I’ve seen a lot of changes in my 47 years in Wellington.
Most importantly, I’ve watched Wellington grow into the “equestrian capital of the world,” especially over the last 15 years with more international competitions and competitors than any other location in the U.S. I think we can all agree that this designation sets Wellington apart from other communities and is our economic engine.
Today, many of us are engaged in a battle to influence whether or not our village council approves an application from Wellington Lifestyle Partners (WLP). I believe everyone on both sides of the issue wants the same thing — to keep Wellington’s horse sport industry strong and growing. We all depend on it one way or another.
I originally opposed this application. There were too many houses, not enough protections to community aesthetics and no safeguards that the positive aspects of the application would ever be completed. When I was president of the USEF, I fought many battles with Mark Bellissimo, an investor in WLP, over horse show conditions. There were many broken promises. But, as this application progressed, I saw real change thanks to pressure from our community, a disciplined village council process and a developer led by Doug McMahon that listened — so much so that I am now in support.
Let me tell you why.
Our major concerns have been addressed and guaranteed. The horse show today is overcrowded and inconveniently spread across two locations without room for growth. It’s owned by a private equity group, not WLP, that’s proving to be a short-term investor having already put the horse show up for sale. We need this horse show in the hands of someone who is committed to its long-term success — I believe this application makes that more likely.
WLP’s application adheres to its combined properties’ allocated building rights, has important restrictions and consolidates the horse shows into one larger footprint with a new, world-class derby field and facilities for dressage. WLP is paying for the new show grounds at a cost of more than $30 million.
Conditions 7 and 8 that were shrewdly added to the application guarantee that no house can be built until this new facility is operational and that horse shows must continue where they are now in the interim. All of this will be more attractive to a long-term potential owner.
If we consider the alternative, the outcome is unacceptable. WLP privately owns the land. They can build many homes on them today, but in a way that would be disastrous for the community. The horse show would be landlocked, and the dressage facility and derby field would vanish. All WLP is asking for is to flip their allocated rights from one parcel to another. That lets them build their community in a more desirable location for them and lets the horse show get a new, improved facility and consolidate. It’s a win-win.
I urge the council members to vote yes, approve this project and turn our focus to the critical next step of ensuring that the horse show lands into the hands of a long-term investor.
Together, we must keep Wellington the “equestrian capital of the world.”
Murray Kessler, Wellington
