The Village of Wellington should vote to develop the K-Park package

It seems like forever that the village of Wellington has been toying with the idea of transforming its K-Park lot into a foundational building block of a new downtown that the village never had.

It seems like an eternity that the Village of Wellington has toyed with the idea of transforming it K-Park lot into a fundamental building block of a city center that the village never had. Faced with offers to develop the 70-acre site at Stribling Way and State Road 7, the council should vote to sell the land to Related Ross.

It may be a controversial decision for some, but a necessary step if Wellington is serious about addressing the need for a vibrant inner-city community. At this time, K-Park remains the village’s best development tool to not only build a livable center that uses density to better stimulate the village’s growth, but also to drive the necessary changes in the nearby Mall of Wellington Green, a privately owned plot that also needs renovation. to repair.

Earlier this year, the village council voted to continue discussions with Related Ross, directing staff to work with the developer to come up with a viable proposal. The village’s decision to pass on a proposal from village resident Jim Ward, who wanted to buy K-Park for $54 million and build a mixed-use project on the site, was a good one. Related Ross has the resources and power to transform K-Park and ultimately bring about the changes he wants at the nearby mall.

Village negotiations with Related Ross continue, but it is now up to the council to hold the necessary vote. A vote to approve still gives the village the power to shape the final design of the development. The developer must still receive approval from the village planning office and a final vote from the City Council before construction can begin. That’s a legitimate control the village has in working with Related Ross, giving residents the final say on the project.

The K-Park plan took a long time for Wellington

In an ideal world, the steps that led to the development of K-Park would have taken place in a completely different way. The community, knowing the potential value of the plot, would have met through a series of charrettes, community meetings and town halls to discuss what they wanted to see on the site and, more importantly, to develop a realistic strategy to achieve this reaches. Once consensus was reached, the village would have issued a request for proposals, a process that would hopefully attract the right developer with the right proposal.

Instead, the village finds itself in the awkward position of pushing for a development plan, but there is still no community consensus on the parcel. Some want to start the process all over again and are urging the council to scrap the plan by issuing a new request for proposals. Others want community meetings to discuss what should go on the site – how many and what type of housing, what kind of entertainment venues, green space, parking, bike lanes – legitimate questions that come up late in the process.

In the real world, the village council faces a decision on a mixed-use project on the “village square” that will include low-rise buildings, bike paths and parks, 120,000 square feet of commercial office space and 500 apartments or condos.

The only complication, a private school that Related Ross believes should be included in the project, remains a sticking point that should not be a deal breaker. It is up to village officials to ensure that each element of the proposal meets the needs of the community as well as those of the developer. The responsibility lies with the developer to create a school that meets the expectations of the village. If they want the deal, they better find the right school.

Over the past 15 years, the village has considered a Palm Beach State College campus, a baseball complex, a senior center community, an equestrian venue, a mixed-use development with a botanical garden. The ideas came, but nothing stuck. The decision should be easier now that the village has a workable plan and a credible developer.

“What Wellington is missing is Wellington’s version of an urban experience,” a Related Ross representative once said.

The choice of Related Ross may not please everyone, but it is a necessary step towards a more dynamic Wellington.

It seems like forever that the village of Wellington has been toying with the idea of ​​transforming its K-Park lot into a foundational building block of a new downtown that the village never had.

The K-Park plan took a long time for Wellington

It seems like forever that the village of Wellington has been toying with the idea of transforming its K-Park lot into a foundational building block of a new downtown that the village never had.