PEACE ACTIVISTS PETITION THE COUNTY SEE STORY, PAGE 4
HMARA UPDATES ON NEW FEMA MAPS SEE STORY, PAGE 7
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Volume 35, Number 14 April 4 - April 10, 2014
Serving Palms West Since 1980
RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM PARTY
Wellington’s Audit Process Goes Much Smoother This Year
An independent audit of Wellington’s finances was much more successful this year. Last year, Grau & Associates slammed village management for making the audit an “uncomfortable” situation. But auditor Antonio Grau said this year, the process was made easier with the help of management. Page 3
Rare Fruit Council Hosts Plant Sale At Fairgrounds
The Palm Beach chapter of the Rare Fruit Council held its Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale on Saturday, March 29 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Attendees had thousands of plants of all types to choose from, and were also able to enjoy educational exhibits. Page 5
Open House At Wellington’s Safe Neighborhood Office
Wellington’s Safe Neighborhoods Department held an open house Saturday, March 29 at its office on Wellington Trace. Members of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were on hand with vehicles and other displays. Page 9
OPINION April Is National Donate Life Month
National Donate Life Month is a time that is near and dear to our hearts here at the Town-Crier. Every April, we are reminded of the importance of organ donation. With an ever-growing transplant list, it is more important than ever to register to be an organ donor. While many go about their lives without threat of death, that is not the case for the more than 120,000 people awaiting transplants, including a member of the Town-Crier family. Page 4 2014
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The Wellington Relay for Life held its Team Party on Thursday, March 27 at White Horse Fashion Cuisine in Wellington. The Wellington Relay for Life will take place Saturday, April 13 at Palm Beach Central High School. Shown here are Dr. Randy Laurich and Nina Anschuetz with event co-chairs Johnny Meier and Deputy Scott Poritz. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 11 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Groves Council Not Keen On Equine Waste Recycling Idea
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council expressed general disinterest Tuesday in a proposal by Equine Eco Green for a publicprivate partnership to recycle horse bedding on property in the town. Council members felt that Wellington might be a better location for such a project. Shelly Townsend, founder of Equine Eco Green, proposed a partnership that she believes would reduce the town’s concerns about horse bedding and manure, as well as water quality,
and create revenue for Loxahatchee Groves. “We would like to be your solution,” Townsend said, explaining that her company offers a patented, environmentally friendly recycling process for equine waste. “We’re not looking for any funding,” she added, noting that the company is seeking state funding to underwrite its project. Townsend said the process separates shavings and manure. The shavings are then processed by a method that washes, rinses, bleaches and dechlorinates them. The manure is composted, and
the effluents are remediated so there is no discharge, she explained. The shavings produced from the process are safer and cleaner for horses and small animals, because they are phenol-free, making them less allergenic, and with reduced dust that can cause respiratory problems. “What we are mostly looking for is a nice location so that we can take care of this for you,” Townsend said. “Not only can we do the current problem, we can also restore the material from the See MANURE, page 7
Vet Clinic Gets Zoning Board Approval For Land Use Change
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Members of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board unanimously approved changes Wednesday that will designate the Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex as a commercial recreational site, allowing it to expand its veterinary practice. The roughly 12-acre site, located at the southwest corner of Pierson and Southfields roads, is home to the Palm Beach Equine veterinary clinic, which has been trying to expand for several years but was limited by its land use description. Wellington Planner Cory Cramer explained that the clinic was built long before Wellington was incorporated, and its site was designated as residential use. “The owner is required to correct the nonconformity before it can expand,” she said. By passing the comprehensive plan amendment, the site would be designated commercial recreation and would then conform, she said. The application was vetted by Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee, which passed it unanimously. Jon Schmidt, agent for the applicant, said that Palm Beach Equine was built in 1978. “I think the problem is because of a map-
ping error back when this area was governed by the county,” he said. “The site has been operating as a vet clinic since then.” But because of the residential designation, the clinic’s owner, Dr. Scott Swerdlin, cannot expand his practice. “Unfortunately, if something were to happen to the vet clinic — if the place burned down, or there was a tornado and we lost the facilities — we can’t rebuild,” Schmidt said. “That’s the reason we’re in here, to correct this error. There are plans for a small expansion for a recovery area at the vet clinic, and that has really brought this to a head.” Last August, Palm Beach Equine requested a change to Wellington’s code to allow veterinary clinics in parts of the Wellington Equestrian Preserve, but opponents worried it could open the door to more commercial enterprises. “We tried to change the code at one point to allow veterinary clinics in residential [areas], but that wasn’t gaining steam, so we pulled the application,” Schmidt said. “We decided to go this route. We think it’s the better option. It corrects what has been going on there for quite some time.” Board Member Carol Coleman asked about the allowed floor-area ratio, and Schmidt noted that the site would actually be less dense
than if it were a residential site. “By going to commercial recreation, it reduces it in half to 10 percent,” he said. She then asked about the planned expansion. Schmidt noted it would be about 1,200 square feet total. “Will there be any further extensions beyond that?” Coleman asked. Schmidt said he was not sure. “Obviously, it would have to meet code requirements,” he said. Coleman then asked whether the change would require a majority approval from nearby landowners. “If this is in the Country Place PUD, why is this not subject to getting approval from 66 percent of the [property owners]?” she asked. Cramer said that because the master plan shows the property as an equestrian facility, the applicant does not need to amend it. Only a master plan amendment requires that approval. One concern for board members was increased traffic. Chairman Craig Bachove noted that the levels of service would go up by approximately 50 percent, but Cramer said it is consistent with levels of service in the equestrian preserve. Board Member Paul Adams was also concerned about increases in See PZA BOARD, page 3
