LOX PLANS AGRITOURISM COMMITTEE SEE STORY, PAGE 3
NEW MEMBER ON WESTLAKE COUNCIL SEE STORY, PAGE 4
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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Wellington Fielding Competing Offers For K-Park Property
Volume 44, Number 25 December 15 - December 28, 2023
Serving Palms West Since 1980
A FUN WINTERFEST CELEBRATION
The developers who brought Trader Joe’s among other things to Wellington honed their pitch to pay $54 million for 66 acres that the Village of Wellington owns south of the boutique grocery store on State Road 7 — shortly after a rival suitor, the Related Companies, served notice of its own interest. Page 3
RPB Celebrates The Holiday Season With Winter Fest
Royal Palm Beach Winter Fest celebrated the holiday season at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Saturday, Dec. 2. The fun-filled day included an array of community-based entertainment on stage. Once it got dark, village officials lit the 28-foot Christmas tree, followed by a fireworks display. Page 15
Hundreds Enjoy Annual Holiday Boat Parade On Lake Wellington
The seventh annual Wellington Holiday Boat Parade on Lake Wellington took place Saturday, Dec. 9. Approximately 50 boats were decorated and made their way down from the north end of the lake to the Wellington Promenade behind the Wellington Community Center. Page 16
Wellington Tennis Center Offering Love Serving Autism Program
Longtime tennis teaching professional Bill Sanis had an idea, and Chuck Gill, the director of the Wellington Tennis Center, was a willing listener. He suggested that the facility host a tennis program for children on the autism spectrum. This initiative is now a reality serving children ages 8 to 14 as part of the Love Serving Autism organization, which operates similar programs at other tennis facilities. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 19 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS..........................21 - 24 PEOPLE................................. 25 SCHOOLS.............................. 26 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
Wellington’s Winterfest celebration took place Friday, Dec. 8 at the Wellington Amphitheater. This is the 14th year that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has presented the festive holiday event with support from the Village of Wellington. Families enjoyed food trucks, visits with Santa Claus, holiday vendors, musical performances, a special visit from Vanilla Ice and much more. Shown here, Julia, Tina and Sophia Martin spend some quality time with Santa Claus. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18 PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER
Small Apartments At Lotis Concern Wellington Council
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council hit the pause button until January on plans to build 378 apartments as small as 680 square feet in one of the village’s biggest multi-use development projects in years, the 120-acre Lotis Wellington plan. A 4-1 vote by the council Tuesday, Dec. 5 postponed action on the southern half of the application known as Lotis 1 as talks continue on issues such as adding more park space. Mayor Anne Gerwig voted against a delay. “We want the mixed-use, the office, the retail, the medical,” Councilman John McGovern said. “We want all of this to succeed. We don’t want all of this density, and all of these apartments, without what we believe to be public benefit.” The northern half, Lotis 2, faced less turbulence. It got a 5-0 vote that paves the way for a 36-hole miniature golf course, advertised as coming from a firm whose marketing partners include golfer Tiger Woods. Also planned are 172 single-family and townhouse homes, retail and office space, and a daycare center.
