MPO OVERPASS PLAN CONCERNS RPB SEE STORY, PAGE 3
LOX MANURE DUMPING RULES GET OK SEE STORY, PAGE 7
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Clerk: Increased Spending Drops County’s ‘Net Worth’
Volume 35, Number 19 May 9 - May 15, 2014
Serving Palms West Since 1980
EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR WRMC
Staff from the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office reported Tuesday that the county’s net worth has declined, largely due to increases in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office budget. Changes in the county’s net worth over time indicate an improving or weakening financial position or “bottom line.” Page 3
Students Receive Awards At CAFCI Ceremony In RPB
Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) hosted its 22nd annual Student Assistance Awards ceremony on Saturday, May 3 at the Village Golf Club in Royal Palm Beach. Page 5
Alan B. Miller, founder and CEO of Universal Health Services, presented the UHS Excellence Award to Wellington Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, May 7. The award is given annually to one of the 26 acute-care hospitals in the UHS family. Shown here, WRMC CEO Robbin Lee (center) accepts the award from UHS Regional Vice President Frank Lopez and Miller. STORY & MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7 PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER
School District: No Boundary Changes Planned For RPBHS
Women Of The Western Communities Presents ‘Passion For Fashion’
Women of the Western Communities held a “Passion for Fashion” fashion show and brunch on Saturday, May 4 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. Clothes and accessories were supplied by Dress Barn, while Visions Hair Salon provided hair and makeup. All proceeds benefited the YWCA Harmony House and the club’s scholarship fund. Page 17
OPINION
Wellington’s Vision: Still Kicking The Can Down The Road
As Wellington continues to grow, much discussion has been had on what it should look like in the future. Whether you favor economic growth, a bedroom community or a little bit of both, Wellington needs a cohesive vision for the future. After nearly eight hours of discussion on Wellington’s future Wednesday, only one thing was clear: more discussion and a lot more action will be needed to carve out a clear vision going forward. Page 4 2014
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By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Although Royal Palm Beach High School is on the Palm Beach County School District’s capacity watch list, school district officials told Royal Palm Beach Village Council members last week that there will be no boundary changes for at least the next two years. The topic had come up at the council’s previous meeting, prompted by news last month that boundary changes could be in store to reduce capacities at some schools. RPBHS was one the high schools said to be over capacity, according to Councilman Jeff Hmara, who invited the school
district officials to make a report at the May 1 council meeting. School Board Member Marcia Andrews introduced Director of Planning & Real Estate Services Kristin Garrison, whose responsibilities include school boundaries. Garrison said the April news came about as a result of a capacity watch list that has been incorporated by the district. “This is something that is new this past year,” she said. “Our school board wanted to get early warnings out in the community, not necessarily that boundary changes were imminent, but that due to current enrollment projections, there is a possibility that
boundary changes might be on the five-year horizon.” While that remains the case for RPBHS, Garrison stressed that boundary changes are not imminent. “I will tell you that despite the fact that Royal Palm Beach High School is on the watch list, I assure you that we have no boundary changes anticipated for the coming year or for the following year,” she said. Garrison said the capacity watch list is based on state formulas that the district is required to use. “At Royal Palm Beach High School, we have some additional classrooms that are available for See RPBHS, page 16
Wellington Zoners Reject Isla Verde Density Increase
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board recommended denial Wednesday evening to a plan that would add more density and multi-family rental housing to the planned Isla Verde community on State Road 7. Board members voted 6-0 to recommend rejection of comprehensive plan and master plan changes that would have increased the density from 230 to 360 units. Vice Chair Tim Shields was absent. “I believe that we should send a message to [the Wellington Village Council] that it’s not just a no, it’s an emphatic no,” Board Member Michael Drahos said. Board members did, however, recommend approval of an ordinance to rezone the property from a multiple-use planned development to a mixed-use planned development district. Located on State Road 7 north of Forest Hill Blvd., the 53.57acre parcel known as Isla Verde already houses about 23 acres of
commercial development, Wellington Planner Damien Newell told board members. About 3.5 acres is approved for a preserve, while another 6 acres must remain open space. Wellington previously approved no more than 230 townhouses for the remaining 20.48 undeveloped acres. “They are requesting an increase from 230 townhouses to 360 rental units,” Newell said, adding that the proposal includes three-story units. Planner Donaldson Hearing, agent for the applicant, said the density works out to about 6.72 units per acre on the 53-acre site. “This by no means is very dense development,” he said. Hearing said that studies of the SR 7 corridor agreed that projects with increased density would fare better. “There would be enhanced mobility,” he said. “They would have housing in close proximity to jobs.” Further, he said it would be a “green” project. “It will be built to the National Association of Home Builders gold standard,” Hearing
said. “Your comprehensive plan suggests those are the types of projects that we are to continue to promote.” Hearing said the community would attract young professionals to the area, many of whom might work in Wellington or nearby areas. During public comment, more than 60 nearby homeowners submitted cards in opposition to the plan. Residents in the Whippoorwill community to the east, made up of about 90 homes in unincorporated Palm Beach County, said developers have kept coming back for more density over the years. “I couldn’t be more against this,” resident Thomas McCauley said. “They keep asking for more and more. When is it going to end? I want to be assured of my safety, my property values and everything else.” Resident Jay French said many residents had met with developers in 2003 and had a commitment letter saying they agreed to have a See ISLA VERDE, page 4
Senior Housing Key Issue At Wellington ‘Visioning’ Session
