Los Ranchitos
Our Past, Present and Our Vision for the Future
There are many interesting people groups and fascinating stories that blend together to form the history of the land you own in Los Ranchitos. These people, their culture and their dreams were tied directly to their land. Our lives continue that legacy. To better understand this connection, let’s take a look back at the history of Los Ranchitos.
To assist in understanding our history and ease of reading, this 50-year history of Los Ranchitos has been divided into three time frames. Throughout the article, light grey words will allow you to view actual documents. Clicking on titles below will allow you to skip to the corresponding section of the document. Throughout the article, click on the light grey words to view the actual document. It will then be downloaded allowing you to view it.
In the Beginning – 1966 to 1980
The Growing Years – 1981 to 2000
The 21st Century – 2001 to present
In the Beginning – 1966 to 1980
Every lot that is in Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association can be traced back to 1860 when the United States Government granted Land Patents to Luis Vignes for portions of Rancho Temecula and Rancho Pauba. This fact foreshadows that history credits Luis Vignes as being one of California’s first commercial winemakers.
This connects us to the Spanish and Mexican eras of the 18th and 19th centuries. And it introduces us to the influence of the Luiseño Indians who lived on our land hundreds of years before and learned to speak Spanish during the Spanish and Mexican eras. The local culture began to evolve into the American Frontier following California’s statehood in 1850, with the arrival of the first American settlers, the western expansion of the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Line (1857) followed by the California Southern Railroad Company (1882). A visit to Temecula’s Old Town is proof that the Old West pioneers have also left their history and traditions on our land and in our local history. Our land passed through many hands, all with a story.
Walter and his son Mahlon Vail were very influential in the history of our land. Already successful cattle ranchers, in 1904 they initially purchased 87,500 acres (more than 135 square miles) in Temecula and the surrounding region. After his father’s death in 1906, Mahlon expanded their cattle and agriculture businesses throughout the area for the next 60 years. During this time, their land holdings grew to more than 97,000 acres. The Vail family eventually damned up Temecula Creek in 1948 to create Vail Lake. In 1964, the Vail family sold all their land to the Kaiser Development Company and a new chapter began for the land we own today.
Enter Henry J. Kaiser, the visionary who formalized his ideas in the Rancho California Development Plan. During WWII, Kaiser became a very successful shipbuilder and industrialist. After WWII he successfully developed Panorama City in the San Fernando Valley and then, working with the University of California system, built the master planned community of Irvine. In the early 1960s, he believed that future southern California development would occur east of the Santa Ana Mountains. So he purchased nearly 100,000 acres from the Vail family in 1964 for $21 million. Those 150 square miles now encompass present day Murrieta, Temecula and the Wine Country.
Kaiser envisioned a unique combination of urban, suburban, and rural lifestyle communities that included rural havens, places where people could own a horse, and business parks where those people could work. He believed Rancho California’s economy would be supported by agriculture: wine grapes in the valleys and avocados in the hills. He and his development partners visualized ranch homes in Meadowview and Los Ranchitos, the wineries and resorts in Wine Country and luxury homes in Bear Creek in Murrieta.
Three Kaiser land development companies formed the Rancho California Partnership in 1966. Their first project was a unique “common interest association” that would be governed by Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that would apply to all 187 lots that were contributed by these three Kaiser land development partners. The initial 102 lots were made subject to the CC&Rs on September 30, 1966, followed by 34 lots contributed on August 24, 1967, and then 49 additional lots were contributed on July 31, 1968. On January 20, 1969 a small “triangular portion” of land, lying between two lots that were already part of the CC&RS, was added. On that same date, a small subdivision map was filed splitting two previously contributed lots into four lots, bringing the total number of lots under the control of the CC&Rs to 187 lots.
From inception in September 1966 until the end of 1980, the owners of Rancho California Partnership were responsible for administering the CC&Rs. Also during this period, all lots were sold to their initial owners. Two notable lot transactions occurred during this period:
- Lots 10 & 11 of Tract 3552 (line 7) (aka 29141 Vallejo Avenue) were merged to build Rancho Community Church in the fall of 1968. This had the effect of consolidating two lots into one lot, even though the total acreage remained exactly the same.
- Lot 86, Tract 3552 (line 10) was subdivided into four lots in August 1980. All four of these lots are within the triangle formed by Ynez Road, Santiago Road, and Vallejo Avenue in the most northeastern section of Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association. This had the effect of creating four lots from one lot in the association.
- These two transactions deleted one lot and added three new lots, bringing the total number of lots in Los Ranchitos to 189.
On July 24, 1978, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association (LRHOA) were filed with the California Secretary of State. This incorporated the homeowners association and created Bylaws which formed the rules by which LRHOA is operated. The partners of Rancho California Partnership became the members of the first Board of Directors of LRHOA and continued to manage the CC&Rs until they turned over complete control to the individual homeowners at the end of 1980.