It has been a long and winding journey for Lotis. After initial approvals three years ago, the Lotis project has hit snags on one of the village’s rare remaining tracts of prime land available for development. It sits on the western side of State Road 7, half a mile north of Forest Hill Blvd. Amid pandemic issues, market changes and funding hurdles, the focus has shifted away from a heavy emphasis on assisted-living and independent senior housing and roughly doubled the apartments open to any age in Lotis 1. Conditions under discussion have included that residential construction cannot proceed without completing the foundation slabs and utility connections for commercial properties by the end of March 2024, or whatever date may emerge in talks after a delay. Two of the marquee businesses touted there would be the Lazy Dog and Cooper’s Hawk restaurants. A series of meetings have generated expressions of frustration from some council members that progress has been slow with a project whose original proposals stalled and changed. The proceedings were interrupted by an odd
moment Dec. 5 when a lizard scrambled on the dais and startled officials seated there. The episode halted the meeting for several minutes as Gerwig captured the creature and took it outside for release. “Mayor, new respect for you, lizard hunter,” Councilman Michael Drahos said. The hunt is still on for terms the council will approve on Lotis 1. Close to half the housing on the 64-acre Lotis 1 site would be onebedroom, one-bath apartments starting at 680 to 700 square feet, said Jim Gielda, representing the Lotis Group. Rent would vary by market conditions but could be in the $1,500 to $2,200 monthly range, he said. Most of the rest would be twobedroom, two-bath units ranging from about 1,000 to 1,150 square feet. He mentioned a handful of three-bedroom apartments in the mix. In addition, Lotis 1 would feature 48,000 square feet of combined restaurant and retail, an upwardly revised 50,000 square feet of medical offices, 16,700 square feet of professional office See LOTIS, page 19
Wellington Pushing Forward With Annexation Despite County Objections
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington is pushing forward with its planned annexation of approximately 258 acres of property at the intersection of Southern Blvd. and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. However, the plan has met with strong opposition from Palm Beach County and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the Wellington Village Council approved the ballot language for the involuntary annexation process, setting up a March referendum of the approximately 30 resident electors in the area, known as the Sluggett property and Entrada Acres. Meeting that same day, the Palm Beach County Commission voted to oppose the annexation, which could lead to a lawsuit to stop it, and the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council pondered the idea of a competing annexation action. At Wellington’s meeting, Village Manager Jim Barnes explained that it will be the first of three meetings on the annexation. The only decision needed was approval of the ballot language to meet the deadline for the March ballot. “There is a requirement that we go to the voters of the resident electors within the affected annexation area,” Barnes said, adding that due to the Dec. 15 deadline, the ballot language cannot change once approved. Meanwhile, the first reading and second readings of the actual annexation ordinance will be in January and February. Barnes told the council about his presentation earlier that day at the county meeting, including their vote to oppose the annexation. “However, there is no required county approval for this as an involuntary annexation. They have an option as property owners to object,” Barnes said, noting that the county owns two retention ponds there. “They could go ahead
at some point and approve legal action against the village.” Should that happen, Barnes said, the county and the village would then go through an intergovernmental process for mediation prior to an actual lawsuit. “We disagree with the county staff on their assessment of the statute as it applies to this annexation,” Barnes said, adding that he met with County Commissioner Sara Baxter, who indicated to him that she believes the land should instead become part of Loxahatchee Groves. “The same regulatory constraints that they are applying to us, would apply to an annexation by Loxahatchee Groves,” Barnes said. Village Attorney Laurie Cohen said that there is ambiguity in the state statute. “We believe that the overall intent of that section does not require that the property already be developed as an urban area,” she said. Barnes explained that the process emanated from a handful of property owners who approached Wellington with an interest to annex. That was initially limited to properties that had frontage on Southern Blvd. and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Once other property owners learned of the interest, they also approached the village. Mayor Anne Gerwig favored moving forward with the referendum. “This ballot language that will go out lets people decide,” she said. “If they decide no, then it is over. However, I find it offensive to have someone say, ‘Well, Wellington doesn’t need that, but Loxahatchee Groves needs that.’ Who decides this?” Councilman John McGovern said that the future of development in the western communities is on the north side of Southern Blvd. “If these folks want to come See ANNEX, page 4
HOLIDAY PARADE TIME
Accomando, Farrell Take Top Leadership Positions At ITID