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington began crafting out a vision for its future this week. Discussing plans for everything from senior housing to community revitalization, parks and recreation to growth and development, Wellington Village Council members met Wednesday to begin laying out plans. “The question is, how do we make sure we remain a vibrant, attractive community?” Village Manager Paul Schofield said. The meeting, which spanned more than six hours, gave council members the chance to dig into some of Wellington’s key issues, and more sessions will be scheduled for further discussion. One of the major issues discussed was how Wellington can help its seniors age in place. Though council members discussed many options for housing, they ultimately directed staff to poll seniors and decide what level of “affordable housing” Wellington needs. Schofield noted that the senior population (age 62 and older) in Wellington has risen to nearly 12 percent of the village’s population. “That population is growing,” he said. “The Senior Advisory Committee is pushing for affordable senior housing. The two agerestricted communities we have right now are very in demand.” During the recent housing slump, Schofield noted that Buena Vida had the lowest foreclosure rate in the village. Similarly, housing in the Mayfair community is in large demand. Director of Community Services Nicole Evangelista said that Wellington plans to roll out more community programs aimed at helping seniors. “We’re beginning an aging-inplace project,” she said. “We want to give seniors the opportunity to live in the homes of their choice. We plan to provide a grant for improvements outside the home, whether that means a new coat of paint or other improvements. That will be coming forth to the council when we approve our annual action plan.” Councilman Howard Coates said Wellington has to decide
what measures it can take to help on this issue. “What can we really do?” he asked. “Buena Vida is not a product of Wellington. It’s a private development coming in and doing what they have done.” Coates didn’t want to see Wellington attempt to build affordable housing for seniors on its own, but thought the village should encourage private development to accommodate the village’s senior population. “I think our focus should be on what we can do to have private enterprises come in,” he said. “I don’t think we can do it ourselves. We don’t have the capacity.” The second issue, he said, is where to locate such developments. He said two options are the Wellington Christian School site, if it does not become a charter school as planned, and the K-Park property on State Road 7. “I’m not suggesting K-Park become a senior housing community,” he said. “But when you look at what resources we have, we don’t have a lot of options. I don’t want to sacrifice our existing neighborhoods.” Councilman Matt Willhite said Wellington needs to first decide what kind of senior housing it wants. “Are we talking about communities like Century Village where they have different amenities?” he asked. “Or are we talking about ALFs [assisted-living facilities]?” Schofield said assisted-living facilities often inquire about moving into Wellington and aren’t the issue. “What is an issue now is people who are past retirement age, on fixed incomes and want to downsize,” he said. “Where do they live? They want to stay in Wellington, but they need to live someplace more affordable.” Affordable housing is typically characterized as costing less than 25 percent of one’s gross income, Schofield said. “If you look at some of the low-end rentals in Wellington, that is the sort of cost you are looking at,” he said. But Councilwoman Anne Gerwig disagreed, noting that many seniors want to own their homes. “Our seniors don’t want rental See SENIORS, page 16
SHANA SASKO BENEFIT
Temple Beth Torah hosted a fundraiser on Sunday, May 4 for Shana Sasko, a young woman who is battling a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. There was a barbecue, bake sale, bounce house, face painting and more. For more information, or to donate, visit www.shanasmile.com. Shown here are Adrienne and Shana Sasko with Sara and Cheryl Cordes. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Will Seek More Proposals For K-Park
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington will once again consider proposals for its K-Park property. Council members voted Wednesday as part of their “visioning session” to put out a request for proposals for the site. The 66-acre site on the southwest corner of State Road 7 and Stribling Way has long been a point of contention, with past councils arguing about what, if anything, ultimately should be built on the site. Past proposals have included a college campus, a research park and a horse park, none of which materialized. Now, the village is
temporarily renting out the site to an organic farm. Growth Management Director Bob Basehart told council members that the proposed plans for a horse park on the site last year brought the attention of several other interested parties. “It has generated a significant amount of other offers,” he said. Two years ago, Wellington put out a similar request for proposals and received only one bid — a $7 million plan from ReInvent America LLC for a science and technology park, along with other uses. Comparatively, proponents of the horse park offered Wellington $10 million for the site. Councilman Matt Willhite said
earlier in the meeting that Wellington had been offered as much as $22 million for K-Park. “We went from proposing $10 a year for the college to locate there to an offer of $22 million for it,” he said. “Every city would be happy to be arguing about these kinds of issues.” Basehart said Wellington had several options: to leave the site as is, pick one of the several proposals, design a vision for the site and offer it to the development community, or put out another request for proposals. “With the escalating value of the property, you could hang onto the land to see if the value grows,” he said.
Among the current proposals is a similar plan from ReInvent America LLC with a research and development park, retail, entertainment, restaurants, a hotel and residential uses. Another plan would bring a recreation facility with baseball fields. A third proposal would be mixed-use “downtownoriented” environment with office buildings, a hotel and residences. Finally, a fourth proposal would have a central pedestrian area mixed with a botanical garden, restaurants, a central park area, a theater and bowling alley, a hotel and residences. “We talked to all of the people who submitted plans, especially those with residential components,
and they indicated that they would comply and provide a senior housing solution,” Basehart said. “In conjunction with mixed uses, we believe that would be a good thing.” Vice Mayor John Greene said Wellington needs to be careful in its consideration for K-Park. “What are our long-term needs?” he asked. “This is the last piece of land we have to develop. I don’t want this to just be a financial decision. With any offer, there is a big return on our investment. I want to see what fits our long-term needs.” Willhite pointed out that many of the proposals include residential See K-PARK, page 7