1-5-2012 Rancho Santa Fe Review

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Volume 31 Number 16

Providing The Ranch with Three Decades of Quality Journalism

2012 arrives in RSF

ground for Covenant kids? Rancho Santa Fe mom Heather Slosar tried to get a playground placed on the Association-owned Arroyo property in 2011, but the RSF Association wasn’t convinced that the open space was the most appropriate location. The board approved a $25,000 expenditure for play equipment and charged the trails and recreation committee and Association staff to come up with an alternate location. A playground has been pitched several times before over the last eight years, although it often gets lost in “NIMBY”-ism (not in my backyard) — one of the main reasons Slosar picked Arroyo was that it is located

BY KAREN BILLING In last week’s issue we reviewed the year that was in Rancho Santa Fe from January to June. Here’s a look back at the rest of the year, from July December. July • RSF Library’s children’s librarian Debbie Wilson retired after 14 years in the Martha Glasgow Children’s Wing. “I know for sure that I’ll miss the people I work with and the kids,” Wilson said pausing to think fondly about the little readers. “I feel so fortunate that I had the ideal, positive staff and friends to work with. It’s just time.” “She is the light of the library,” said fellow children’s librarian Laurie Knodle. “The kids love her, everyone loves her.” • The Rancho Santa Fe Patrol finally found its permanent home, moving out of its temporary trailers on the Dacus property to its new headquarters in the RSF Fire Protection District station on El Fuego. The patrol moved into the largest space its ever had at 2,700 square feet. “This allows for our officers to have more elbow room and space and we’re not going to be looking for a new facility or to remodel,” RSF Patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser said. “It’s a plus for the community because we’re close to the school, right next to dispatch and we have a really good relationship with the fire de-

See STORIES, page 14

See REVIEW, page 18

Polo Club lease expires in March BY JOE TASH As the city of San Diego moves forward with a plan to take bids for a long-term lease on an 80-acre parcel of land next to the San Dieguito River, environmentalists, polo players, youth soccer supporters and neighbors are watching closely. Over the next few months, the city will issue a request for proposals for a lease on the property at Via De La Valle and El Camino Real, which has been the home of the San Diego Polo Club since 1986. The club’s original 26-year lease is set to expire in March. “We’re going through the process of seeking renters for that property. And we’re going to evaluate all the bids that come in from the standpoint of what’s best for the city in terms of economically, (and) the way it would fit into the community. We are looking to have a tenant in there that uses that facility in some way related to recreation,” said Alex Roth, a spokesman for Mayor Jerry Sanders. Roth declined to comment further on the specific requirements that will be included in the request for proposals, which he said is still being drafted. But he promised an open process and invited anyone with suggestions or concerns about the request for proposals, or the lease, to send a letter to the city. “There is going to be lots and lots of opportunity for public input on this,” Roth said. The city obtained the land in the early 1980s as part of a deal for development of the nearby community of Fairbanks Ranch. The city received a total of 616 acres, most of which was used for construction of the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, which is also leased by the city to the counSee LEASE, page 12

RSF residents gathered at the RSF Golf Club on New Year’s Eve to welcome the year 2012. Guests enjoyed fabulous food and wine as they celebrated another great year in Rancho Santa Fe. (Above) Drew and Laurel Chocholek, Anne and Matt Golden, Alchera Ayyad, Jackie Rosetta, See more inside. Photo/Jon Clark

Rancho Santa Fe: 5 stories to watch in 2012 BY KAREN BILLING Below are just a few of the many possible RSF stories to watch in 2012. Plaza de Acacias The Rancho Santa Fe village’s first new commercial building in several years could be built in 2012. Plaza de Acacias, planned for the corner of El Tordo and Avenida de Acacias, has already been approved by the Art Jury and RSF Association and is just waiting on a few county approvals. “We plan to start construction in May or June of 2012 and will be complete by December,” said developer Mike Grehl, a Rancho Santa Fe native and graduate of R. Roger Rowe and Torrey Pines High School. The building is much smaller than past proposals

to the site, such as the controversial Lilian. While the Lilian’s plans included over 23,000 square feet of commercial and housing use in addition to an underground parking facility, Plaza de Acacias is only 6,170 square feet, leaving the current parking lot intact. Plaza de Acacias will have no residential element, just commercial, and utilize the 68 parking spaces adjacent to its site behind Wells Fargo and Union Bank. The architecture will be a mix of single and two story elements with archways, stucco detailing and wrought iron features. “It’s my strong belief that it’s going to look like it’s always been there,” Grehl said. A potential play-

Jan. 5, 2012

2011 in RSF: July-December in review

The property at Via De La Valle and El Camino Real has been the home of the San Diego Polo Club since 1986.

Various groups keep close watch as city starts search for tenant

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RSF, CA PERMIT 1980


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