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report It was out with the old, in with the new at the Wednesday, Dec. 6 meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, with the group choosing their two newest members to lead them in 2024. Seat 1 Supervisor Elizabeth Accomando was chosen as president and Seat 3 Supervisor Patricia Farrell was chosen as vice president. Both were elected to the board in November 2022. Longtime Supervisor Betty Argue shifted from vice president
to secretary. Supervisor Michael Johnson, who has served as president for the past two years, took over as assistant secretary. Supervisor Keith Jordano was named treasurer. Accomando, a resident of the Santa Rosa Groves neighborhood and founder of Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, said, “I appreciate the board’s confidence in me that I can be a good leader.” As president, Accomando said her focus will be on drainage in terms of completing the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area levee and work on the M-0 Canal;
clarifying parks policy; and, of course, roads — whether to pave, mill or leave dirt, that is always the question. The roads question quickly came up at the meeting with ITID staff recommending all 10 miles of 130th Avenue North and 130th Trail North between 40th Street North on the south and Hamlin Blvd. on the north be laid with millings at a cost of $1,615,623.72. That would include 24 rubberized speed tables. ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson estimated that there See ITID MEETING, page 14
The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County and the Village of Wellington hosted the 39th annual Wellington Holiday Parade, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, on Sunday, Dec. 10 with the theme “Holidays Around the World.” Thousands of spectators were on hand to enjoy dozens of groups march along Forest Hill Blvd. Shown here, Santa Claus and friends cap the parade on the Wellington Rotary Club float. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
RPB Council Recognizes Winners Of Photo Contest
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council welcomed a new parks and recreation director and recognized the winners of the village’s first-ever photo contest on Thursday, Dec. 7. The theme of the photo contest was “Picture a Place You Call Home!” and brought in nearly 100 submissions. “Several years ago, we embarked on a program where we decided to formalize an art in public places policy for the village, and this is an extension of that,” Mayor Fred Pinto said. “What we’re looking to do is, over a period of time, create some kind of work where we can show the different pictures of Royal Palm Beach in action. We thought the best way to capture that was to
have our citizens participate and take pictures.” Vice Mayor Jan Rodusky announced the following top three winners: Anna Powers with “Spring in Challenger Park” in first place, “July 4th at Commons Park” by Lucy Vasquez placed second, and Brandt Haws took third place with his photo “Challenger Park Sunrise.” With the retirement of longtime Parks & Recreation Director Lou Recchio, Mark Pawlowski was officially introduced by Village Manager Ray Liggins as the department’s new director. He recently moved to the area from Illinois. “He was the executive director in Winfield Park District for more than 25 years,” Liggins said. “He is a certified parks and recreation professional, and we are very glad to have him on board.”
Pawlowski said that he was thrilled to be on the job in Royal Palm Beach. “Within the first week, I’ve met a ton of people, staff, people in the community — it’s great to see so many people in the parks, whether it is the rec center, the cultural center, whether it be scheduled activities or just on their own,” Pawlowski said. “As always, my door is open. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I know I’m following Lou’s footsteps, and I feel very good about the people and the team that I’ve got working with me to make sure that we keep moving forward and keep providing quality recreation and parks for our residents.” In other business: • Carmax, located at 10501 Southern Blvd., can now move forward with plans to build an
auction house on the property. After receiving feedback from the council previously, the applicant, Centerpoint Integrated Solutions LLC, adjusted the site plans to include the striping and landscaped terminal islands as required. With village staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission in support, the request was approved unanimously. • Local resident Martha Smith approached the council with a request for clarification on why her home-based daycare was only allowed up to six children, while the state allows more children. She explained the hardship it put on her business of 22 years. The six-child limit was passed in 1989, and the council took her request for more information seriously. Pinto said he was concerned about the misalignment with
the state rules, and Councilman Richard Valuntas asked for more information and research from village staff. “Everyone in Palm Beach County does not do the same thing. I’d like to know what other municipalities do,” he said, stressing the importance of comparing Royal Palm Beach to similarly sized municipalities in the county before making a decision. After staff review and recommendations, the council could potentially update the policy. • Husband and wife residents Jeff and Amna Alian approached the council with two very different concerns. Jeff Alian requested that the village look into a traffic light at La Mancha, explaining that the light often takes up to four minutes to See RPB COUNCIL, page 19