RANCHO SANTA FE — New Association President Lois Jones began the first meeting of the new administrative year by welcoming new board directors Tom Lang and Deb Plummer. Then it was time to get to work with returning Directors Tim Sullivan, Kim Higgins and Bill Beckman. Only Director Steve Schillington was not present.

One of the first matters before the board was the proposed annexation of an existing property into the Covenant. Russel and Susan Sande of the R.E. Sande Trust requested approval to annex their 1.74-acre property into the Covenant. The parcel contains a 5,009-square-foot residence that was designed in 1924 by Lilian Rice. There have been two subsequent remodels that both retained the Lilian Rice styling and Rancho Santa Fe aesthetic. Additionally, the residence has a one-car garage and another two-car garage. “It is one of the first Lilian Rice homes in the Covenant,” Manager Pete Smith said. Even though the house is now 84 years old, it has never been part of the Covenant. “There are little pockets here and there that aren’t part of the Covenant,” Smith said. “But annexations like this are encouraged.”

Sullivan and Lang have been to the residence and said they felt there was no reason not to approve the annexation. On June 24, the Art Jury reviewed and approved the proposed annexation providing a special condition that prior to finalization of the application, the applicant removes all chainlink fencing surrounding the property and replaces it with a suitable fencing material in keeping with the Rancho Santa Fe Association Design Guidelines, and to the satisfaction of the Association.

The board approved the annexation, citing the same special conditions need to be met.

In other Association news, the board approved the Osuna Committee’s recommendation that the period of significance be “circa 1860” for the Osuna Adobe, allowing some “wiggle room” for minor features that were added during the Lilian Rice 1924 renovation. Covenant Administrator Ivan Holler told members that Gil Sanchez was brought in as a consultant on the project and that stabilization efforts have begun to repair the damaged façade of the adobe. “This is only a temporary remedy,” Holler said, meaning there will be additional and more permanent work done once designs and plans have been finalized and approved.

Arnold Keene, a planner working with the Association gave an update on the streetscaping project currently underway in the village, particularly along Paseo Delicias and El Tordo streets. Work is on schedule, according to Keene, and only landscaping remains — even though trees have already been planted in the new islands on the east side of the village. “There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony when work is complete,” Keene said, but a completion date has yet to be announced. “We’re hoping before the end of the month,” Keene said.

Several members of the community asked the board to take a second look at landscaping and perhaps add signage to slow traffic at the intersection of Rambla de las Flores and La Granada. There was also discussion about hazardous conditions created when site lines are impeded due to overgrown foliage at intersections around the covenant. It is often difficult to see around corners to gauge whether traffic is oncoming or not. The board agreed to have Road and Traffic and the Planning Committees look into these problems.