I was born and raised on the Rancho Santa Fe Ranch during its earliest years, at a time when the Protective Covenant and the Art Jury were being thoughtfully established – not as bureaucratic obstacles, but as essential safeguards for the long-term integrity of our community.
My parents were involved in shaping many of the original principles and guidelines that still govern Rancho Santa Fe today. Those standards were intentional, carefully crafted,and designed to endure. They were never meant to be casually altered or administratively reinterpreted.
Later in my life, I had the privilege of serving as a historical consultant to the Art Jury and as President of the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society. In those roles, I worked closely with the Covenant – its language, its intent, and its real-world application. One lesson was always clear: the process matters just as much as the outcome.
The Protective Covenant is explicit. Any change to the manner in which the Art Jury operates requires a defined and transparent process. That process includes a series of properly noticed public meetings open to Covenant members and, ultimately, approval by the Covenant owners themselves. Skipping or bypassing these requirements is not merely a procedural shortcut – it is a direct violation of the Covenant.
Comments made at a recent Board meeting suggested an approach that included holding one additional meeting, conducting interim discussions, and then moving forward with changes already outlined in an agenda. This mindset disregards the Covenant’s explicit safeguards and undermines nearly a century of careful stewardship.
The Art Jury exists precisely to protect Rancho Santa Fe from short-term decision-making, shifting priorities, and expedient solutions that may have long-term consequences. Weakening its independence or altering its authority without following the required process places the entire Covenant framework at risk.
Rancho Santa Fe did not become what it is by accident. Its beauty, character, and enduring value were protected through adherence to process, respect for history, and a commitment to the greater good of the community.
That responsibility still rests with us today.
Susan Clotfelter Winnett is a longtime Covenant resident and served as president of the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society and historical consultant for the Art Jury.