A proposed Board resolution which would fundamentally change how design and building approvals are handled in Rancho Santa Fe will be voted on at the upcoming RSFA Board meeting on Thursday, January 8, at 10 am. (A second Board resolution aimed at minimizing Art Jury oversight for all Association-sponsored projects is discussed here.)
For almost a century, the Protective Covenant has relied on a five-member, volunteer Art Jury made up of Covenant residents to safeguard the architectural character of the Ranch. These Ranch neighbors bring independence, knowledge, and freedom from employment pressure to decisions that directly affect property values and community identity.
The new resolution, spearheaded by a subcommittee of Board Directors Courtney LeBeau and Mark Simpson, revises the Art Jury’s operating structure, by shifting much of its authority to Building Department staff.
Under the resolution, staff become the “gatekeepers” of all applications, site visits, enforcement actions, and applicant communications. Art Jury members would be included when staff deems it necessary, and their role would be limited to voting on staff-prepared recommendations. The resolution gives the Board the power to remove Art Jury members who do not comply with these operating instructions, despite a removal process outlined in the Protective Covenant.
Efficiency is cited as the primary goal. However, staff members serve at the pleasure of the Board, and unlike volunteer Art Jurors, they do not enjoy independence from Association employment pressures. This shift replaces peer-based oversight with a managed, staff-driven process.
Previously, the Art Jury president reported directly to the Board, providing accountability while maintaining independence. Now it will be staff, not the Art Jury, who will periodically report to the Board on the Art Jury’s “efficiency” and adherence to Board instructions. The Protective Covenant does not provide for design authority being vested in staff, nor does it contemplate Art Jury members operating under Board direction or the threat of removal. Moreover, altering that balance through a resolution, rather than a member vote, raises governance concerns.
For homeowners, the stakes are high. Design standards are not merely aesthetic; they protect property values and community character. Weakening independent oversight may accelerate approvals, but it also reduces accountability. This proposal represents a material change in a time-tested Covenant design review process, and homeowners deserve to fully understand what is being given up in the name of “streamlining.”
Board of Directors email addresses:
- David Gamboa: dgamboa@rsfaboard.com
- Skip Atkins: satkins@rsfaboard.com
- Courtney Silberberg: csilberberg@rsfaboard.com
- Courtney LeBeau: clebeau@rsfaboard.com
- Joanne Marks: jmarks@rsfaboard.com
- Jeff Simmons: jsimmons@rsfaboard.com
- Mark Simpson: msimpson@rsfaboard.com
The RSF Post Editorial Board is a group of Rancho Santa Fe neighbors and citizen reporters sharing local stories and issues that shape life in our community.