Wellington residents seek to recall 4 council members

WELLINGTON – A coalition of Wellington residents and equestrians called for the removal of the village mayor and three council members for granting an initial approval to Mark Bellisimo’s plan to take 96 acres from the equestrian preserve to build two luxury neighborhoods and an expanded horse center.

Members of the Coalition to Protect Wellington acknowledged the effort to oust the four elected officials from office is a moot point for two council members because they are term-limited and cannot stay in office beyond the March elections.

But the group said it is serious about its feelings that the council ignored their opposition to the projects and village officials have yet to provide answers to crucial questions about the proposed residential and horse developments.

“It was a complete betrayal to what this community is,” said Maureen Brennan, who is leading the group. “Which is an equestrian community. That gives you identity. Once you start selling land like this, that is done. We are no different than any other town.”

The group gathered on Thursday outside Village Hall to gather signatures for the recall petition drive during the weekly “Food Truck Thursdays” event. Wellington residents, equestrian and nonequestrian alike, showed up to talk about how the village’s denial or approval of the proposals would transform Wellington.

Wellington Lifestyle Partners is proposing to replace Equestrian Village, the Bellissimo-owned dressage venue on South Shore Boulevard, with a high-end community featuring townhomes, single-family homes and a country club dubbed Wellington North. The dressage facilities would be relocated to an expanded Wellington International on Gracida Way.

For Wellington North, the developers seek to build luxury villas and four 5acre farms across from the new showgrounds.

A hotel with stores and restaurants would someday follow on land along South Shore.