Developers and supporters adorned with stickers with the words “Isla Carroll Forever” tried once again to convince Wellington officials to approve the redevelopment of a property with two polo fields adjacent to the National Polo Center into a luxury polo neighborhood at a Wellington Village Council meeting Monday, Jan. 12.
A sharply divided council voted to rezone the Isla Carroll property to a planned unit development on its first reading. However, developers still need a second rezoning approval and the approval of a master plan. Several council members said that they do not have much hope that the project could move forward as currently proposed.
Representatives from McCourt Partners and Discovery Land Company have proposed building 40 multi-million-dollar homes and a clubhouse with luxury amenities on the west side of the 79-acre property. The eastern polo field would be maintained and used for equestrian activities.
Billionaire Frank McCourt, founder of McCourt Partners, explained that the project is allowed under the village’s codes and encouraged the council to approve the rezoning request.
“When I bought Isla Carroll, I had no idea what I was going to do with it,” McCourt said. “What I did know is that I did not want to see another soulless subdivision in my community — a development that wouldn’t benefit the equestrian sport.”
If allowed to move forward entirely, the United States Polo Association (USPA) will enter into a 45-year agreement with the developers, where the organization will maintain and use the field for polo. The USPA will host regular polo matches on the east field during the season, with residents being able to use the field in a limited capacity.
Stewart Armstrong, chairman of the USPA, said that Wellington is losing polo fields rapidly, and the proposed project would not only preserve a field near the National Polo Center, but also help the organization continue to promote the sport in the future.
“Approving this project is not simply a land-use decision; it is a statement about the village’s commitment to preserving polo as a core part of Wellington’s future,” Armstrong said. “If Wellington does not work to preserve polo fields going forward, the number of fields inside the preserve will continue to decline.”
Before going before the council, developers revised the planned development multiple times. The multi-million-dollar homes and some related equestrian amenities remained fixtures of the project. After withdrawing early proposals, the applicants came back with a new plan that would preserve one of the property’s two historic polo fields, which were originally both going to be demolished.
Late last year, Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee and Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board both voted not to recommend approval of the project. Members of the advisory boards had concerns over the project’s apparent lack of an internal equestrian focus, issues over the agreement with the USPA and the inclusion of a luxury clubhouse that seemed unrelated to the preservation of the polo field.
With this feedback, the development team presented the council with an updated plan with a concrete agreement with the USPA and doubled down on equestrian-related amenities offered to residents.
“Our team has integrated polo into the project so thoroughly that it literally permeates from the pores of the project,” said Ed Divita, a partner at Discovery Land Company.
Neil Schiller, a lawyer representing the applicant, explained to the council that the proposal aligns with Wellington’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs). They specifically referred to codes that encourage developments in the Equestrian Preserve Area that maintain the area’s equestrian lifestyle.
Not approving the current proposal could lead them to move forward with an administrative plan that would not guarantee any equestrian focus, preserve the east field or require public approval, he said.
“The [administrative plan] does nothing… to further the goals and ideas of your comprehensive plan and LDRs,” Schiller said. “Under the proposed polo plan, we preserve a field in perpetuity.”
Numerous supporters and critics gave public comments. Multiple members of the advisory boards who voted against recommending approval reaffirmed to the council that the project does not belong in the equestrian preserve.
“It appears their goal is to maximize profit,” said Sarah Goos, who sits on the Equestrian Preserve Committee. “What they are proposing is a non-equestrian country club, which does not meet the criteria of the LDRs… Wellington cannot be sold for a polo field.”
Supporters of the project echoed developers’ claims that the proposed plan will not only benefit the sport but also the equestrian community.
“[The project] strengthens the polo ecosystem, reinforces Wellington’s global reputation and secures the future of polo here in Wellington,” said Avery-Anna Hogan, who works in real estate. “Supporting this project supports the entire equestrian community. Thoughtful land use like this protects what makes Wellington so special.”
After hearing the range of opinions from the public, several on the council were still apprehensive about the project. Similar to previous advisory boards, some did not believe that the development was truly equestrian-related.
Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri and Councilwoman Maria Antuña agreed that the proposal did not seem equestrian in nature.
“If we approve a project like this, I believe it would change the essence of Wellington forever,” Silvestri said. “Based on the evidence I heard tonight, I will not be able to support this project.”
Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind was one of the few on the dais who had some support for the project. However, she said that she would still like to see more changes.
“This project could be a real complement to Wellington, and it could continue to grow the sport of polo in Wellington,” Siskind said. “I don’t like to kill anything on first reading, but I would also like to see some more changes to this.”
Mayor Michael Napoleone did not believe that the proposed development met Wellington’s codes for the equestrian preserve. However, he wanted to give the developers another opportunity to revise the plan. He was not confident it would win final approval without significant changes.
“I don’t know how you save what I see as a fundamental problem to this project,” Napoleone said. “If I vote yes, I put everyone through another hearing on this issue, and you guys spend a lot of time, money and effort to try to address all of the concerns that we have, that candidly, I don’t know you can fix on a second reading.”
The council passed a motion approving the rezoning request 3-2, with Silvestri and Antuña dissenting. The council will decide whether to approve the site’s master plan when the project returns for its second reading.
