The at-capacity Wellington International showgrounds used by the Winter Equestrian Festival would add 84 acres to offer breathing room for hunters, jumpers and dressage on one contiguous layout under a multi-faceted proposal.
While the showgrounds expansion would be good news for those competing at WEF, where space is at a premium, it’s part of a much larger plan involving 600 acres in “The Winter Equestrian Capital of the World.”
The overall concept, called The Wellington, is being spearheaded by Mark Bellissimo in collaboration with the NEXUS Luxury Collection. It must be considered by the village of Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee, which has scheduled a hearing June 7 and 8; then the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board and eventually, the Village Council, before any portions of it can be implemented.
A look at the plans for “The Wellington.”
The concept features “resort living,” including a club community involving the Cypress Golf Course, which would have a new clubhouse, a variety of sports facilities, housing that ranges from quarter-acre sites to 5-acre farms, and a town center with a hotel and other amenities.
Some in Wellington expressed apprehension about a previous development plan presented by Bellissimo to Preserve and Zoning panel members. As well as worrying about the environmental impact, those opposing the concept were concerned it would change the equestrian ambience of Wellington and threaten portions of the land meant to be kept for activities involving horses.
This new strategy was devised “in response to feedback by various constituencies” involving the first plan, according to Bellissimo.
He has faced down opposition before. In 2007, as head of Wellington Equestrian Partners, he was finally able to get consensus on transforming the old Stadium Jumping Inc. showgrounds into the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. That became Wellington International in 2022 after the property’s purchase by the Global Equestrian Group (GEG).
Wellington International is the site of many major competitions, including the show jumping Nations Cup. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Show jumpers and the hunters now compete at the main showgrounds, while the Adequan Global Dressage Festival is based at the Equestrian Village, a short canter away down Pierson Road. That property also has a derby field used by hunters and jumpers. That acreage and some adjacent land would go for housing and other development under the proposal. It would involve removing approximately 96 acres from the Equestrian Preserve Area and the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District. There also would be development on a polo field at South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth.
While plans are in place for the dressage to continue at its current site in 2024, if approval is given for the new application, dressage eventually would share the current Wellington International facility with the hunters. Jumpers would move to the bordering land where clearing already was under way last winter. That area would have 12 arenas, with a stadium planned for the site as well, though that might not come to fruition until 2026. Land close to the showgrounds is valued at possibly $1 million/acre.
A view into the area that is being cleared for an annex to the Wellington International showgrounds.
Before any purchase to add to the showgrounds, zoning on the 84 acres, most of which is owned by Bellissimo, would have to be changed from residential to commercial equestrian before GEG would buy it. That change likely wouldn’t be a high hurdle, considering Village support for the shows. It would also ease the headache of traffic congestion at Pierson and South Shore, since the facility could be accessible by new entrances and exits that would enable showgoers to avoid Pierson, according to Wellington International President Michael Stone.
NEXUS was founded by billionaire Joe Lewis, a British citizen who has a residence in Orlando, Fla., and his Tavistock group. Tavistock presents a celebrity image, with golfers Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in its mix, along with singer/songwriter/actor Justin Timberlake.
As expected, right after the proposal was announced, opposition began revving up.
Suzanne Porter, president of the Mallet Hill Homeowners Association, contends Bellissimo, “is creating a bedroom community for West Palm Beach. This is no longer about horses.”
Porter, who met with Bellissimo to discuss the project, said West Palm Beach is growing as an office and commercial hub that lacks sufficient housing.
“Where it becomes a horse discussion, or where it intersects, it is using previously dedicated horse space to do this for these people.”
She believes there is no chance all the new housing would be bought by horse people.
“That demand doesn’t exist,” she commented.
“If he’s sucessful and if he sells them (the residences), it will be for people who are getting in their cars and driving down Southern Boulevard to go to work. The Village has to make a real decision about whether that’s what they want their village to become, and do they want that to happen so close to the equestrian venues.”
She added, it’s also about whether they want to give acreage from their equestrian venues to let that happen.
Porter did note that the expansion for the showgrounds is “the right thing for the horse show to do”.
Those on social media in opposition to more development are airing many of the same concerns expressed about the initial development proposal.
As trainer/rider Jimmy Torano put it on his Facebook page, “We need to keep this a horse community, not more housing and condos. There’s a place for that. Just not right here.”