Wellington Canal Clear Cutting
The Village of Wellington is pursuing a project that will clear all landscaping, fences, and vegetation within 25 feet of all canals in Wellington. This includes landscaping and fences that have provided privacy, security or that the residents enjoy and have maintained at their expense for years. In many cases, this project will remove every piece of foliage in residents’ backyards regardless of age or environmental impact. The Village is currently implementing this project as many trees have already been removed and there are many more to go.
The Village claims this is necessary in order to prevent flooding. We believe that there are other alternatives to accomplishing their goals.
Why this Project is a Bad Idea
- Destruction of decades-old landscaping, trees, vegetation which is important to our local environment
- Loss of privacy for you in your home
- Loss of security for you in your home
- Decrease in property value
- High fiscal costs incurred to complete the project
Here’s what you can do
Petition
Sign the official petition on change.org.
Call and Email Your Local Offices Elected Officials
- Mayor Bob Margolis – Rmargolis@wellingtonfl.gov
- Vice Mayor John Greene – jgreene@wellingtonfl.gov
- Councilman Matt Willhite – Mwillhite@wellingtonfl.gov
- Village Manager Paul Schofield – Pschofield@wellingtonfl.gov
- Village of Wellington Public Works Office – (561) 791-7490
- Village Council Office – (561) 791-414
- State Senator Joseph Abruzzo’s Office – (561) 791-4774
- State Representative Mark Pafford – (561) 682-015PB
- County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay – Mmckinlay@pbcgov.org or (561) 355-2754
Resources
- Council Meeting Minutes on the Canal Reclamation Project
- Documentation from the City of Wellington Specifying How Residents Would be Notified: Did you get a phone call or do you see publicly posted signage (A-frames)?
Press Coverage
- Residents: Wellington ‘insulting our intelligence’ on canal clearing (5/28/2015 Palm Beach Post: http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/residents-village-insulting-our-intelligence-on-ca/nmP32/
- Residents urge Wellington to compromise on canal-clearing plan (5/27/2015): http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/residents-urge-village-council-to-compromise-on-ca/nmPJm/
- Village of Wellington tearing down trees to prepare for hurricanes, residents aren’t happy with plan (WPTV – 5/27/2015): http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/wellington/village-of-wellington-tearing-down-trees-to-prepare-for-hurricanes-residents-arent-happy-with-plan
- Letter: Stop the Project (Town Crier): http://gotowncrier.com/2015/05/letter-stop-clearing-wellington-easements/
- Wellington residents report being mis-informed by city (Palm Beach Post): http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/canal-cleaning-leaves-wellington-residents-confuse/nmLh4/
- Village canal maintenance remains controversial (Palm Beach Post): http://wpbc.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/05/20/village-canal-maintenance-remains-controversial/
- Town Crier : http://gotowncrier.com/2014/05/canal-project-has-wellington-neighborhood-upset/
- WPTV: http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/wellington/neighbors-angry-with-citys-plan-to-remove-trees-fences-from-backyards
- Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/eastwood-residents-protest-canal-cleanup-effort-in/nfxf8/
Share this Information
Share this information with anyone and everyone who may be affected.
What the town of Wellington is proposing is akin to deforestation, in that ALL trees and vegetation will be removed from a specific area. Even though it is on a lesser scale, it will still have an EXTREMELY negative impact on the environment and quality of life. This type of clear-cutting will result in a loss of habitat for amphibians, insects, and other living things that depend on the close proximity of vegetation to water. The trees and vegetation that grow within 25 feet of the water provide a natural “canopy” which blocks the sun’s rays during the day and holds in heat at night. This type of disruption will lead to temperature variations that can be harmful to the delicate ecosystem. It also will alter the water cycle in general. Where trees and brush are growing, they help to trap and retain water, along with topsoil. When trees and vegetation are removed, water runs over the surface rather than filtering through the earth. Excess water runoff can worsen flooding, and take precious topsoil with it. The topsoil will turn water brown and muddy, and the excess of topsoil nutrients can be harmful to fish and other marine organisms.