New Village Lunch Place, RSFA Board Mtg & More

Author: Phil Trubey

Date: August 7, 2026

Hello, Phil Trubey here, sending an occasional email about RSF. 

---

RSF Sandwich & Creamery

There's a new quick bite lunch spot in town and they even have soft serve ice cream!

It's located across the street from the pharmacy. Give them a try!

---

Lot Split Redux

OK, onto the August RSFA Board meeting summary.

In my April RSFA Board meeting summary, I described how the previous Board had deadlocked (3-3) on approving (thus not approving) a lot split on Lago Lindo. 

The new Board approved it 6-1. The reason it was controversial is that the applicant was asking for a variance since the split creates two lots less than the RSFA 2.86 acres (2.46 and 2.37 acres required for that location as per the Regulatory Code). 

This lot is unique in that when it was annexed into the RSFA back in 1930, Lillian Rice, as then RSFA Secretary, signed the acceptance agreement allowing up to five single family homes on the 4.83 acre lot. 

Five seems excessive until you realize that our CC&Rs (the Protective Covenant) by default allows one single family house per acre. The one house per 2.86 acres was a recent regulatory change made in 2007 and was done for an outer ring of lots in the Covenant and this lot sits right on that boundary. Given the real possibility of being asked for a 5 way split, both the Art Jury and Board decided to instead ask for many conditions (see resolution, login required) and allow this one, and only one split. 

Why am I going on about this? Because 7 irate people gave in-person member comments opposing the split and the Association received 16 emails about it. Many probably spurred on by the RSF Post's one-sided article which didn't educate members about the mitigating factors about the lot split.

One complaint I kept hearing was how this was going to "set

precedent" to allow others to also request non-conforming lot splits. 

Look, this isn't a court of law. There is no "precedent" setting mechanism here. Any future lot split will be considered de novo by the building department, the Art Jury and the Board, needing to get past each of those gates independently. Unless you too have a recorded deed allowing many more houses on your lot, a non-conforming application will almost certainly not be approved.

---

Revised Fine Schedule

Bowing to more California nanny state intervention into HOA law, the RSFA has proposed changes to our fine schedule. Except for Health and Safety violations, fines have been sharply reduced. The new fine schedule has been posted for a 28 day comment period, please read and comment (redline here, clean version here).

I feel forced to point out that an up to $5,000 fine exists in this regulation for: "Harassment, Violence, or threats of violence, on Association property, or directed to Association staff and volunteers."

Apparently there was some ugly behavior directed towards some volunteer Art Jurors recently by a Member in heated comments about Silvergate (more on that below). 

I realize passions are running high regarding this project, but there is NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER for threatening any of our volunteers, other Members or staff for any reason. Not only are threats counterproductive to your cause, they just make this place a crappy place to live, so please control yourself.

---

Silvergate

So I was asked before the Board meeting "Why is the Board so pro-Silvergate"?

Obviously I can't speak on behalf of the current volunteers who serve on the Board, but I can give you my perspective.

This Board, and last year's and the year before that (when I was on it) is very professional and tries very hard to put their own opinions aside when discharging their responsibilities. The same can be said of the Art Jury.

I don't see the Board as pro-Silvergate, nor do I see them as anti-Silvergate. They are neither. What they and the Art Jury are doing is following our policies and procedures to the T to the best of their abilities.

While you may not like this project, the developer, or anything about it, the reality is that we must follow the law, else the Association would be sued and lose. And the law says property owners have rights. If a project follows our Regulatory Code, there is nothing the Association (Art Jury or Board) can do to legally block a development.

So, yes, bring up things that you think aren't conforming, or need a variance. At the appropriate time in such a project, such items will be taken up by the Art Jury and/or Board. And if they aren't then you can sue alleging non-conformance with our regulatory code.

---

Golf/Restaurant Entrance Landscaping

The Board approved a new landscape plan for the golf club and restaurant entrance area and cart paths giving much-needed more room for carts and alleviating the congested central area. New plan here.

---

Apologies and Kerfuffle Over Signs

The Association Manager started the meeting with an apology that an RSFA Patrol officer had inadvertently removed a pro-Silvergate yard sign in the middle of the night.

Sign rules: No signs are permitted in the County right-of-way (usually several feet off the side of the roadway, they must be placed somewhat onto the property). Commercial signs are prohibited (real estate for sale signs, soccer try-outs, window washing, etc) and, news to me, the Patrol is tasked with going around most nights, or very early in the morning (since they do driving patrols at all hours anyway) and removing such signs. 

If they didn't do that, we'd be overrun with signs.

However political speech signs are allowed and thus can't be taken unless they are placed in County right-of-way. 

Nonetheless, there was a very strident Member input during the Board meeting alleging a Board conspiracy to remove pro-Silvergate signs and a promise to press for a criminal investigation. 

---

Why Aren't You Using Tesla FSD?

I see a lot of Tesla cars driving around Rancho. I rarely see people using the hands-off Full Self Driving where the car drives you around. I literally don't drive my car anymore. Why? Because I know the car is a safer driver than me.

So I'm just perplexed why more Tesla owners don't also use it.

Click here to see a video compilation of Tesla FSD saving lives.

---

Previous emails, Rancho information, poll results, and the old RSF Post archives available at myrsf.net. If you aren't on my email list and want to receive my occasional scribblings, go to this web page and click on the "click here to subscribe" link after the preamble. To unsubscribe, click the link below.

---