The following represents a report of the most recent Wellington Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board meeting as provided by an Equestrian Forum Qualified Advisory Member.
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" The statements and actions of the two " Equestrian " members of the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board ( PZAB ) at their December 5th 2012 meeting were disturbing.
The fact that Carol Coleman and Marcia Radosovich were appointed to this important board is troublesome. Both have vehemently opposed all improvements proposed and made at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Unfortunately the PZAB grants them an official platform from which to launch their attacks.
The subject at the December 5th meeting was a variance request by Wellington Equestrian Partners to allow six ( 6 ) riding rings that did not meet the new 100 foot setback from property lines required for rings in Commercial Equestrian Arenas. . All but two ( 2 ) of the rings have existed for nearly two decades and all were permitted and constructed before adoption of the minimum setback.
The trigger for the variance request was when PBIEC received an approval as a Commercial Equestrian Arena. This designation requires 100 foot setbacks of all rings from property lines. In recognition of the several rings that would become legal, non-conforming rings, the Village's approval required the property owner to apply for a variance for those existing rings.
From the outset both Radosovich and Coleman were on a fishing expedition to try and find fault with the application and reasons to deny it. In her opening remarks Radosovich referred to the rings as being in " violation " of the code. It was pointed out to her that they were legal, non-conforming uses that had been approved and permitted when the regulations were different. Nevertheless, she continued to use the term " violation " throughout the meeting.
Radosovich attempted to connect the ring setback variances with the litigation associated with Equestrian Club Road. In doing so she expressed concerns about safety and made an allegation that she had seen, on several occasions, ponies jump from rings and jump back into the rings. No one else had witnessed such. Further, Michael Stone testified that the height of the three rail fence and the landscaping hedge and trees would make such a feat remarkable.
It was very apparent that Coleman and Radosivich did not understand the purpose or the law regarding variances yet they disagreed vehemently with zoning and legal staff throughout the hearing.
In her attempts to raise opposition to the variance, Coleman stated that rings 11 and 12 would "block access by the WMD (South Florida Water Management District)". It was pointed out to Ms. Coleman that the nearest WMD facility or jurisdiction was a few miles away to which she had no response.
At one point Carol Coleman also stated that the rings were actually used for parking about 90 % of the time. She was advised that in fact the rings are used for parking once or twice a week for night events such as the Saturday evening Grand Prix and special events such as the Great Charity Challenge.
The PZAB eventually approved the variance on a 4-2 vote (Carol Coleman and Marcia Radosovich opposed).
There are three serious issues at hand. First is that the PZAB has two " Equestrians " who obviously have no credibility with their fellow board members. They made many false allegations and unsubstantiated accusations throughout the hearing. One Board member even said he placed more value on the opinions of others in the equestrian community.
Coleman and Radosovich have made it abundantly clear they are political appointees who will oppose any applications associated with PBIEC and the Equestrian Village venues. They vigorously opposed these venues before their appointments and they do so now in an official capacity.
Making their appointments especially egregious is that the items heard by PZAB are almost all quasi-judicial cases. In these cases the PZAB sits as a panel of judges who are not to have formed opinions on matters or even had third party discussions where substantive matters were discussed. Coleman was asked to recuse herself at the beginning of the meeting by WEP's attorney but she refused saying she could be impartial.
Second, many statements made by Radosovich and Coleman are foolish and agenda driven. If, however, they are backed up by a half-million dollar PR campaign that portrays them as "experts" and "Village Officials", they might sound convincing to people unaware of equestrian matters. Should WEP ever submit a new application for the Equestrian Village project, they are the types of pawns that would be used in the well-funded campaign that is anticipated to oppose whatever is being proposed. This in turn would provide cover for the Village Council majority that has been anti-equestrian.
And finally, Marcia Radosovich (who was supported by Carol Coleman) several times suggested that for safety sake all rings should have setbacks from roads. If this were to occur there would be many private rings in the Equestrian Preserve that would, in Radosovich's words, be in violation of the code. "
The link to view the video archive of the 12/05/2012 PZAB meeting is as follows:
www.ci.wellington.fl.us/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=574&Itemid=629
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