Editor’s Note: The RSFA Board is expected to discuss the future of Osuna Ranch at its meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at the Association offices on Avenida de Acacias. Members wishing to share their views may attend the meeting or submit comments to memberinput@rsfassociation.org.
Osuna Generates Revenue and Value
We write to express strong support for expanding community uses of Osuna Ranch and to correct several misconceptions about this irreplaceable historic property.
A recent RSF Review article stated that Osuna does not generate revenue like our Golf and Tennis Clubs. In fact, Osuna is the only RSFA open-space property that consistently produces a profit while preserving our community’s rural character.
Over the last nine months, Osuna generated about $154,000 in net revenue compared to about $124,000 for the Tennis Club. RSFA’s 2026–27 budget projects Osuna will generate $109,000, versus $39,000 for Tennis.
These facts matter because Osuna is not a financial burden – it is a fiscally responsible, revenue-positive amenity.
Communities across California are investing in open space because research shows that homes near preserved natural landscapes sell faster, command higher prices, and retain value better during economic downturns. Enhancing Osuna Ranch strengthens property values for the entire Covenant.
Some residents have expressed concern that expanding Osuna’s uses might compete with recent investments in our Golf and Tennis Clubs. In reality, these amenities serve different purposes and often different groups.
Yet many Club and non-Club members regularly attend Osuna events, demonstrating that these amenities complement rather than compete with one another. RSFA is fully capable of supporting all three – Golf, Tennis, and Osuna – each contributing to the quality of life that draws families and retirees to our community.
Benefits for Residents of All Ages
The Osuna Committee’s proposed plan offers educational, recreational, and social benefits for residents of all ages while maintaining excellent equestrian operations.
Osuna is ideal for outdoor learning aligned with California’s educational and Next Generation Science Standards, including history, environmental science, the arts, and Scout programs. Rowe teachers and administrators strongly support these uses, noting that Osuna gives children a rare chance to learn, explore, create, and build friendships in natural areas – away from screens and e-bikes.
Parents and seniors likewise endorse picnicking, hiking, historical tours, trail riding, plein-air painting, outdoor yoga, and neighbor-friendly events such as Celebrate Osuna and Farm-to-Table Dinners.
Our Community Survey highlights residents’ desire for more informal outdoor gathering spaces for book clubs, art and garden projects, intergenerational activities, and docent or mentoring opportunities.
Setting the Record Straight
Finally, cost concerns should be clarified.
Claims of high insurance expenses for school field trips are not supported by evidence. Schools generally carry their own insurance, and Osuna has hosted field trips for years without any claims.
Similarly, ADA requirements for National Register properties are often misunderstood. Osuna must provide accessible paths to primary areas such as the Adobe and an ADA restroom, but nature trails are exempt in order to preserve their historic integrity.
Osuna Ranch is a revenue-generating, historically significant, community-enhancing asset. Let’s seek accurate information and work together to make Osuna another Rancho Santa Fe success story.
Chuck Badger
Ilia Christy
Rancho Santa Fe Covenant Members
The RSFA Board is expected to discuss the future of Osuna Ranch at its meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at the Association offices on Avenida de Acacias. Members wishing to share their views may attend the meeting or submit comments to memberinput@rsfassociation.org.