Wellington Council Updates Village Traffic Standards
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington will have a little more control over traffic issues after the Wellington Village Council voted last week to update the village’s traffic performance standards. In a unanimous vote, council members approved changes to update the code to industry standards and make it more “Wellingtoncentric.” Planning & Development Services Director Tim Stillings explained at the March 25 meeting that currently, the code relies on many of the county’s standards and is outdated. “The main goal of this is to make it more of a Wellingtonoriented code, and to make modifications based on the industry standards,” he said. Wellington Traffic Engineer Andrea Troutman agreed, noting that the codes often reference Palm Beach County and unincorporated lands, a vestige from pre-incorporation days. “We wanted some Wellingtonspecific standards,” she said. “We are removing the county references. This means any new development would have to meet county standards and Wellington standards.” Wellington’s traffic has been of concern in the past, with council members pushing for increased control to quell traffic woes. “One of the issues the council raised at meetings was that we should address more than just peak hours,” Troutman said. “So we’re providing an ability for Wellington to request additional hours to be analyzed. It could be on the weekend or during off-peak hours. It’s now dependent on Wellington to request this for specific projects that may have different impacts.” Another change would require developers to address traffic impacts caused not just at their own site, but anywhere in Wellington. “The project has to come in,
show where it will have significant impacts anywhere in Wellington, and would have to address that,” Troutman explained. “Your impacts are what you need to address, not just a radius.” One of the biggest problems in Wellington, Troutman said, is bottlenecks at intersections. The changes in standards would require a study of intersections close to capacity before a project is approved. “Intersections are the issue in Wellington, as opposed to roadway links,” she said. “We would look at the signal timing and phasing, and do a more detailed analysis of the intersection.” Vice Mayor Howard Coates asked whether the changes would affect the existing rights of property owners. “Is there anything in these changes that would adversely impact private property owners’ rights that exist today if this passes?” he asked. Troutman said nothing would. “If someone has an approved development order, this does not impact them,” she said. “They can move ahead with their development. If they want to come back in and increase development, they would have to meet these standards.” Stillings agreed, noting that the changes would also not affect projects currently under consideration. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig asked for further explanation about what determines “peak hours” for a roadway. “My understanding is it used to be during a certain time of the day,” she said. “But now, you’re suggesting it’s whenever the peak hour is for the roadway.” Troutman said most roads are busiest during the week between 6 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 7 p.m. “Typically, that is the highest volume occurring,” she said. “But we’re now suggesting a third time period can be requested by Wellington. It See TRAFFIC, page 18
FAMILY TENNIS DAY
The Wellington Tennis Center hosted the Western Communities Tennis Association Family Tennis Play Day on Sunday, March 30. The local association promotes the sport of tennis across the western communities. Attendees had the chance to learn the sport and play together with families and friends. Shown here is three-year-old Jai Ramani with Ruchika Ramani. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Contractor: RPB Fish Kill Needed For Weed Control
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Dead fish in a canal brought a complaint to the March 20 meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Village Council. Ronald Blicksilver of Van Gogh Way was upset that an aquatic weed treatment behind his home had led to a fish kill. Blicksilver, a volunteer with the village’s marine unit involved with water safety and environmental issues in the canals, said fish had died in his canal after the village’s aquatic weed control contractor, Clarke Aquatics, had sprayed there. This resulted in dead fish along
the bank and vultures swooping in to consume the remains. “I was horrified last Saturday to see a major fish kill behind my home, and that’s what I want to bring to your attention,” Blicksilver told council members. “Many people here know about it, so I’m not going to harp on it. I’m just going to ask that we see that this does not happen again.” Blicksilver added that he had attended meetings last summer when residents complained about weeds choking the canals, and Clarke representatives outlined a comprehensive approach to weed control. “They showed us these beauti-
ful images from his ‘fish finder on steroids,’” Blicksilver said. “He cleaned the bottom of our canal dead. There’s nothing there anymore. The hardest thing for me to watch was this poor bass in shallow water trying to breathe, and a vulture waiting for him. Please, could we see that this does not happen again?” According to a report to Royal Palm Beach Utilities Director Paul Webster from Clarke Water Resource Manager Dr. Brett Bultemeier, two chemicals were applied in the area at half the maximum allowable rate. “We did not treat entire canals or the entire system, but targeted
our treatment to the most affected areas,” he wrote. The fish kill was most likely caused by the chemical hydrothol 191, Bultemeier explained. “We can surmise this because the fish were of one or two species, relatively small, and it occurred very rapidly after the treatment,” he wrote. “It is possible that a decrease in dissolved oxygen could have also contributed, but chemical toxicity is the most likely cause. It is known that this chemical poses potential risk to fish, but these types of treatment are allowed by the label.” This outcome is not unexpected given the chemical and dosage
applied, and is in line with what would be expected, he added. “Although avoiding harm to fish is the desired outcome of all treatment activities, in this case it was unavoidable,” Bultemeier wrote. “The plants that are being targeted require the use of hydrothol 191, which carries a risk of fish toxicity, but to leave the plants uncontrolled poses an even larger risk. If no management actions are taken, there is an increased risk of fish kill due to dissolved oxygen depletion, and at a much larger and more intensive scale.” Bultemeier termed the recent fish kill as “limited,” involving a See FISH, page 18