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Wellington staff threaten injunction, refund extended-hours application after complaints of after-hours nightclub activity at Stallion
Summary
Council heard numerous resident complaints about after-hours events at The Stallion restaurant in Palm Beach Polo; staff has issued a cease-and-desist letter, plans a meeting with the proprietor and said it would seek an injunction if the use continues without approvals.
Wellington officials said they have sent a cease-and-desist letter and are pursuing legal steps after residents reported repeated after-hours events at The Stallion restaurant inside Palm Beach Polo, which staff said appear to be operating beyond permitted hours and possibly as an unpermitted nightclub.
Planning and code staff told the council they received multiple resident complaints, social-media notices advertising late-night events, and reports that the restaurant remained open well past the town’s permitted hours for the pod. Staff said it is refunding an application fee for an extended-hours request because the use as a nightclub is not permitted in that pod; staff’s position, as explained in the letter, is that the applicant should first show it can lawfully operate the proposed use before the town will consider any extended-hours request.
Town attorneys said they have been in contact with the property proprietors, the Palm Beach Polo owners and the homeowners association. Staff also reported site visits by code inspectors and by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s deputies were reportedly more effective at securing immediate compliance during site visits, staff said.
Planning staff said they plan to meet with the proprietor this week; if the proprietor fails to comply with the cease-and-desist, staff told the council it will seek authority to pursue an injunction to force the establishment to stop unpermitted operations.
Council members discussed access control at the POA gate and emphasized that who is allowed into the gated community is a POA matter, but the town retains authority to regulate whether a use on property complies with the town’s land-development regulations. Planning staff said they will follow up with the POA on gate access issues and continue enforcement steps related to land-use compliance.
Ending: Staff said it will brief council at the next meeting after the scheduled meeting with the proprietor and will pursue legal remedies, including an injunction, if the property continues to operate uses not permitted under Wellington’s LDRs.
