The primary goal of the Alliance is to support and preserve the equestrian community of the Village of Wellington. The corporation will work hard to encourage and promote cooperation among the equestrian community by staying focused to the rural equestrian lifestyle that has made Wellington a success.
“We all have created a world class equestrian community here,” Lou Jacobs explained. “I think by working together we can continue to balance commercial development with a rural equestrian lifestyle.”
The corporation is comprised of volunteer directors with historical knowledge of the area and a full understanding of the needs of the equine community. Currently the directors include Jane Clark, Neil Hirsch and Michael Whitlow.
“I have been involved in the Wellington equestrian community for 15 years. While I feel there is room to grow, I feel we need smart growth to maintain the rural feeling of Wellington that distinguishes our village,” said Hirsch.
The members of the Alliance are maintaining the balance of the equestrian community within Wellington. There is a strong need for the residents to understand the importance of issues and plans that are being proposed. The volunteer members along with a professional consulting staff, including Executive Director Mat Forrest, will help bridge this gap and advocate on behalf of the equestrian community.
Forrest said the top priorities of the group will be to maintain the character of Wellington’s Equestrian lifestyle — a lifestyle that has for decades attracted investment and established a key economic base in Wellington. Among the Alliance’s immediate concerns are additional housing and roads, as well as opposing a proposed hotel & condominium complex that is being considered for the heart of the Equestrian Preserve by the Village and a controversial developer.
Forrest commented, “The Alliance is concerned that proposed development would infringe on the integrity of the Equestrian Preserve and would harm this economic engine for the community. Recently there have been plans for RV Parks and developments like City Place in the Equestrian Preserve. Projects like these would increase neighborhood traffic and crime in this rural area. They would definitely change the way of life for thousands of Wellington residents and fundamentally change the community’s character. We will be in the fight to protect Wellington’s equestrian community from overdevelopment and these shortsighted, get rich quick schemes that could forever change the Equestrian Preserve and the economic future of Wellington.”
The Village of Wellington and the Alliance will work hand-in-hand to ensure that proper support is given towards developments and events within the equestrian community that also conform to the applicable elements of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and Equestrian Overlay District. The Village already has a great structure and plan for smart regulation of development. The Alliance will help the community follow this plan.
“The Wellington Preserve has grown tremendously and will continue to evolve,” Clark remarked. “We are committed to ensuring that this beautiful area continues to develop in the appropriate direction.”
In 1997, an organization like this helped the Wellington equestrian community safely navigate several proposed developments. Now, 15 years later, as Wellington approaches another period of growth, the Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance is ready to once again act as the voice of smart growth. For more information concerning the Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance, please contact Mat Forrest at (561) 253-3232.
Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance
c/o Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A.
3600 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
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