A Letter Of Support For GDF

TO:  Wellington Village Council

My name is Bob Bushey and I live at 2874 Polo Island Dr., just across from the new Equestrian Village.  Having lived through one season of Dressage activities, my wife and I are all in favor of it continuing.  We never noticed any smell, noise, or dust coming from those activities and we loved watching the horses perform. We bought on this street in 1991 so that we could enjoy the horse sports and were very disappointed to see the Polo Stadium destroyed.  We are now anxious to see the Equestrian Village completed and in full operation.

In my opinion a Dressage Event is about as much of a NON Event as you can have.  Several of my neighbors, whose property directly abuts the show grounds, never even knew a show was going on until I mentioned it to them.  We not only watched it from our street, but we attended on the show grounds. Needless to say we enjoyed it immensely without any complaints or problems.

The only problem I noted was the dangerous situation caused by the closing of the Pierson Road entrance. I witnessed horses actually being ridden down the sidewalk on Southshore to go in the other entrance. This was very frightening and I cant believe that the Village let one family dictate this restriction.  The Pierson Road entrance needs to be open and there needs to be a horse crosswalk from the trail on the South side. 

I've seen a lot of traffic studies floating around.  Did anyone ever think to do an actual study while a show was going on???  I was in and out of the area all of the time and the traffic impact was minimal at best.

My only hope is that the entire Council did their due diligence and attended at least one of the Dressage events.  If you did, I'm sure you will know what I mean by a non event. The exhibitors perform one at a time, there are no big crowds, and it's just slow moving and easy going. So what is the problem??  Or is there a problem other than one family wanting to control traffic in front of their palatial estate?? 

The Equestrian Village will return lots of money to the Village coffers and give it much prestige throughout the Equestrian World.  Will the Jacob's family do that for the Village?? What happens to this parcel if this project isn't approved?  Does it sit barren again? What a waste.

Stop the lawsuits that are sucking up our tax dollars! Do the right thing and approve the Equestrian Village for the good of all of the Wellington residents.

Robert M. Bushey

Lt. Col. USAF retired 

Critical Meeting Of The Wellington Council

OCTOBER 22, 2013, 7:00

WELLINGTON VILLAGE HALL

12300 FOREST HILL BLVD

You are urged to attend this meeting at which decisions will be made on:

1. The Equestrian Village project. 

The Council will be voting on whether or not the existing equestrian venue (dressage and derby) will be granted a permanent approval for year-round use. This venue is entering its third year of operation with no problems. The council revoked its approvals in 2012 and litigation ensued. An approval of the project without unreasonable conditions will settle the litigation.  If approvals are granted, then the venue will be made available to charities 30 days annually. 

2. World Equestrian Games. 

The Council will decide if they will support the efforts of Equestrian Sport Productions to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) sanctioned by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. WEG would bring an estimated $250 million into the local economy.  Attached is information about WEG.

The public will be allowed to speak at the meeting as well as submit comment cards that are read aloud. 

The past 18 months have seen a lot of animosity and divisiveness in the Village. There are signs from many involved that conciliation is possible through these two issues. 

You are encouraged to attend the meeting and express your support for these two items and for all parties to work together for the benefit of Wellington.

If you are out of town and cannot attend the meeting you can e-mail the Mayor and Council Members at:

Bob Margolis: Rmargolis@wellingtonfl.gov

Cc:                   Rachelc@wellingtonfl.gov

                        Kadler@wellingtonfl.gov

The agenda is available to view at:

 www.wellingtonfl.gov/government/agendas.html

Letter From an Resident Equestrian Trainer

Dear Mayor and Members of the Council:

I have come to understand that there are grave public concerns over horse trailer traffic in Wellington, and its detrimental effects on the quality of life of Wellington citizens.  As the Council prepares to vote on a proposed restriction of these menacing vehicles from use of the Pierson Road entrance to the Global Dressage Festival grounds, I would like to suggest a longer-term and more forward-thinking approach to this public hazard.

First, horse trailer traffic should be banned from Pierson Road east of South Shore entirely.  This is apparently the greatest immediate public danger.  To prevent horse trailer traffic from impeding the public roadway between South Shore and 120th Street, I propose that the Council not only deny approval to the Global Dressage grounds' use of Pierson Road, but also revoke access to Palm Beach Equine Clinic and Sports Complex, the International Polo Club, and the few private farms and properties that may from time to time attempt to use the roadway for horse trailer traffic.  This way Pierson Road would remain the pristine passenger-car-only thoroughfare that it is now, and the action would be in keeping with the Council's considerations of the Global Dressage Festival's attempts to overrun the street with thousands of trucks and trailers.  

Second, restricting all horse trailer use of Pierson Road would create an effective damper on overcrowding at the Global Dressage Festival.  Once competitors discover the hassle of driving their horse trailers across the show grounds, making an unwieldy S-curve through spectator traffic, and exiting onto South Shore in only the north direction, requiring a 1.7-mile trek through neighborhoods in order to go south toward many of the dressage farms, I think that many will opt to compete elsewhere.  This is beneficial because too many entries at the dressage shows will obviously cause a public nuisance and might one day even draw spectators.  In fact, it has been reported that non-horse-owning members of the Wellington community have actually come to the show grounds to observe the Dressage horses.  This sort of activity is unprecedented and should be quashed before throngs of spectators arrive and endanger the quiet, private equestrian lifestyle that Wellington was meant to foster.  It has also been observed that spectators may sometimes even trample portions of the green grassy areas that we Wellingtonians cherish.

