Council Approves Long-Term Lease for Riding Park

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Equestrians and married couple Robert and Hillary Ridland will continue managing operations at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park for another 20 years.

A long-term lease with the Ridlands was approved by the San Juan Capistrano City Council on Tuesday, June 20, by a 3-1 vote. Mayor Howard Hart and Councilmembers John Taylor and John that bring in successful business owners who have taste. I think that’s added to who we are as a city.”

Farias said he understood concerns about alcohol service expansion, which could take away from San Juan’s current atmosphere.

“That’s really what we want to avoid, and that’s what the fear of this is,” Farias said.

Councilmember John Campbell said he is especially concerned about liquor in the Los Rios area.

“I would like to see some requirement that only beer be sold there—beer and wine,” Campbell said. “I’d be a lot more comfortable with that.”

Campbell also asked why the city works through deciding on whether alcohol is allowed to be sold at Los Rios businesses “time after time after time.”

“It seems like in that area, that district, it’s a process we continually address,” Campbell said. “I wonder from a staff perspective or a city perspective that it doesn’t make sense to have an ordinance that includes that district in general.”

The Los Rios Historic Commercial District cited in Tuesday’s agenda item is part of the larger Los Rios Historic District and composed of two parcels, one being made up of Zoomars and Hidden House Coffee, which Almquist also owns.

The other parcel is the private home of lifelong Los Rios Street resident Stephen Rios, who spoke about Almquist’s request during the meeting.

Campbell voted yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias voted no, while Councilmember Troy Bourne was not at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Ridlands are the current operators and have been negotiating terms of the lease since being selected to do so in December 2021.

The agreement requires improvements be made on the property regarding water quality as it pertains to what’s called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, which applies to equestrian activities—a frequent sight at the Riding Park.

“In 2017, an organization called Orange County Coastkeeper filed a lawsuit against the city and Blenheim

“At first glance, this seemed like something that I wanted to stomp my feet about and rattle my sabers about, but then I thought that perhaps I should sit back and take another look at it, because it does have some potential benefit for my property,” Rios said.

Rios said he spoke to the city and Almquist about the possibility of alcohol service at Zoomars.

“We have a long-standing friendship and relationship. He and I have talked for about three hours the last two days or so,” Rios said of Almquist, whom he sat next to during the meeting. “I gave my concerns. My position is rather than stomp my feet tonight or rattle my saber, I want more discourse. I want more discussion. I want to have more information.”

“I feel real comfortable that Dan and I can discuss those things and hash those matters out,” Rios added. “I look forward to the process as it goes forward.”

Fellow Los Rios District resident Dave Hutchins, who lives nearby on Ramos Street, also shared his perspective on the

Facilities Management alleging some water quality violations at the Riding Park property,” Assistant City Manager Matisse Reischl said. “To resolve that litigation, a consent decree was entered into by the three parties.”

A “key component” of that consent decree is the completion of CAFO improvements.

“In addition to the water quality improvements, The Ridland Group would also install new landscaping and monument signage along the perimeter of the property at Ortega Highway and Avenida La Pata, complete a trail connection that is a requirement of the purchase and sale agreement when the city purchased the property from potential alcohol availability.

“I think Dan’s got enough to do over there,” Hutchins said, referring to the coming River Street Marketplace. “It’s way close to the Rios property.”

The next steps on the city’s end will include staff preparing a draft code amendment based on Alqmuist’s proposal, which would be analyzed under state environmental regulations.

The matter would then go before the Planning Commission for consideration, which will recommend a decision to the City Council—which holds the final decision on the request.

“We anticipate that this overall process will take between two to three months,” San Juan Acting Principal Planner Laura Stokes said.

Councilmember John Taylor recused himself from the discussion and vote since he lives in the Los Rios Historic District and his son, Harrison Taylor, works for Almquist. Councilmember Troy Bourne was not at Tuesday’s meeting.

Rancho Mission Viejo, and also install modular restroom improvements on the property,” Reischl said.

The Ridland Group must pay the city $400,000 annually, subject to a one-time, six-month abatement period while the CAFO improvements are made, because equestrian events will be suspended until construction is complete.

The lease goes into effect on July 1.

The Riding Park is host to numerous horse shows, including the Longines Fédération Équestre Internationale Nations Jumping Cup this past April and the upcoming annual Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, as well as the country

(Cont. from page 3) musical festival MissionFest. The area is also open to the general public if people want to ride horses or just spend time outdoors.

“The lease calls for a minimum number of horse shows that would be both English and Western, and 10 community events annually,” Reischl said. “The Ridland Group would be responsible for all costs associated with the property, including utilities, repairs, and maintenance.”

Councilmember John Taylor said it is great to execute the lease.

“We’ve been working on it for a long time,” Taylor said. “If anybody went out to the Nations Cup—it was my first time to see that—it was pretty phenomenal. A lot of it’s open to the public. Take your kids or grandkids out there and watch one of these events. They’re just incredible.”

Having a long-term lease is important, because the question comes up of how operators can invest in necessary improvements with just a two- or five-year lease, Taylor said.

Farias said he voted against the lease, because he would not personally do business with the Ridlands and negotiating the lease took time away from city staff.

“As a councilmember, I was frustrated, kind of, by the process,” Farias said.

“I worry that we’ll have some of what went on in the past happen again. There’s a lot of Coastkeepers out there.”

Farias said he hopes the decision isn’t something the city ends up regretting.