Posted by Miranda Grossman / CBS12 News
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WELLINGTON, Fla. -- Wellington is the equestrian capital of the world. But lately, it's been more like World War III because of a major battle brewing between horse owners and the village of Wellington.
Jack Mancini is with the Equestrian Forum of Wellington. His group supports de-annexation, splitting from the village, for two reasons: Equestrian property owners pay taxes for municipal services they don't need, and what they say is meddling by the village government in the equestrian industry.
"We feel majority of village council has been detrimental to the equestrian industry," said Mancini.
Mark Bellissimo is the managing partner of the Wellington Equestrian Partners, and runs the Global Dressage Festival. He's ran afoul of Wellington Code Enforcement recently. But that's a small part of the bigger picture.
Bellissimo is behind the $80 million equestrian village project that was supposed to include retail space, a hotel and dressage facility located at South Shore and Pierson. But the project is in limbo as the he and the village engaged in a legal battle.
"What they're saying is 'nope, blank check, I'm gonna spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money.' Not present a settlement that will end all this controversy," said Bellissimo.
"The village of Wellington has the obligation to protect its interest," said Councilman Matt Willhite.
Willhite, along with councilman John Greene and Mayor Bob Margolis helped revoke approvals a previous council granted for the equestrian village project. It was a lightning rod during the last election, during which the trio got big support from the Jacobs family, which owns property abutting the festival site and a 300 acres estate a couple miles down Pierson Road.
"At this point none of the settlement offers have answered all the questions and requirements needed in it," said Willhite.
Mancini said while de-annexation is the goal, he knows it's a difficult process.
"It's not just something you just flip a switch and one day you switch over, it's a process," Mancini said.
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