Third, the Council should consider banning horse trailer traffic from the Global Dressage Festival grounds altogether.  Competitors may park in the empty lot at the southwest corner of South Shore and Greenview Shores, and walk their horses and equipment the short distance to the show grounds.  This would prevent the inevitable traffic snarls that would otherwise plague Pierson Road near South Shore and interfere with the highly important passenger vehicles that rely on that stretch of roadway for an open shot to South Shore for any urgent needs that may arise at any time.  Parking all the horse trailers at Greenview Shores and South Shore would only affect the less-important passenger vehicles that travel in those areas, similar to the plan to send all exiting horse trailers around those neighborhoods in order to go south on South Shore.  Frankly, it is not so much more inconvenient to require competitors to trek in on foot than to herd them all the way through the grounds anyway.

I hope that you will consider my proposal for a safer and saner Wellington, in keeping with this Council's previous actions, and looking forward to a quieter, more elite equestrian season.  I am confident that, on this trajectory, we can return Wellington to a quiet bedroom community that tolerates only those tasteful, wealthiest seasonal equestrians who know how to operate an appropriate show grounds.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Amy Bock

HighBar Farm, LLC

Tuesday, October 22nd 2013 Wellington Council Meeting

Yet another reason to attend the Wellington Council meeting on Tuesday night, 7:00 p.m., October 22nd 2013

Attached is a letter from the Jacobs attorney to the Village council. The Jacob family are demanding that horse trailers and other vehicles be prohibited from using Pierson Road as an entry/exit from the GDF Venue. 

This demand was enforced by the village council for this year's GDF and created hazards for horse trailer traffic and great inconvenience for our community. 

Let the council know that you do not want them to enforce the selfish and punitive demands of the Jacobs. 

Attend the Tuesday night Council meeting and speak or submit a comment card ! 

Wellington Chamber of Commerce Supports the Equestrian Community

October 17, 2013 Dear Chamber Member, Wellington needs your help. The Wellington Chamber needs your help. The Wellington economy needs your help. As many of you are aware, the major engine of Wellington's economy is the unique position Wellington plays in the national and international equestrian community.   Whether you work in Wellington or own a business in Wellington, we all benefit from the influx of equestrians and their checkbooks every year from November to April. In addition to the influx of seasonal visitors, many have now established second homes here, which have helped to raise everyone's real estate values. The impact of the equestrian community is beneficial to all - from A1 Moving and Storage, to Dunkin Donuts to Ultra Cleaners. When you hear the name Wimbledon, you think of tennis. When you hear Pebble Beach you think of the US Open Golf tournament. Major sporting events bring major economic benefit to their host communities. Worldwide, when you say Wellington, it is known for its equestrian season. Well, we need your help to keep this engine running. On this upcoming Tuesday night, the Village Council will vote on whether to approve the once already approved Equestrian Village and Equestrian Master Plan. This last year saw the new Council "unapprove" the Equestrian Village and Equestrian Master Plan which had been already approved and built. The result of this unprecedented action, over the last year, the Village has spent literally millions of dollars of Wellington tax payer money fighting a battle that never needed to be fought. This upcoming Tuesday evening at 7 pm, the Village Council will make its final determining vote. The Equestrian Village and Master Plan has already passed and been approved by the Equestrian Preservation Committee and the Planning Zoning and Adjustment Board. It is crucial that the Wellington residents be heard on this issue. As we hear from you, our members, there is overwhelming support for this to pass. Please contact the Council members to support this project and it would be very helpful for you to attend Tuesday nights Village Council meeting.   Thank you. Victor Connor President Wellington Chamber of Commerce

Important Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd 2013

On October 22, 2013 the Wellington Village Council will be considering two projects that will help the community in general and specifically non-profits. Wellington Equestrian Partners, which is responsible for the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, will have two items before the Council that will define the future of Equestrian Sport in Wellington. And it will also determine the availability of a world-class equestrian venue to local non-profits.

1. The Equestrian Village project. The Council will be voting on whether or not the existing equestrian venue (dressage and derby) will be allowed to remain. This venue is entering its third year of operation with no problems. But the council revoked its approvals in 2012 and litigation ensued that has cost the village $2,700 a day, on average, in legal expenditures.  An approval of the project will settle the litigation and the venue will be made available to non-profits at least 30 days annually. 

2. Supporting the efforts of Equestrian Sport Productions to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) sanctioned by the Fédération Equestre Internationale. WEG would bring an estimated $250 million into the local economy.  

The public will be allowed to speak at the meetings as well as submit comment cards that are read aloud. 

E-mails can be sent to Mayor Bob Margolis and Council members at:

Bob Margolis:    Rmargolis@wellingtonfl.gov

CC:                   Rachelc@wellingtonfl.gov.

The Council meeting agenda should be available to view by Thursday, October 17th 2013

at: www.wellingtonfl.gov/government/agendas.html

For additional information you can contact us at equestrian.forum@live.com 

Thank you on behalf of the Forum Board members.

New Forum Logo

The Equestrian Forum of Wellington Board is pleased to present its new logo.

It represents an effort to brand the Forum and to establish, for our members, a voice for Wellington's equestrian community.

We are grateful that our membersship grows daily. The great geographic and socio-economic diversity of our membership represents the fact that Wellington's equestrian industry is global in reach. The Forum will continue to support equestrian venus and events for Wellington's equestrian preserve. It is our goal to support the growth of equestrian sport so that economic and job opportunities are created and that property values in the Preserve are enhanced.

Equestrian.Forum@live.com