Developer Mark Bellissimo and his partners are seeking approval of land use and zoning changes to move forward with their proposal for a huge luxury mixed-use community in Wellington, a month after a village advisory board unanimously recommended denying those requests.
Wellington Lifestyle Partners, a joint venture between Bellissimo’s Wellington Equestrian Partners and Nexus Luxury Collection, will go before Wellington’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board on Wednesday. From there, the proposed changes could head to the village council for final approval. Some land use amendments require a favorable vote from at least four of the five council members.
In the latest version of the Wellington project, the developer would build single-family homes, condos, a commercial complex with retail, restaurants, office space, and hotels on more than 600 acres. The project also calls for a large expansion of the Wellington International equestrian facility and showgrounds.
The development, if approved, could dramatically alter two areas in Wellington, which is considered the winter equestrian capital of the world. Residents in opposition have expressed concerns about how it could affect traffic, Wellington’s infrastructure, and other issues by adding housing in the heart of the Equestrian Preserve.
The village’s part-time equestrian athlete residents include Georgina Bloomberg (daughter of Michael Bloomberg), Jessica Springsteen (daughter of Bruce Springsteen) and Jennifer Gates (daughter of Bill Gates). The season typically runs from January to March or April.
Bellissimo tapped star power to join him on his project, called the Wellington. Partner Nexus includes British billionaire developer Joe Lewis’ Tavistock Group, golf greats Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake and founding eBay president Jeff Skol. Nexus runs The Albany Resort in the Bahamas, and a private club in Manhattan, according to its website.
The development would be divided in two: Wellington North and Wellington South. Bellissimo and his partners are seeking approval to move uses and density within Bellissimo’s large assemblage of land, including transferring land out of the Equestrian Preserve. In one request, the developer wants to replace the 60-acre dressage showgrounds with residential development, and build a new showground on a separate site.
Douglas McMahon, a partner in the project, told the South Florida Business Journal the developer would sell 90 acres next to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to Global Equestrian Group in a deal that’s contingent on the developer securing its zoning approvals. Dressage could be moved to that site.
For Wellington North, at 13410 to 13500 South Shore Boulevard, Bellissimo and his partners are requesting four comprehensive plan amendments to modify the Equestrian Preserve Area boundary and future land use map designations. Wellington North would have 22 single-family homes and 278 multifamily units, the latter of which is likely condos. It would also include sports courts and other related amenities, including pickleball, tennis and padel, pools, fields and a putting green.
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For Wellington South, the developer is seeking two comprehensive plan amendments to modify the future land use map and amendments to a Wellington planned urban development district. The site is at 3400 to 3780 Gene Mische Way; 3609 Equestrian Club Road; and 3511, 3555 and 3835 South Shore Boulevard.
Last month, Bellissimo sold the 161-acre International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington for $95 million to Lake Worth Beach-based United States Polo Association. The sale covers the majority of the 248-acre polo club property Bellissimo bought in 2016 for $72 million.