Dec. 5, 2024 issue:
Let’s build Osuna Ranch Historic Park and revitalize our community!
We grew up in Rancho Santa Fe, cherishing its rural charm, scenic trails, excellent schools, and tight-knit community. However, long-time residents and newcomers have recently witnessed a growing sense of division among Covenant groups with different visions for enhancing our community.
Long-timers places that once united residents from diverse backgrounds. The former Garden Club building, now the Secret Garden, was a vibrant community hub where Covenant gathered for meetings, lectures, dances, concerts, garden shows, card games, and more. Residents discovered common interests, made friendships, and collaborated to develop the amenities that have distinguished our community.
RSFA’s Osuna Committee now seeks to increase community cohesion and spirit by creating Osuna Ranch Historic Park. With its historic Adobe, equestrian facility, and other desired community features identified in our 2022 RSFA Community Survey, this park would become a new social hub.
Why is Osuna Ranch Historic Park so important?
Firstly, it provides a much-needed community gathering space. While RSF has playing fields, natural areas, and a restaurant, it lacks a large, central indoor-outdoor venue where residents can socialize and learn. At recent RSF Association meetings with 150+ attendees, about half the participants couldn’t see the speakers’ screens. The proposed 4,000-square-foot Osuna Community Barn would provide a spacious and beautiful venue for community meetings, educational programs, concerts, dances, youth activities, and special events.
Secondly, the Osuna property can accommodate four of the top five amenities RSF households ed developing in our Community Survey: a children’s playground, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, a historical/education center, and a dog park. Natural playgrounds foster imaginative play and build children’s physical and social skills while teaching them about the environment. A dog park would provide safe, inviting areas for dogs and their owners. Benches, picnic tables, and shaded areas throughout the park would offer comfort for visitors.
Thirdly, Osuna Park will preserve and showcase RSF’s unique history, from the indigenous Kumeyaay to the Osuna family, Santa Fe Railroad period, Lilian Rice era, and more recent times. The Community Barn would include historic relics and a colorful RSF historic timeline for school field trips and educational programs.
Finally, Osuna park would increase our property values and quality of life. Parks are an excellent financial investment, attracting family homeowners and retaining affluent retirees. Parks are also an ideal venue for hosting special events such as weddings, family reunions, and farm-to-table dinners. Equally important, parks significantly increase community cohesion and resident satisfaction.
We now have an opportunity to develop a new multi-use park on the 24.3 acres of Osuna Ranch, the last remnant of the 8,824-acre San Dieguito Land Grant. Let’s add this beautiful amenity for all to enjoy!
Holly Manion
Sheryl Fellows Arnold
Rancho Santa Fe residents
Letters/guest commentary policyLetters and guest commentaries published in this newspaper express views from readers about community matters. Letters and guest commentaries reflect the writers’ opinions and not those of the newspaper staff or publisher.Letters and guest commentaries are subject to editing. To share your thoughts in this public forum, email them for consideration with your first and last names and city or neighborhood of residence to [email protected].
Jan. 2, 2025 issue:
Eleven minutes…swoosh goes Silvergate
The century old Hodges Dam has been a progressively deteriorating and unsafe disaster threat for decades. Nearly half century ago the County Office of Emergency Preparedness, concerned about disaster evacuation, found this: Within 11 minutes of a catastrophic failure of Hodges Dam, a 22-foot-high wall of water would rage down gorge through El Apajo to the coast in a path of destruction. About 30,000 acre-feet of water is stored.
FEMA defines floodplains in “100 year flood” . In 1979-82 we had “30 year floods” per the County Flood Control District. Hodges continuously overflowed. The El Apajo subregion was submerged, lacking drainage infrastructure, triggered by a breach of the riverbanks at Chino Farms causing “sheet flow” due to inverted valley topography sloping way from the riverbank. Both bridges, Via De Santa Fe and El Camino Real, were closed with damaged abutments. Residents south of the bridges were landlocked. The breached riverbank altered the river course. It took years and millions of dollars to restore these bridges.
Chairing the county’s San Dieguito Planning Group later in the 1980s I wrote a dozen motions, all approved by the 15-member group of elected citizens, opposing high density developments in the floodways, floodplains, fringe and sheet flow areas. This is backed by the county’s adopted San Dieguito Community Plan, categoric zoning restrictions on development density in floodways and fringe, but especially in relation to concerns about Hodges Dam emergency evacuation concerns. Flood officials in public meetings showed historic aerial photos of flooding in that area. Geological findings show the San Dieguito River Valley having high liquefaction potential…subject to earthquake damages, with warnings to public officials not to approve higher population density uses: schools, churches, multifamily residential.
The 30-plus acre “Silvergate” site, vacant 35 years, part Covenant, part not, has been the battleground of several densification project wars we citizens fought, and won. High density land use proposals will forever be sought by greedy developers not giving a hoot about preserving our unique rural community character, or adhering to the County General Plan. Not one of our elected county officials who make permit decisions lives here. The Silvergate proposal is by far the most egregious, most dense and intense assault on our rural character preservation of environmentally constrained land.
Don’t wait for Hodges to burst or politicians to get paid off. Adamantly say no, now.
