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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 11, N0. 10
MAY 15, 2015
A neighborhood group in Rancho Santa Fe is voicing concerns over a potential high-density development project at the intersection of Via de la Valle and Calzada Del Bosque near Chino Farms. Courtesy rendering
Neighborhood group voices concerns over project By Christina Macone-Greene borhood have homes sitOfficials with the Olivenhain Municipal Water District “turn the valve” on April 30 at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe. The valve-turning ceremony celebrates the completion of the course’s conversion from potable to recycled water. Photo by Aaron Burgin
Rancho Santa Fe golf course switches to recycled water By Aaron Burgin
RANCHO SANTA FE — To keep the fairways and greens at The Farms Golf Course perfectly manicured, course personnel would irrigate the course with enough drinking water to satisfy about 500 families’ water needs for a year. The effects of using that much
water toward landscaping, as opposed to families’ drinking needs, is exacerbated during a drought like the one currently facing California, one of the most severe on record. On April 30, the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and officials with The Farms course celebrated the end of the use of potable water at the
90-acre course and the decision to “go purple” — or use recycled water — for the course’s irrigation needs. The timing, officials said, could not be better, as it comes on the heels of Gov. Jerry Brown mandating that water agencies cut water use by 25 TURN TO WATER ON 22
RSF Association agrees on traffic signals By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — Following an April Town Hall Meeting at the Garden Club, the RSF Association board of directors voted to install traffic signals rather than roundabouts on May 7. The Town Hall meeting helped the board make their decision, since mem-
bers discussed roundabouts or traffic signals options for three proposed intersections along the Paseo Delicias/Del Dios corridors. Association Manager Bill Overton said during the Town Hall meeting that members expressed both pros and cons about traffic signals and roundabouts.
An unofficial straw poll at the conclusion of the gathering revealed 120 in favor of traffic signals, 11 in favor of roundabouts and 37 who wanted to do nothing. “Something needs to be done with traffic control for the community based on complaints and the rising number of cars passing
through Rancho Santa Fe,” said Overton, adding that he was advised a 2013 meeting revealed around the same percentages. Overton advised the board that staff thought it was time to make a vote. “Staff’s recommendaTURN TO TRAFFIC ON 22
RANCHO SANTA FE — In an effort to raise awareness to the Rancho Santa Fe Association and its fellow members, Neighbors for San Dieguito River Valley Preservation, a group of residents opposed to a potential high-density housing development, offered a presentation at the May 7 Association board meeting. The group voiced concern over Rancho Librado, a potential high-density residential project that would see new housing built next to Chino Farms. The four-parcel, 28acre property located at the intersection of Via de la Valle and Calzada Del Bosque is currently zoned as semi-rural 2c, also referred to as SR-2. The San Diego County General Plan 2020 mandates one housing unit per 2, 4, or 8 acres. Saiid Zarrabian spoke on behalf of the Neighbors for San Dieguito River Valley Preservation. He told everyone that Rancho Librado has been worrisome to residents in San Dieguito River Valley. Currently, this area and its surrounding neigh-
Exp. 5/29/15
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ting on 3 to 20 acres. Zarrabian wanted members to know that the proposed applicant may want to try and amend this zoning in order to construct 54 homes and possible clubhouse. Current zoning, however, allows for a fraction of this. “It’s a high-density change that is out of character with the area and with the zoning. And it’s a zoning change that could set a dangerous precedence,” he said. Zarrabian’s speech with slide presentation triggered a unanimous vote among the directors of the Rancho Santa Fe Association. The directors voted 7-0 to uphold the General Plan zoning as well as the decision to craft a letter to the County of San Diego Planning Department, indicating their support in upholding the rural zoning for this area. Presented at the board meeting were 450 signatures, which were collected over the duration of a few days from those that opposed the high-density TURN TO NEIGHBORHOOD ON 22