Update on plans for Osuna Ranch slated for January
By Karen Billing
The Rancho Santa Fe Association board will hear an update in January on plans for the Osuna Ranch — at least one board member feels those plans have stalled.
“Way too much time has been spent on what to do with the Osuna,” said board president Jack Queen. “It looks worse today than when we bought it.”
The Osuna was purchased in 2006 for $12 million and is home to the historic Osuna Adobe, the Hap Hansen-led horse ranch and a single-family home.
Last year the board voted to subdivide the Osuna and sell off the smaller 3.3-acre parcel with the single family home. It is estimated the sale could bring in around $2 million, although Covenant Administrator Ivan Holler reported the appraisal process has yet to be completed.
Queen said that in addition to selling the house, he’d like to see some real improvements on the property so that it can be a true community asset for the money they spent.
A final map has been submitted to the county on the two-lot subdivision, as well as an application for a major use permit, and they are about 60 days away from final approval, Holler said.
Conditions for the final map approval include driveway improvements to the main entrance on Via de Santa Fe, and the installation of a backflow preventor, waterline and fire hydrant. One of the final conditions the Association will tackle is improving the sight distance from the driveway to the single-family home. This will involve the removal of three to four pepper trees on the north side of the driveway along Via de Santa Fe; the work should be completed within the next few weeks.
Once the map is final, the Association will finalize bids for removal and relocation of electric panels on the south side of the Osuna Adobe, currently a visual blight as wires of the panels snake out like spiderwebs.
“That has been awaiting recordation of the map before we can go in and pull those permits,” Holler said.
Once approved, the panel will come off the side of the adobe and be put on a low wall closer to the northwest corner of the riding arena.
The Osuna Committee is working on a Master Plan, which could include restoration of the adobe and the possible construction of a bathroom facility.