LOX COUNCIL APPROVES CANAL PUMP SEE STORY, PAGE 4
A BIG DONATION FOR BACK TO BASICS SEE STORY, PAGE 9
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE Wellington Council OKs Budgets For Drainage, Water & Solid Waste
Volume 40, Number 31 August 16 - August 22, 2019
Serving Palms West Since 1980
‘LION KING JR.’ ON STAGE AT WHS
The Wellington Village Council adopted its budgets and assessment rates Tuesday, Aug. 13 for the Acme Improvement District, solid waste collection, the water and wastewater utility, and other special funds. Page 3
Water Ski Nationals Return To Okeeheelee
From Aug. 6 through Aug. 10, the grandest jewel in the triple crown of water ski sports, the Goode Water Ski Nationals Championships, hosted more than 700 competing water skiers at Okeeheelee Park. Page 10
First ‘BeYOUtiful Experience’ Event At Wellington Green
The Wellington community was invited to a celebration of inner and outer beauty at the Mall at Wellington Green’s first “BeYOUtiful Experience” on Saturday, Aug. 10. The event took place in the Grand Court as part of the popular, communitydriven Live 360 program. Selfie stations, friends, community and social media moments by Miami’s own Instagram influencer and blogger Vanessa Rose Tilley were part of the fun. Page 20
The cast of Lion King Jr. roared across the stage at Wellington High School this month, presented by the newly formed community theater group Theatre Arts Productions (TAP). The timeless tale was told complete with colorful costumes under the artistic direction of Jaycie Cohen with seven performances from Aug. 2 to Aug. 10. The next TAP production will be Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach to be performed in November with auditions this month. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 11 PHOTO BY MELANIE KOPACZ
ALA To Review Long-Neglected Acreage Neighborhood Plan
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Acreage Landowners’ Association hosted Indian Trail Improvement District President Betty Argue on Tuesday, Aug. 13 for a review of possible changes to be made to the Acreage Neighborhood Plan. The Acreage Neighborhood Plan, which is intended to be a guide for development in the semirural community, was written in 1995 and has not been reviewed since 2008, when a clause was inserted to allow the gas station at the Publix shopping center on Orange Blvd. Previously, the plan prohibited all gas stations due to the threat of fuel leaks into the aquifer, potentially contaminating wells used by most residents. The plan, which is recognized by Palm Beach County, calls for
an annual review in October and for comments to be submitted to the county. “It has been 11 years since there has been any review or update to the neighborhood plan,” Argue said. Attending the meeting were three ALA board members, as well as a few residents and ITID Supervisor Joni Martin. “Part of the neighborhood plan is that you do a review annually and you send that to the county,” Argue said. “That’s pretty much evaluating where you’re at on a yearly basis and what may be your concerns that have arisen for the community, and then there is the amendment process.” She said it is important to review what is in the neighborhood plan, recalling that at a previous meeting attended by Palm Beach County Senior Planner Bryan Davis, the
ALA board had reviewed the plan and pointed out items that either had been accomplished or were no longer relevant. “You really need to take a look and have a discussion with the community and get feedback from the community about where we’re going, what kinds of things are happening in the community, the sort of patterns that we’re seeing, what’s changed, and think about what you want in the neighborhood plan,” Argue said. She suggested that the ALA board extend invitations to residents through social media and other media to get them engaged. “Do we need 20 Wawas in the western communities?” she asked as an example. “We have a Wawa that’s going in on Southern [Blvd.], and maybe the board See ALA, page 7
Capital Projects Discussed At Wellington Budget Workshop
New PBCHS Coach Scottie Littles Leads Strong Bronco Squad
After the departure of Palm Beach Central High School head coach Tino Ierulli to Georgia at the end of last season, the Broncos have a new head coach guiding them into the fall. Scottie Littles groomed the squad in the spring to prepare the defending District 9-8A champions this season. Page 19 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 20 LETTERS.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................... 8 SCHOOLS................................ 9 COLUMNS............................. 16 BUSINESS............................. 17 CALENDAR............................ 18 SPORTS................................. 19 CLASSIFIEDS................ 21 - 22 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Gina M. Capone Town-Crier Staff Report The preliminary budget for Wellington’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was discussed by the Wellington Village Council in a workshop session on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Proposed CIP recommendations include modifying various canal drainage systems in the Acme Improvement District, investing in communications and technology, creating new neighborhood signs, updating multimodal trail systems, expanding multi-use pathways, improving and rehabilitating pump stations, planning and designing a new Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation, as well as funding for the Town Center project and the Wellington High School Sport Complex. Director of Administrative & Financial Services Tanya Quickel began the late afternoon workshop with a presentation to the council. “We have a total of $7,806,500 in [proposed] projects,” Quickel explained. “First, we have our Acme Renewal & Replacement
Program. This is the fifth year of this program.” Funding for the program comes from a $30 per unit increase in Acme’s annual assessment that was implemented in 2015. The program funds significant modifications and improvements to the drainage system in order to comply with water quality requirements mandated by state and federal agencies. Over the past several years, the drainage system has been stressed by severe rainfall accumulations, which the improvements are designed to accommodate. Already in progress, improvements are being made to various canals. Next year’s funding will replace a culvert on the C-4 Canal at Greenbriar Blvd. The total budgeted for next year is $740,000, increasing the funding to $2,140,000. “The next area is Pump Station Rehabilitation,” Quickel said. “We have rehabilitations of the trash rakes and equipment upgrades at pump stations 8 and 4. The pump station 3 renewal replacement was completed this year.”
