Artistry Lakes Annexation: Wellington vs. Palm Beach County Explained

Artistry Lakes: Wellington and the County Clash Over a 446-Acre Annexation

Update, Oct. 30, 2026: Wellington and the county have negotiated a narrower agreement that covers only Artistry Lakes. See what's in the new Artistry Lakes deal.

Wellington and Palm Beach County are at odds over Artistry Lakes, 446 acres of undeveloped land on the north side of Southern Blvd. where Kolter Homes plans a gated community of 579 single-family homes. Wellington annexed the land in March 2026. The county says the annexation doesn't meet state law, and in August county commissioners unanimously rejected a deal meant to settle the dispute. Now the two governments are back at the negotiating table, with a possible court fight in the background. Here's what happened and what each side has said.

The Artistry Lakes dispute at a glance

The land: 446 undeveloped acres north of Southern Blvd., next to Wellington and near the Arden community
The plan: A gated Kolter Homes community with 579 single-family homes
The annexation: Approved unanimously by the Wellington Village Council on March 10, 2026, without a referendum because no registered voters live on the site
The proposed deal: An Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA), approved by Wellington 4-1 on Aug. 11 and rejected unanimously by the County Commission on Aug. 26
Status: Village and county administrators are expected to keep negotiating; the developer's plans are on hold

How we got here

The county had approved Artistry Lakes in 2024 for 480 single-family homes and 54 multi-family workforce housing units, the Town-Crier reported. After Wellington began the annexation, the plan changed to 579 single-family homes with no workforce housing. Instead, the developer paid Wellington $1 million for other housing efforts.

County officials objected. They argue Florida law requires annexed land to be developed for urban purposes and to share a proper border with the city or village, and they say Artistry Lakes meets neither test.

To settle it, village and county staff negotiated a 20-year ISBA. It wouldn't annex any land itself, but it would clear the county's objections to Artistry Lakes and set rules for any future annexations in a larger area north of Southern Blvd. and west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. That area includes the Arden community and land owned by PBA Holdings, site of the proposed Project Tango data center. Village Manager Jim Barnes said Wellington wanted the agreement to cover only Artistry Lakes, but the county wanted the whole corridor included.

Wellington's case

No one is annexed without a vote. "We're not annexing anything by this ordinance," Mayor Michael Napoleone said of the ISBA. "If we were ever to annex, it'll be voted on by the people who were sought to be annexed."
Settling the fight. "This is what needs to happen now just to get the county out of the equation," Vice Mayor Maria Antuña said. "No one's saying we're going to put backhoes in and we're going to start building out there at all."
Open to neighbors who want in. "If it made sense for you to be part of our community, and that's what Arden wanted, I'd be fine with that," Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri said, though she was the lone vote against the ISBA.
Benefits for the area. Speaking for the developer, Ken Tuma of Urban Design Studio said the agreement guaranteed a fire station site, a road dedication for a future Okeechobee Blvd. extension, and set density standards for the property. Kolter also offered $1 million to Wellington's housing fund and, if the ISBA were approved, another $1 million to the county's Workforce Housing Trust Fund.

The county's case

A strong legal argument. "Quite frankly, I think our argument is very strong," Assistant County Attorney Darren Leiser told commissioners.
Lost workforce housing and protections. "We're losing not only workforce housing, but we're also losing protective overlays," County Mayor Sara Baxter said. "The way this was done was very strong-handed, and I don't think proper."
Trust. Commissioner Gregg Weiss said Wellington had told the county there would be no more annexations nearby when it annexed the Sluggett property to the east. "As far as I'm concerned, you didn't deal with us in good faith last time," he said.
Neighbors worried about the future. Arden residents told both boards they feared the agreement would pave the way for eventual annexation. Some pointed to a 2004 restrictive covenant and the Glades Area Protection Overlay, which limit development and annexation in the area. Village officials noted the ISBA itself would not remove the covenant; that would take a separate county vote.

What happens next

Administrators from both governments are expected to meet for more negotiations. If they can't agree, the dispute could end up in court, and if the county wins, the annexation could be voided. Any revised agreement would have to go through the full approval process again. Meanwhile, Kolter's plans for the site are on hold. For more on growth along Southern Blvd., see our coverage of the Live Local Act and Polo West.

What do you think?

Should Wellington be able to annex empty land on its borders to control how it's developed, or should the county keep the final say west of the village? And should the deal have included more workforce housing?

Frequently asked questions

What is Artistry Lakes in Wellington?

A 446-acre undeveloped property on the north side of Southern Blvd. where Kolter Homes plans a gated community of 579 single-family homes. Wellington annexed it in March 2026.

Why does Palm Beach County object to the Artistry Lakes annexation?

County officials argue the land isn't developed for urban purposes and doesn't properly share a border with Wellington, as Florida law requires. They also objected to losing the workforce housing in the county-approved plan.

What is the Wellington ISBA?

An Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement negotiated by village and county staff to settle the dispute and set rules for future annexations in a corridor that includes Arden. Wellington approved it 4-1, but the County Commission rejected it unanimously on Aug. 26, 2026.

Could Arden be annexed into Wellington?

Only with a vote. Areas with residents, like Arden, would need a referendum with majority approval to join Wellington.