The Wellington Village Council last week approved a contract to construct a multipurpose path near the entrance to the Palm Beach Point community, although Palm Beach Point residents still prefer an option that would provide more vehicle stacking at their entrance gate.
The new path would connect the C-23 bridle path to the Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat, also known as Section 24.
“Today, there is no connectivity,” Village Engineer Bill Riebe explained at the Aug. 12 meeting. “There is a bridle trail there so you can ride a horse to Section 24, but you can’t ride your bicycle. You can walk there across the grass, but there is no connectivity at this point.”
Riebe pointed out that although there is a bridle trail along the south side of the C-23 Canal, there is no crossing at Palm Beach Point Blvd.
“It’s an active bridle trail with golf carts and horses, with people using that pathway primarily to go back and forth to the show grounds,” he said.
The project also provides stormwater relief. The installation of a culvert that will improve drainage for Basin B and Palm Beach Point is included in the contract.
The item was first brought before the council on May 27 with various options to choose from. It was sent to the Equestrian Preserve Committee, which recommended approval of Option 2 last month. That plan provides access across Palm Beach Point Blvd. along the north side of the C-23 Canal right of way about 120 feet north of the Palm Beach Point gatehouse.
The Palm Beach Point Property Owners Association is opposed to this option, although it is the option recommended by both staff and the Equestrian Preserve Committee. No Palm Beach Point representatives were present at the committee meeting.
Councilman Howard Coates said he was troubled that Palm Beach Point representatives were not at the Equestrian Preserve Committee meeting. Riebe said they had been advised of the meeting.
Palm Beach Point representatives reiterated their previous preference for Option 4, which would provide access across Palm Beach Point Blvd. for the path, about 300 feet north of the gatehouse. This option does not require relocation of the roadway realignment and reconstruction of Palm Beach Point Blvd. It is, however, more expensive and requires equestrians, pedestrians and bicyclists to share a 230-foot segment of a 9-foot-wide multipurpose path along the western side of Palm Beach Point Blvd.
Riebe said Option 2 was the least expensive and the safest choice. He said Option 4 was presented to the Equestrian Preserve Committee as an option, but the committee chose Option 2.
Eileen Yarbrough, president of Palm Beach Point Property Owners Association, said she supported Option 4 and apologized that she had not been at the committee meeting.
“Had I been there, I believe their recommendation would have been different,” Yarbrough said.
Councilman Matt Willhite said he favored Option 2 because it provided safety for horses and was within budget.
Coates preferred Option 4 because he thought Option 2 would create more safety concerns with horses and vehicular traffic. He also agreed with Palm Beach Point residents that it provides more vehicle stacking at the guard gate.
“Clearly, the homeowners most affected by this are the homeowners in Palm Beach Point because it’s in their front yard in terms of where the crossing is going to occur,” Coates said.
Councilwoman Anne Gerwig asked whether Option 4 would require additional right of way, and Riebe said it would not.
Gerwig also pointed out that the path will pass near the Aero Club community, which had not been contacted. Riebe said the path does not directly affect the two property owners abutting it.
Riebe noted that Option 2 was his recommendation, although he had developed Option 4 as an alternative.
“We try our best to come up with solutions and compromises to get problems solved and provide access to places of destination in Wellington,” Riebe explained.
Vice Mayor John Greene said there is a significant amount of work that needs to be done on the C-23 Canal, which benefits the greater population of Wellington, but he was concerned about the safety factor of the crossing.
Riebe said safety factors had been built in, including flashing lights, speed humps and a stop bar at the crossing.
Greene made a motion to approve the Option 2 contract, and Mayor Bob Margolis asked Greene to add to the motion that if there are issues with the crossing, they can go back and change it.
“We’ll monitor that, and if it needs to come back, based on what you’re telling me, Mr. Riebe, that essentially for the same cost we could potentially relocate that crossing,” Greene said.
The motion carried 3-2, with Gerwig and Coates opposed.
