Rancho Santa Fe Hits the Mark in History

Exclusive Rancho Santa Fe can now boast another title for its rural enclave.

On Friday morning, the entire planned community of Rancho Santa Fe--all 6,200 acres--was designated a California Historical Landmark.

The honor was bestowed by the state Historical Resources Commission, which reviews applications submitted to the California Office of Historic Preservation.

“It’s a real thrill for all of us,” said Pat Cologne, a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society, who also serves on the state commission.

“It does so much to awaken civic pride . . . it’s just invaluable,” Cologne said. “When you know something is marked as a historical landmark it takes on a completely new value. We have saved a part of early California history.”

Honor Is Mainly Symbolic

The designation, although prestigious, is mostly symbolic, said Walt Ekard, general manager of the Rancho Santa Fe Assn., which serves as the unincorporated area’s governing body. Ekard said the landmark status will not strengthen or affect the community’s already stringent land-use controls. But, the landmark status may come in handy for other purposes, Ekard admits.

There is hope among community residents that it may help bolster Rancho Santa Fe’s case to have new roads built to alleviate traffic on its winding, rural roads, Ekard said.

Applicants need meet only one historical criterion to receive landmark status from the commission, Cologne said. Rancho Santa Fe met three criteria.

Landmark status was approved for Rancho Santa Fe because, established in 1918, it is one of the earliest planned communities to be formed in the state, and is unusual in that it has maintained most of its original boundaries. The existing boundaries also mirror the boundaries of the property when it was a Mexican land grant, known as Rancho San Dieguito, before California statehood.

Village Recognition

The planned community also received recognition for its village design done by Lilian Rice, one of the state’s earliest licensed woman architects, Cologne said. Rice is credited with introducing Spanish Colonial architecture in this region.

Although many people think landmark status is reserved for objects, such as houses or piers, large land areas also receive recognition, Cologne said.

“It’s not unusual,” Cologne said. “For example, when you have a whole block of houses worthy of designation, the commission will have the entire site made a historical landmark. Otherwise, you would have to put a plaque on every house.”

In San Diego County, the mountain town of Julian also has received the historical designation.

And residents may soon find out whether landmark status carries any clout with the county Board of Supervisors.

“One of the key issues in our community is the intrusion of traffic that is hitting the community in a negative way,” said Ekard, the association’s general manager.

The association has requested that the supervisors approve construction of Route 728/680, a direct connection between Del Dios Highway and San Dieguito Road, to divert traffic away from the community’s congested rural roads.

“We’re hoping the designation may bolster our case for the new road,” Ekard said. “Now, you’re not just running through an ordinary rural community, but a community that has statewide historical significance.”

And, even if the landmark status fails to win a road, the title is one that Rancho Santa Fe will claim proudly.

“We didn’t get the designation to increase our power,” Ekard said. “What this means is that Rancho Santa Fe is a real resource as it sits today, and that we want to preserve the uniqueness of the community to the extent that we can. It is a tremendous honor to be so bestowed.”