that kind of traffic. Kathleen Turner Green Bay, WI 2014-07-01 Do you understand that definition of the word "public?" Marsha Kerpe sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 The woods are so beautiful and pristine and to cut them down for one more unnecessary golf course for Kohler is just criminal. I also strongly object to Kohler being allowed not only an access through wetlands and state park land, but area to build an equipment shed to hold golf cart. He plans on taking 12 acres of state park land away from the people of Wisconsin for his ego-building golf course. 310 Name Location Date Comment Jane kettler Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 This is public land and should remain public land for use by the public. Private enterprise should use private land. Public land should not be hijacked for the convenience of a very small percentage of people, most from outside the area, many from outside the state. Motorized vehicles are not currently allowed on the parcel and should not be allowed - motor vechicle use is contrary to the intent of this sort of park and wildlife space, and severely interferes with the experience this sort of park is supposed to offer the user. If this easement is allowed, where does WDNR draw the line next and for whom? Jeanette Walling Edgerton, WI 2014-07-01 The land in question should be considered a National Treasure! We have enough golf courses and I believe the Kohler Company/Family has enough money! Gary Storck Madison, WI 2014-07-01 Wisconsin parks are for everyone! Protect this park. There are more than sufficient golf facilities already. This park is a gem I enjoyed as a child! Wendy Friedrich Brookfield, WI 2014-07-01 It is unacceptable for the DNR to even consider this. Public lands should remain PUBLIC! They are not there to enhance private business! Freda Johnson Tucson, AZ 2014-07-01 The State Land in question is heavily used by walkers, runners, birders, equestrians, and cyclists. The Kohler request will devastate the area and its beautiful woods, fields and wetlands. Michael Mertes Washburn, WI 2014-07-01 Wisconsin State Parks are not for sale! julie barbe sheboygan, WI 2014-07-01 enough already. mr. kohler, jr., has enough land tied up in golf courses in sheboygan county. this newest escapade is nothing short of bragging rights and greed. it is reprehensible and poor ecological stewardship to grant permission to tear up pristine forest, wetlands and lakefront for yet another golf course which is usable only about 40% of the year by an elitist economic class to line the pockets of a few. Brian Gumm Silver Spring, MD 2014-07-01 Growing up in Sheboygan County in the 1980s and 1990s, I saw a lot of land despoiled and bulldozed over in the name of "progress." The Black River Forest is one of the last ecosystems of its kind in east-central Wisconsin. It should stay intact: no golf courses, no houses, no retail, no other development. Paul Ingraham East Lansing, MI 2014-07-02 Everybody can enjoy this beautiful property where only a few the golf course. This is a another case where the wealthy gets what they want over what the people want! Mary Jambois La Crosse, WI 2014-07-02 Preserving Wisconsin's Public Lands Catherine Lucchesi Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-02 I hate to see this pristine area destroyed. More importantly, it is totally WRONG to give public park property to a private entity. That would be setting a very bad precedent for the future of WI. Janet Payne Plymouth, WI 2014-07-02 I use the State Parks in Wisconsin all the time.....we visit Kohlsr Andrae many times throughout the year and would hate to see such a beautiful park altered in any way. Please deny the request from Kohler Co. We need to save what is left of our state parks, not destroy them. Heather Bott Whitefish Bay, WI 2014-07-02 This is important to me because I care about Lake Michigan watwer quality. Wisconsin's water quality has been allowed to degrade in recent years. We need to act to protect one of this country's most important sources of fresh water. Rebecca Eyer Oshkosh, WI 2014-07-02 I lived in this neighborhood and loved the area for hiking. This is a wonderful habitat for plants and animals. That will be destroyed. Michael Cordier Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-02 State land should not be sold to the highest bidder! The people's parks are for everyone to enjoy! 311 Name Location Date Comment Wendy Honold Sheboygan, WI 2014-07-02 We don't need any of this negative impact, especially when the Riverdale Golf Course is just 2 miles away from this new proposed site. Please stop the destruction of our environment. Jeffrey Erbs Chippewa Falls, WI 2014-07-02 State parks should not be the gateway to an ecological disaster such as a golf course. Anne AbholdFalk Ripon, WI 2014-07-02 This is wrong, I am totally against this. Big money shouldnt rule the DNR. Keep the land for the general public not just golfers. James Cila Milwaukee, WI 2014-07-02 I use to live in Sheboygan and I have been to that state park many times. I would never want to see it clear cut for something as lame as a golf course for the rich people to laugh and throw money around.