County inks pact with Wellington Green

Published June 30th, 2008

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

Wellington Green, LLP and Palm Beach County have approved an agreement to jointly participate in the design and construction of intersection improvements at State Road 7 and Forest Hill Boulevard.

Commissioners said the county road plan includes improvements on the west approach of Forest Hill Boulevard at State Road 7 to provide three-left turn lanes, three through lanes, and two right turn lanes.

At the same time, the developer intends to construct a new driveway connection serving a retail out parcel at the Mall at
Wellington Green, including an eastbound right turn lane and a modified median opening, located on Forest Hill Boulevard at the west end of the project. Commissioners said to make mutual best use of resources, and minimize traffic disruption, a joint construction project was best.

The developer will fund all construction related to the new driveway connection and associated right turn lane and modified median opening. The county will in turn obtain a right-of-way needed for the project through a property exchange with the Lake Worth Drainage District. The developer has agreed to pay the county $125,000 as compensation for the county obtaining the needed right-of-way; those funds will be used on the intersection improvement, commissioners said.

Other Business

In other recent business commissioners:

• Approved an increase in the total rate and costs toward the county defense of a claim by James McCarthy arising from a 1997 arrest.  McCarthy claims that he was arrested in December 1997, and charged with 22 counts of grand theft, as a result of allegedly false information provided to the State Attorney’s Office by Maurice Rosenstock and Daniel Hyndman. The total rate costs have been increased to $250,000, and expenses increased to a maximum of $48,000, commissioners said.

• Approved two standard developments: Kids Santuary, Inc- District 2; 2004 Delaware, Inc & GPRA Thoroughbred Training Center, Inc.   , District 3.

• Approved renewal of a standard development agreement with GL Homes of Boca Raton Associates V, Ltd., District 5.