Letters to the editor: July 23 issue
To roundabout, or signalize, or what? That is the question!
After much discussion and debate, we are still at a crossroad of public opinion on traffic controls in RSF. While there seems to be a good case for several proposed solutions, it often depends on where you live and/or how you are/or will be affected by traffic to and from Escondido on Del Dios Highway — Paseo Delicias — Via de la Valle traversing the east side of RSF.
Maybe we should explore the west side to see how we handle traffic going to and from Encinitas on La Bajada. Once you go down La Granada past La Noria, you just keep going with the flow, turning onto Rancho Santa Fe Road, which becomes Encinitas Boulevard, where there is a traffic signal at the immediate four-way intersection into Encinitas.
All other crossing traffic to and from El Mirlo stops and waits at the La Bajada curve until you are able to continue on your way. This seems to work pretty well, it’s simple, and it keeps through traffic flowing like a modified roundabout with no traffic signals and a few stop signs.
The current debate of only traffic signals vs. roundabouts is very limiting, in my opinion, as there are other solutions. Why do all three locations all need the same fix? They are all different: One is a three-way interchange (El Camino Del Norte), one is a four-way interchange (El Montevideo), both on Paseo Delicias and one at the intersection of Via de la Valle, and Paseo Delicias (near the Village Church), which has nothing in common with the other two — yet we are asked to make the same fix for all three of them? That is like a “one size fits all” solution, when it doesn’t really fit everyone very well and just maybe we don’t need all three traffic controls anyway.
Soon, we will be asked to respond to a survey on this traffic situation by the RSF Association. It was requested that we only decide on either three traffic signals for all three locations or three roundabouts. Well, I continue to suggest that we treat the three locations separately on the survey and be able to have multiple choices for each location, as they are all different and some distance apart. The four choices for each location could be: 1) traffic signal, 2) roundabout, 3) nothing and/or 4) other solution. We also need to remember that each choice has a different price tag and time frame for the County to construct. That’s where you need to do your homework.
Well, folks, here’s our chance, once again, for us to help decide on what’s best for RSF and answer the question and find a solution once and for all — hopefully.
Marion B. Dodson
Rancho Santa Fe
Covenant Club planners should go back to the drawing board
I recently heard the Association’s Covenant Club committee is considering alternate locations for the Covenant Club, which is certainly good news, because many problems and difficulties would occur if the facility were constructed adjacent to the existing Golf and Tennis Clubs. Numerous “Letters to Editor” have described these problems and difficulties and have also taken issue with the board’s intent to finance a major portion of the estimated $10,900,000 cost by using $4,500,000 that is in the RSF Community Enhancement Fund, even though the facility will be used by less than one-third of the residents.
Many residents have said the space adjacent to the Golf and Tennis Clubs is not large enough for a 15,000-square-foot fitness facility, multiple pools, and the additional required parking spaces. Furthermore, the noise and traffic associated with the Covenant Club during construction and afterwards would create problems for those playing golf or tennis and those who live nearby, and it will be difficult to add the additional required parking spaces to a parking area that is already filled to capacity at times.
In addition, there would be a significant increase in traffic on the campus of the Golf and Tennis Clubs and on Via de la Cumbre. To make matters worse, the swimming pools would be a very noisy nuisance to neighbors and would decrease our property values. One of the Letters to the Editor addresses this issue with the comment: “The understated character of the area would be changed forever.”
I recently went to the Association office and requested a Mission Statement. The following is the Mission Statement I was provided:
“Preserve and enhance the historic, rural character and ambiance of the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant community.”
I’m sure that most of the people who live in the Covenant would agree that the above Mission Statement is perfect, because it reflects why most of us moved here. The question is: Is the current plan for the Covenant Club consistent with the Mission Statement?
I urge the members of the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board of Directors to do three things:
Find a different location for the Covenant Club other than adjacent to the primary buildings of the Golf and Tennis Clubs.
Require the Covenant Club project to be entirely self-funded by establishing significant initiation and ongoing monthly fees for its members, and without using funds from the Community Enhancement Fund.
In the election to be held later this year, require sixty-seven percent (67%) approval of the Covenant Club project by Rancho Santa Fe homeowners in order to approve and proceed with the project.
Carol Magoffin Ninteman
Parking in Rancho Santa Fe Village
The article that talked about the lack of parking in the village neglected to address one huge factor. The fact that the only parking lot in the village was behind the Wells Fargo, and now there’s a building there.
The lack of foresight by the Art Jury to approve the building of that size, two stories, without accounting for the fact that it was being placed on one of the few parking lots in the village...has proven to be a double whammy as more people need parking and there is none available.
The idea of making some of the streets in the village one-way seems to make the most sense. If from where El Tordo meets up with Linea del Cielo, only eastbound traffic continued into the village, you could have parking around the grassy area and just require that in order to go north on Avenida de Acacias, you have to turn left directly, not cut through on El Tordo. The same type of loop could be formed in either direction on the La Flecha/La Gracia side of The Inn.
[This would create] ample parking around the village that would be close and convenient enough for people to walk and enjoy the amazing place we are proud to call home while supporting local businesses and keeping the village vibrant and accessible.
Scott David Hanley Jr.
Drought speaker ‘way, way off’ on RSF rainfall
Your article on last week’s drought meeting quotes the keynote speaker as saying we San Diegans are living in a desert which averages only 6 inches of rain a year. She may be right about the desert part, although I prefer the term semi-desert, but she is way, way off on the average annual rainfall.
For the last 10 years here in the Covenant, we have averaged 9.49 inches of rain, and I am sure the average will be much the same if we go back another 10 years. It’s not right to exaggerate a bad situation to make it seem worse. It is bad enough as it is.
Brewster Arms
Rancho Santa Fe