Plan commission approves Lakeland Resort golf-course reconfiguration with conditions on lighting and historic review

The Delavan Plan Commission voted to approve a planned infill development at 2400 East Geneva Street that reconfigures parts of the Lakeland Resort golf course, adds a walking-only nine-hole par-3, and creates an enhanced 18-hole putting area.

City staff presented the proposal as a step in a larger phased development. The plan calls for converting the existing regulation 18-hole course into a regulation nine-hole course, adding a new nine-hole par-3 walking course on the south side of the property, and replacing and repairing irrigation and paved cart paths to align with the new configuration. Staff said roughly 75 trees will be removed under the plan and the applicant proposes planting about 135 new trees across the property.

Planning staff recommended approval with conditions including limits on amplified music and decorative lighting, and a requirement that the applicant provide a letter from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) confirming no further documentation is required before disturbing any burial sites. Jackie, representing planning staff, noted the applicant had supplied additional detail about tree removal and lighting and said the proposed fixtures will be full-cutoff in compliance with the city’s dark-sky rules.

Commission debate focused on the project’s impacts in a mapped primary environmental corridor and how that policy relates to the city’s comprehensive plan. One commissioner said the comprehensive plan directs protection of environmental corridors and asked why the staff report did not analyze whether the proposed construction and disturbance would conflict with that policy. Jackie responded that the zoning ordinance allows selected cutting in environmental corridors and that staff reviewed the proposal under the allowances of the zoning code; she also said SEWRPC typically advises site-level natural-resources evaluations and that staff relies on natural-resources information submitted by applicants.

Applicant Dave Siqueiros told the commission most of the trees identified for removal were dead or dying and that an arborist would identify trees beyond saving; he said prior archaeological digs in the development area had not found substantive remains and that he expects to provide the SHPO letter. On noise and hours, Siqueiros described the amplified sound as subdued background music intended to enhance the guest experience rather than loud entertainment, and asked that the commission allow operations up to midnight on some nights to accommodate special events and summer daylight hours.

At the motion to approve, members amended staff’s recommended hours to require that all exterior lighting and amplified sound be extinguished by 11:59 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The approval is subject to the conditions listed in the staff report, the added nightly hour limitation, and receipt of the SHPO letter stating the site may be disturbed.

The commission also received confirmations that the fire department reviewed the layout and found emergency access acceptable and that the applicant will provide additional documentation on tree replacement and natural-resources impacts. The file will proceed to subsequent steps required by the city’s development process.