The upcoming budget is proposed at $400,000 for Pump Station Rehabilitation to make a total investment of $1,975,000. Neighborhood signs are proposed to be updated throughout the village for an additional $80,000 from general revenues, totaling $230,000. The program will upgrade or replace neighborhood entrance signs throughout the community. The materials will be more durable and consistent in order to have uniform aesthetics to the signage. The estimated replacement schedule will see one to three signs per year replaced or upgraded. Essex Park and Brampton Park will see a neighborhood park improvement upgrade, as the budget will increase $450,000, making a total expenditure of $790,000. In Essex Park, an observation deck, as well as sidewalks, a water fountain, mulch and lighting will be items that will get funded. A $200,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant funded by the United States Department of the Interior is already being used for See PROJECTS, page 4
Zoning Board Supports Changes To Preserve Areas At Wellington Green
By Gina M. Capone Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board met late into the night on Wednesday, Aug. 14 to discuss a proposal that would shrink preserve areas near the Mall at Wellington Green in favor of additional apartments and a restaurant. Representatives of developer Brefrank answered questions from the board, under the watchful eye of dozens of environmentally thinking citizens who wanted to know why the developer’s vision of Wellington includes more pavement and less room for trees and animals. In the end, the board voted 5-2 to support the changes. The residents, most of whom came out to oppose the change, sat quietly through the first two hours of the presentation on a comprehensive plan amendment and a master plan amendment for the two parcels. The two parcels in question are tract W-3 and tract W-5. Tract W-3 is a five-acre area located a half-mile west of the intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7, on the south side of Forest Hill Blvd. The petition asks to amend the zoning from conservation use to commercial use on the master plan. Brefrank is proposing to build a restaurant on the five-acre tract. In exchange, the developer will build a lake to assist in drainage for the shopping center. Tract W-5 is a 17.46-acre parcel in the interior of the Wellington Green development, located a half-mile west of the intersection of State Road 7 and Lime Drive. The petition is asking to change the tract from conservation use to regional commercial and largescale multiple use with 8.33 acres proposed for multi-family residen-
tial uses and 9.13 acres of wetland. This will effectively reduce the preserve by half and allow 185 additional apartment units on the property. Agents for the developer argued that the changes will enhance the area and serve the economic needs of Wellington today, noting that wildlife will adapt and any environmental impact from removing preserve areas will be lessened by off-site mitigation. Village officials were prepared for the crowd with tables at the entryway with cards to fill out for those opposing or supporting the petition and extra seats available in the chambers. Not everyone spoke. Instead, many wrote comments that were read by Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board Member Elizabeth Mariaca. In all, 18 residents went to the podium to speak. Michael Deutsch spoke first. “The impression I got sitting here tonight is that this is a slam dunk. You hear opposition, but the judgment of the staff is that this is a clean decision. They should just approve and go on to the next subject. But there was an important sentence [in the staff recommendation] that hasn’t been talked about,” Deutsch said. “Which are legitimate reasons and justifications occur on both sides. Tonight, we have heard the justification of one side. That sentence didn’t just walk into the statement by mistake. It was put there for a reason. I would think you would want to know from the staff what the legitimate reasons and justifications are for opposition for this petition.” Village Attorney Laurie Cohen explained the standards that the village applies in land use considerations. “The applicant has the burden to See ZONERS, page 18
CAFCI’S MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY
The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) celebrated Membership Appreciation Day 2019 with a cruiseship-themed evening on Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. After a business meeting, the fun began with dominos, bingo and steel drum music, followed by dinner and dancing. Shown above are Carolyn Hmara and Pamela Fraser. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 15 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Foundation Raises Flag At Home Of Wellington Vet
By Meredith Burow Town-Crier Staff Report An American flag that once flew over the U.S. Capitol now flutters from a knotted tree in a quiet Wellington neighborhood. To thank U.S. Army veteran Cesar Cardona for his service to the nation, the Wellington Community Foundation hoisted the colors in his front yard on Tuesday, Aug. 13. In addition, the foundation took action to have his house painted at no cost to him. Residents of Wellington for more than three decades, Cesar and Barbara Cardona had been wanting to paint their house for about a year, but they were hindered in doing so following Cesar’s open-heart surgery in July
2018. In the meantime, they were required to stay up to date with Wellington’s code compliance guidelines and had missed the mark in a few areas, one of which was repainting their house. “When I met the compliance team, I told them, ‘I’m going to do it. I know better than anybody else that I [have] to do it, but it’s going to take me one wall a week,’” he said with a laugh. According to his wife, a Wellington code officer was admiring their landscaping when she discovered that Cesar was a veteran. She informed them about the foundation’s mission to paint houses and raise flags for veterans. The Cardonas soon became the second family presented with this honor.
“I’m speechless because I have never seen a community that cares so much for its population,” Cesar said. The Wellington Community Foundation’s goal is to serve the seniors, children and veterans in the community. According to Board Member Maria Becker, following Wellington’s dramatic expansion over the last couple of decades, too many people have “fallen through the cracks.” “Because of where we are, there aren’t a lot of agencies helping out,” Becker said. “People just assume if it’s Wellington, then everyone is just doing well.” The mission of the foundation is to fill that need. In addition See FLAG, page 7
Wellington residents Cesar and Barbara Cardona listen as WCF Chair Tom Wenham addresses the small crowd gathered to honor PHOTO BY MEREDITH BUROW/TOWN-CRIER the U.S. Army veteran.