Judge Approved the Global Dressage Complex Permit

Wellington Equestrian Partners continues to be successful in the lawsuits over the Equestrian Village project. Last week there was a ruling in favor of WEP in a lawsuit filed by the Jacobs. In their lawsuit the Jacobs were trying to have the courts overturn the Water Management District permitting of the project and require that the entire venue be torn down (covered arena, barns, dressage arena and derby field). The courts ruled that the WMD approvals of the project were issued properly. 

An appeals court had previously ruled in favor of WEP on another Jacobs lawsuit.  In that action the Jacobs contested the original approvals issued by the Village of Wellington for the project. The courts, however, have yet to rule on the litigation in which WEP is seeking to overturn the Village's revocation of approvals for Equestrian Village. Success by WEP in this action will re-establish their ability to use the facility year-round as originally granted by the Village. The Forum might be calling on the equestrian community to attend a Village council meeting to express support for allowing the use of Equestrian Village year-round and in accordance with the original approval.  

PRESS RELEASE

Judge Approves the Global Dressage Complex Permit Wellington, FL - April 28, 2013 - On April 26, 2013, Administrative Law Judge Gary Early issued an Order finding, among other things, that the Global Dressage Complex ("GDC") has met, and in some cases, exceeded applicable South Florida Water Management District ("SFWMD") permitting regulations. Judge Early found that the evidence presented at Trial demonstrated that the GDC project proposal provided reasonable assurances that all applicable SFWMD stormwater management, water quality, and Best Management Practices ("BMP") standards were met. Charles and Kimberly Jacobs (the "Jacobs") filed a legal challenge to the issuance of the GDC Permit. The Jacobs claimed that the GDC facilities were inadequate to accommodate the number of horses expected to use the facilities. Judge Early ruled that the Jacobs "...provided no basis for the supposition other than speculation." The Judge found that the GDC's horse-washing facilities were more than adequate. Moreover, the Judge concluded that the GDC's BMP Plan was "...more advanced than the minimum requirements of the Village of Wellington, and more stringent than BMPs approved for other equestrian facilities in Wellington." "This ruling is a huge step forward in ensuring that the Global Dressage Complex is a worldwide, premier equestrian event venue," stated Mark Bellissimo. "The Global Dressage Complex events bring thousands of visitors and event participants to the Village of Wellington each year and create significant benefits for the Village and the Palm Beach County economy." CONTACT: John Fumero, Esquire: 561-315-4595 Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.