Albert B. Frowiss, 50-year RSF resident, led a score of county and RSF task forces and committees re general plan, land use, maps, zoning, use permits, growth management; RSFA Art Juror; headed two RSF HOAs, defeated RSFA in trial and appellate courts in landmark case, TICOR vs RSFA.
Letters/guest commentary policy
Letters and guest commentaries published in this newspaper express views from readers about community matters. Letters and guest commentaries reflect the writers’ opinions and not those of the newspaper staff or publisher.Letters and guest commentaries are subject to editing. To share your thoughts in this public forum, email them for consideration with your first and last names and city or neighborhood of residence to [email protected].
Feb. 20, 2025 issue:
Osuna Ranch Historic Park will boost RSF property values
In real estate, location is everything, and Rancho Santa Fe (RSF) exemplifies this truth. With its rich equestrian history, extensive trail network, and pastoral charm, our community has long attracted Hollywood celebrities, sports stars, and prosperous business professionals. The failed ambitions of the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company ultimately paved the way for the exclusive enclave that exists today.
As residents consider Osuna Ranch’s future, it is crucial to recognize the value of preserving historically significant open space. Studies show that homes near parks and open spaces attract buyers and investors, leading to increased property values. Thoughtful stewardship of Osuna Ranch can enhance real estate appeal and community life for generations.
Osuna Ranch offers a glimpse into many bygone eras, from the indigenous Kumeyaay through the Mexican Rancho era, Mexican-American War, Railway era, and RSF’s development, guided by Lilian Rice. The proposed Osuna Ranch Historic Park would provide multiple benefits, including a nationally-recognized historic Adobe, top-rated equestrian facility, and 4 of the 5 top amenities desired by RSF households in the Covenant Community Survey: a community barn with an educational/historic center, natural playground, dog park, and outdoor gathering spaces.”
Real estate experts recognize the positive impact of community parks on property values. Homes within a half-mile of a park enjoy “proximity s” of 8% to 20%, while those farther away also benefit from increased desirability. Higher home values also bolster the community’s tax base.
Additionally, homes in communities with historic and cultural significance appreciate faster and maintain their value better during economic downturns. Homebuyers prioritize historic preservation, scenic views, and access to parks with ive recreation such as trail walking, bocce ball, and natural playgrounds. While RSF boasts miles of trails and sports fields, it lacks parks that draw residents together for picnicking, unstructured play, and environmental education—amenities available in neighboring communities like Solana Beach, Fairbanks Ranch, and Encinitas.
RSF real estate professionals enthusiastically developing Osuna Ranch Historic Park. Pacific Sotheby’s’ Realtor Rachel Rawley notes, “The proposed transformation of Osuna Ranch into a community park is exciting news for all Covenant homeowners, especially those nearby. We’d expect significant upticks in interest and property values when park amenities are added, along with sustained growth over time.” Com Realtor Bree Bornstein adds, “Homes with access to this visionary historic park should attract families and retirees who enjoy the outdoors, selling faster and at higher prices than homes in communities lacking this unique asset.”
In summary, Osuna Ranch must be protected for its historical significance and valuable benefits for residents. Thoughtful investment in the proposed park, which integrates our rich history, scenic open space, and desired community amenities, is certain to enhance the Covenant’s appeal and our long-term property values.
Brittany Hahn Games and Steve GamesRealtors, Coldwell Banker WestCovenant Homeowners
Parents and taxpayers question if ethnic studies is appropriate for 12-13-year-old children at SDUHSD
San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) is set to offer an Ethnic Studies course integrated into 9th grade English starting fall 2025 as optional.
Besides concerns over the dilution and distraction of their core, English curriculums, the pilot program has sparked controversy.
The course content includes potentially sensitive topics such as identifying students based on race, color, sexuality, and gender preferences. Unit one reportedly categorizes light-skinned students as “privileged, white supremacists” and “oppressors.” Darker-skinned students are “oppressed.”
Many also expressed concerns about: Negative portrayal of American history; Potential for creating division among students and teaching negative stereotypes to young teenagers.
The course’s fourth unit focuses on student activism, which raised more concerns.
While some view Ethnic Studies as promoting inclusivity and empathy, others worry it may shame certain students and create animosity in others.
8th grade parents: Your student must choose by March 2025 to either take a standalone 9th grade English course or English/Ethnic Studies combined.
Parents of non-white students have voiced apprehension about their children being labeled as “oppressed.”
The San Dieguito Faculty Association’s union leadership s the course, but not all teachers agree with the controversial material.
Public viewings of the course content since September 2024 have been marked by opposition, heated debates and unanswered questions. Some parents even filed two formal complaints against district employees for allegedly bullying them over their concerns during the review of unit two.
SDUHSD isn’t alone. Contentious debates continue across California and the country. However, California is the first state to make Ethnic Studies mandatory if it gets funding from the state’s budget this June.
The future of this course, its content and funding remains uncertain as the district navigates these complex issues with community .
Marci Strange i
Chairwoman of Taxpayers Oversight for Parents and Students of SDUHSD.www.TOPS4SDUHSD.org
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