Five Diamonds owners seek annexation to City of Waukesha
Town of Waukesha - Owners of Five Diamonds Inc., the Town of Waukesha youth baseball complex that has yet to find peace with its neighbors since opening this spring, are seeking annexation to the City of Waukesha.
Owners Tom Kelenic and Greg Beatty have been seeking Town Board approval to extend operating hours and lights since being issued a conditional use permit.
Neighbors and some Waukesha Town Board members say the owners haven't lived up to conditions they agreed to, with games, loudspeakers and lights lasting past the approved closing time.
The owners accuse neighbors of harassment, taking videos of children playing if games run long, and having to shut down games before they're over.
Attorney J. Steven Tikalsky, representing Five Diamonds, notified the town of the owners' petition for annexation by letter a week ago.
Last month, Town Zoning Administrator Roger Dupler reported to town officials, "Since the season opener, Five Diamonds has continually violated ordinance requirements and conditions of the conditional use permit."
He noted that compliance with their league regulations is in direct conflict with terms of their originally approved conditional use requirements.
The Plan Commission and Town Board had expected to act on extended hours for the complex this week, but Town Chairman Angie Van Scyoc wrote in an email that Five Diamonds owners asked that it be removed from the agenda.
Kelenic and Beatty developed the $2 million venture because of their own families' involvement with the Waukesha Blazers and the lack of suitable playing fields in the Waukesha area for both boys' and girls' baseball and softball.
The new complex, on Les Paul Parkway (Highway 59/164) and Milky Way Road, has plans for six lighted game fields, four practice and "rookie" fields, a winter practice facility and concession stand.
The annexation petition will be sent to the Waukesha Plan Commission after review by the state, city planner Doug Koehler said. Common Council approval would also be necessary.
Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima, who met with Five Diamonds owners after the town vote last month, said in an email he welcomes the annexation.
"Five Diamonds is a beautiful family-friendly sports center and will make an excellent addition to the City of Waukesha, which our children will enjoy for generations," he wrote.
Van Scyoc said the Five Diamonds owners were within their rights to seek annexation.
"The city routinely demonstrates that they value constituent concerns," Van Scyoc said. "We are confident the city will continue to balance for-profit enterprise wishes with the impact on quality of life issues if the Five Diamonds application for annexation is successful."
