Working Toward Resolution – Equestrian Village Status
In 2011, Wellington received a series of applications to develop a dressage facility on the old Polo Stadium site at the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Pierson Road. The development proposed arenas, stables, rings and a hotel with retail and restaurants. By February of 2012 the hotel and commercial components had been removed and absent those elements, Council approved a Master Plan and Compatibility Determination after three consecutive days of deliberations. Specific conditions of both approvals required the developer to record the plat for the entire proposed development by March 31, 2012. Following this approval a number of interested parties filed lawsuits challenging the approvals. Compounding the situation even further, the developer failed to meet the schedules for recording of the required plat.
In May of 2012 the Village Council scheduled a status review of the proposed development. At that public hearing Council agreed to revoke the previously approved plan for failure to meet the conditions of approval. During a second status review in July 2012, Council revoked the Compatibility Determination. Subsequent to these decisions, additional lawsuits were filed by the developer.
While these lawsuits worked their way through the Courts, the Village Council entered into a stipulated agreement in 2012 to allow the planned dressage events to be held on the property. The Village has not initiated any litigation; we are monitoring the actions of interested parties and defending where necessary. Recent court rulings have upheld the Village’s actions. However, a number of lawsuits still remain pending.
On June 19, 2013, the developer and the Village entered into a settlement agreement which required the developer to apply for a land development permit under the pre-existing master plan approval. In addition, both a boundary plat and a seasonal special use permit were to be submitted. The permit would incorporate the existing permanent structures and provide the opportunity to approve the 2013-14 dressage season activities. During this process both sides agreed to stay their lawsuits while the various applications were processed.
Thus far, the boundary plat has been approved by Council and the seasonal special use permit has been approved. The developer has also submitted a proposed amendment to the existing Master Plan and a request for a Compatibility Determination. Consideration of both requests will be addressed in the context of the Village’s ordinances, land use regulations and comprehensive plan.
While the outcome of the settlement process cannot be predicted at this time, the developer and the Village continue to work in good faith toward finding an acceptable resolution.
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