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Council designates Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Preserve as conservation in Wellington comprehensive plan
Summary
By unanimous vote the council amended the village future land-use map to designate the 363-acre Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Preserve as Wellington conservation land, aligning the preserve’s official designation with its current uses.
The Village of Wellington council on Tuesday unanimously adopted an amendment to the comprehensive plan that redesignates the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Preserve (Section 24) from Palm Beach County rural residential 10 to Wellington conservation.
The preserve totals about 363 acres and is used as a passive recreation and environmental restoration area, including a 3.6-mile bridle trail, multi-use pathways, boardwalks and an observation tower. Staff said the site functions as a stormwater-filtration and phosphorus-reduction area that helps protect downstream water quality before flows reach the C-1 canal and Everglades system.
Why it matters: The conservation designation formalizes the preserve’s role in environmental protection, passive recreation and stormwater management and supports eligibility for certain grants tied to conservation and restoration work. Staff noted the designation is consistent with multiple comprehensive-plan policies that call for preservation, restoration and passive recreational uses.
Background: Wellington purchased the preserve and acquired an adjacent 45-acre parcel (Moncada property) in November 2021; the council previously approved the Moncada parcel as conservation in May 2023. Staff said the change documents about 363 acres of conservation land in Wellington and supports grant-funding eligibility for restoration and ongoing management.
Public process and vote: The Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board recommended approval (6-0) and the council approved Ordinance 2025-06 on second reading, 5-0. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
Next steps: Staff will apply the conservation designation on Wellington’s future land-use map and continue to manage the preserve for conservation, passive recreation and stormwater-filtering functions. The village also cited prior recognition: the preserve was named Palm Beach County ASCE project of the year in 2010.
