Date: September 29, 2023 

To: Rancho Santa Fe Board of Directors
PO Box A
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Courtney LeBeau, President
Dan Comstock, Vice President
Phil Trubey, Treasurer
David Gamboa
Lorraine Kent
Jeff Simmons
Scott Thurman
cc: Dominique Albrecht, RSFA Manager

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Re: Support for Development of Silvergate Retirement Community in Rancho Santa Fe

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We the undersigned members of the Rancho Santa Fe Association (RSFA) call on the Board to facilitate and support in all possible manners the retirement community development project Silvergate RSF, proposed by AmeriCare at the corner of Calzada del Bosque and Via de la Valle.

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We believe that support for the project is directly aligned with the purpose of the Rancho Santa Fe Association as stated in Section II of the Articles of Incorporation of the Association: 

“…to do and perform any and all acts which may be either necessary for, or incidental to exercise any of the following powers or for the peace, health, comfort, safety and/or general welfare of the owners of said property, or portions thereof, or residents thereon.”

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This is clearly an opportunity to enhance the health, comfort and general welfare of the residents. Knowing that we have an opportunity to retire with all necessary services in the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant that we all love and where we, and many other residents have lived for years, is an enormous boost to all of the Association members’ comfort and welfare.

 

We ask you, the Board members, to approach this matter in the manner you believe to be in the best interest of the Association and all of its members as is requested in Section 8 of the Bylaws. 

We have learned about an initiative to send to the Board a letter that calls the Board to act against the retirement community development. The authors of that letter, who own a residence on a lot bordering the proposed site, claim to make their request “on behalf of all RSFA members”. They have no basis to say that. 

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We received an automated mass emailing soliciting signatures. The part of the email before the first clickable link to sign did not say that the project is a retirement community but rather called it “high density housing” with “rental units”. The email did not disclose the senders’ personal interest to oppose the development, which is next to their lot.  Signatures were collected using a third-party website, which shows the number of signatures and reveals that less than 5% of RSFA members have clicked on the “sign the petition” button. This is similar to the number of people who have already signed up – five years in advance - on the waiting list for Silvergate RSF. 

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The letter includes a list of statements ranging from unfounded opinions of the authors to warnings about natural hazards (which would also apply for the author’s own residential unit.) It claims false equivalency with previous development proposals and presents a number of opposing signatures to those previous proposals that is more than ten times larger than responses to the campaign about this one.

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As you look at the actual plans for Silvergate, you quickly see that it is unlike anything that is available or has been previously proposed for retirement living anywhere in Southern California. The units are larger, the density is lower and the buildings are no higher than existing neighboring homes.  These unique characteristics and the standard of quality apparent in the developer’s previous projects will provide a new valuable amenity to everyone living in the Ranch. The majority of residents in senior living developments move there from within a few miles. Most of the beneficiaries of this project will undoubtedly be RSFA members

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By supporting this development, you will enable positive solutions to several concerns of Association members: 

• As you know, seniors are the fastest growing segment in the Association with more than a hundred members crossing 80 years every year. Currently they have limited opportunities for downsizing and support services. 

• Your support will also benefit younger members, who need homes in the Covenant. This project will enable older residents to vacate their homes. 

• Your support will help to keep our community vibrant and will secure for Rancho Santa Fe the long-term future that we all wish for.
   

Beyond exercising the Association’s powers for the health, comfort and general welfare of the members, you will also help to increase the value of the properties in the area. Having a great alternative for simplifying life and access to a top of the line retirement community in The Ranch will be a valuable asset for everyone who owns property here.

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There will also be a significant positive impact on the income of the Association. As residents move to Silvergate, probably a hundred homes will be sold and their basis for the Association fee will increase. Together with the increase in value of the Silvergate property, this could mean millions of dollars of additional annual revenue to the Association, which in turn will enable new ways to improve the lives of members.

 

There are always pros and cons in every initiative. You will be weighing the value of   achieving these benefits for all of the members versus the effect of the project on its few immediate neighbors and a marginal increase in traffic at the perimeter of the Covenant. The decision seems clear.

By imploring you to support the development we do not mean that you should let it take place without careful supervision and influence by the RSFA. Already the Art Jury is engaged to make sure appearance, lighting etc. will be designed following the guidelines appropriate for the location. Perhaps other kinds of cooperation or agreements could also be discussed with the developer, for example providing priority for a portion of units to RSFA members. 

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Thank you for considering the matter carefully. We love the Ranch and hope you will help provide us, and many other Association members, a way to live the rest of our lives here.

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Sincerely,
 

[Signatures and expressions of support delivered separately]

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