Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Discovery Land Company received initial approval from the Wellington village council to move forward with a mixed-use development on a former polo field. The proposed project, known as Isla Carroll Polo and Residences, aims to create homes, an equestrian complex, and a private club.
The council voted 3-2 in favor of the zoning changes required for the development during Monday’s meeting. Mayor Michael Napoleone, who supported the measure along with Vice Mayor Tanya Siskin and Councilman John McGovern, emphasized that significant revisions would be needed before final approval could be granted in February. “In the interest of preserving the [polo] field I am giving you another shot, but I don’t know how you are going to get there unless there are fundamental changes,” Napoleone said.
Councilwomen Maria S. Antuna and Amanda Silvestri opposed the proposal.
McCourt Partners of New York and Discovery Land Company of Scottsdale plan to redevelop the 79.2-acre site at 3665 120th Avenue South into a community featuring an equestrian center with a polo field, private club amenities such as restaurants, spa facilities, racquet sports courts, gym space, and polo training simulators.
A central issue was whether to allow construction of 40 single-family homes on half-acre lots instead of adhering to current zoning rules that require two-acre lots suitable for stables in Wellington’s equestrian preservation zone.
Frank McCourt addressed the council after traveling from Cairo: “We have gone to great lengths to comply with your code and not ask for a single thing we are not entitled to,” he said. “This is a project we’re extremely proud of and we have a lot of people supporting it.”
Neil Schiller, attorney for McCourt’s group, stated that there were 120 letters backing the project as well as support from Wellington’s planning staff. Stewart Armstrong, chairman of the United States Polo Association (USPA), spoke in favor too: he confirmed that USPA has an agreement allowing them to lease the property for $1 per year plus annual maintenance costs over long-term increments. Schiller compared this arrangement by saying: “That is like FAU [Florida Atlantic University] having a deal with the NFL to have games and programming at their stadium [in Boca Raton].”
Ed Davitas from Discovery Land Company explained that Estudio Ramos designed plans centering around polo education and observation.
Some residents criticized aspects of the proposal—citing demolition of one barn with only one polo field preserved out of two originally present—and raised concerns about lack of overnight horse facilities or possible future conversion into more housing if agreements fall through. Schiller responded that any further land use changes would require unanimous council approval if this plan passes.
Councilman McGovern noted his conditional support: had this been a final vote he would have opposed it but expressed hope developers would return with improved plans beyond “a polo field and a country club.” He suggested considering designs including “five farms plus homes.”
A company affiliated with McCourt acquired East Isla Carroll for $52 million in 2022; previously he sold other Wellington properties including an equestrian estate near Bill Gates’ holdings. Discovery Land Company has experience developing luxury communities such as Atlantic Fields in Martin County alongside Becker Holding Company.
