Our e-mail addresses are: Advertising: donp@rsfreview.com | Editorial: editor@rsfreview.com | Web: www.RSFReview.com
National AwardWinning Newspaper
LOCAL REAL ESTATE LISTINGS PHOTO PAGES & FEATURES
Boxholder Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
SECTION B
ECRWSS
Providing The Ranch with Three Decades of Quality Journalism
Volume 32 Number 3
Rancho Days 2012 begins!
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT 1980
Oct. 4, 2012
County puts Cielo condominium project on hold Supervisors say more review necessary for proposed 42 units
Above: The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club kicked off Rancho Days with a Fall Festival BBQ on Sept. 28 at the south park in front of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Stagecoach rides are always a popular part of the event. Right: Ole Prahm and Deanne Motsenbocker. See more inside. PHOTOS/JON CLARK
(Left) Parker Mitchell and Scott Mitchell at the Village Church’s “Hollywood Cowboys” event. See inside for more.
Osuna Adobe in need of structural repairs Committee to seek funding for repairs to historic RSF structure BY KAREN BILLING Over the summer, the Rancho Santa Fe Association completed work removing the concrete stucco from the historic Osuna Adobe. The resurfacing of the structure with new adobe mud and whitewash created a marked improvement on parts of the adobe, however, several structural problems were discovered that must be repaired for the rest of the resurfacing work to be completed. The Osuna Committee will make a request for funding for additional repairs, an amount not to exceed $24,720 at the Oct. 4 board meeting (after presstime for this newspaper).
According to a report by the committee, during the resurfacing work it was discovered that three wood beam window “headers” and two door headers had rotted. The headers support the weight above the opening and the rotted condition poses a substantial structural risk that could result in the windows’ or doors’ failure. There are already large cracks in the adobe walls above the openings where the headers have rotted. Temporary wood braces have been installed as a precaution. Another issue that must be repaired is in one section of the exterior adobe block that is not well consolidated to the interior adobe block. The Osuna Committee received bids from two contractors and will recommend the company that had the lower bid and completed the resurfacing work not affected by the repairs.
BY JOE TASH A proposal by Rancho Cielo Estates Ltd. to build 42 detached condominium homes within the Cielo community was put on hold by the county Board of Supervisors, who want the developer to work with county staff, the local planning group and residents to overcome objections to the project. At its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 26, the board voted unanimously to support a motion by Supervisor Bill Horn to send the proposed condo project back to staff for more review. If the developer can revise the plans to satisfy community concerns, the project can be brought back before the board for consideration. No date was set to bring the project back.
The community’s opposition to the condo project centered on three areas, according to a county staff report: incompatibility with the character of the existing community; inadequate environmental review; and a lack of community involvement and input on the project. The county’s Department of Planning and Development Services disputed the contentions of opponents and recommended that the board approve the project, as did the County Planning Commission. The San Dieguito Community Planning Group initially supported the project, but rescinded its support at a meeting in July. The Cielo community See CIELO, page 21
Water district board veteran leaving Irvin proud of his work with Santa Fe Irrigation District It was challenging work, but he is proud BY KAREN BILLING After 15 years, Robert “Bud” Irvin is of what he was able to accomplish in that leaving his post on the Santa Fe Irrigation time. “When I joined the board 15 District board. He leaves the disyears ago there were all kinds of trict satisfied that they are finanproblems with the water district, cially strong, that a solid staff is in mostly because we weren’t really place and that the pipes will last professional at the time,” Irvin longer than his lifetime. said. “The district is now in out“A lot of people encouraged standing shape. It’s just 100 times me not to retire, but it’s time,” better now than it was.” said Irvin, 76. “A person shouldn’t Irvin worked to oversee hog a position that long.” changes everywhere, from replacThe Solana Beach resident has a degree in chemistry and an MBA Robert ‘Bud’ Irvin ing valves that wouldn’t even open properly to helping fill out and was first appointed to the board with the understanding he’d just fill an expert staff. “We’ve got an outstanding team, they out the rest of a vacated term. The rest of the term became another four years and See WATER, page 21 then another four and so on.