The planned benefits of creating a homeowners association in 1966 can be read in the original Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). That document and subsequent amendments can be quickly accessed on the new LRHOA.com website at your convenience. See: Chronological Listing of All LRHOA Legal Documents
As you read the following summary of the facts and concerns of these visionary land developers, keep in mind that there were approximately 2,500 people living in the entire Rancho California region at the time it was drafted:
- The original CC&Rs were created by the developers in order to establish a general plan for the orderly use and development of the property. They subjected all the lots to certain conditions, covenants and restrictions, upon and subject to which all of the Property shall be held, developed and conveyed;
- The purpose of these restrictions was to insure proper use and development of the Property, to protect the owner of each lot against improper use and development of surrounding lots as will depreciate the value of his lot or interfere with his beneficial use and enjoyment of his lot, to secure and maintain proper setbacks from streets, to prevent haphazard and unsightly improvements, and in general to provide adequately for planned use and development of the Property in accordance with the terms hereof;
- The CC&Rs include definitions of improvements, set back distances, requirements for fencing, signs, landscaping, building regulations, maintenance, underground utilities, enforcement, prohibited operations and uses, and subsequent amendments to the original document.
It is important that each homeowner understand that our association was created to protect all homeowners by providing a means to govern our community and to promote, preserve its rural, residential heritage and enhance the rural, equestrian nature of our home sites.
While no vision, forecast or crystal ball could have accurately predicted the growth and changes that have taken place over the last 50 years, the fact remains that our vehicle for collectively managing our rural, equestrian estates is our current Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for LRHOA.
Unique conditions existing for Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association:
- Our associations stretches 2 ½ miles along the De Portola and Ynez Roads thoroughfare. The eastern boundary is Margarita Road and the northern boundary is Santiago Road. It encompasses more than 500 acres of residential home sites and non-residential developments. To see an overview of lots, streets and the contiguous areas surrounding Los Ranchitos, see LRHOA Maps;
- There are currently 188 lots within Los Ranchitos. There have been a few lots added and a few lots de-annexed over the past 50 years, but the total number of lots remains essentially the same as the original number of lots that the original developer, RANCHO CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP, created in Los Ranchitos. For a historical summary of all lot transaction transactions, Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs), amendments, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws click on “Chronological Listing of All LRHOA Legal Documents”;
- From 1966 until 1978 the RANCHO CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP funded all expenses associated with the homeowners association. In 1978, Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association was incorporated and the Bylaws established annual dues at $25 per member;
- Although no community amenities were created or funded by the original developers, the RANCHO CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP committed to develop an “Equestrian Trail Network” in 1972 that would connect horse trails developed in Los Ranchitos to other horse trails throughout the 150 square miles of the Rancho California Development Plan;
- The original RANCHO CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP CC&Rs, established in 1966, were incorporated to become the Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association (LRHOA) in 1978 to:
- enforce the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions applicable to Los Ranchitos, and
- to conceive and initiate programs which will enhance the entire community known as Los Ranchitos.
- LRHOA was organized pursuant to the General Nonprofit Corporation Law of the State of California. The assets of this Corporation are irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and upon dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, its assets remaining after payment of all debts and liabilities of this Corporation, shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service.
- enforce the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions applicable to Los Ranchitos, and
- In December 1980, after 14 years of developing, selling and managing all the original lots of our association, RANCHO CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP legally transitioned operations of LRHOA to the homeowners by way of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement. On December 30, 1980, LRHOA became self-governing and began the process of electing their own Board of Directors;
The Growing Years – 1981 to 2000
During the next 20 years, the population of Temecula exploded from 10,215 in 1980 to 57,716 in 2000. This tremendous growth in our community and the surrounding region was transforming our rural, agriculture area into a rapidly growing suburban community, creating unforeseen pressure for the County of Riverside to provide new residents with needed infrastructure for land use, roads, housing, street and lighting improvements, shopping centers, schools, sewers, flood control, open space and trails, medical facilities, and police, fire and emergency services. (As reference points, the first street light in Temecula began operating in 1984 and Temecula High School opened in 1985, the same year Interstate 15 was opened through Temecula.) These significant improvements and unprecedented access provided attractive incentives for new homeowners to commute to work in San Diego and Orange County.
In December 1989, the City of Temecula was incorporated, introducing a new layer of governmental regulations and oversight for LRHOA to consider. All these changes created additional challenges for our community of rural, equestrian estates. As the largest and oldest established residential neighborhood in Temecula, LRHOA became a prime candidate for developers and City representatives looking for solutions to the urbanization of Temecula.
Currently, the majority of Los Ranchitos lots are zoned “Residential-Very Low Density-VL” by the City of Temecula Land Use Policy. There are six lots along Temecula Parkway near La Paz Street that the city re-zoned “Professional Office (PO)” and three lots along De Portola, adjacent to the Temecula Valley Hospital property, that are now zoned “Planned Development Overlay (PDO)”. These can be seen on the LRHOA Maps.
Here are some specific highlights and influences LRHOA experienced during the 1980s and 1990s:
- The formation of our Architectural & Environment Control Committee to monitor the compliance of CC&Rs within LRHOA in 1985;
- Without the financial support that the original developers provided through 1980, LRHOA begins to struggle to maintain the “Equestrian Trail Network”;
- The extension of the CC&Rs by the LRHOA members in 1996 for an additional 20 years. This was a difficult decision as indicated by the attached homeowner three appeal letters explaining the importance of the CC&RS and need to maintain a financially strong homeowners association;
- With less than $5,000 of annual revenues from residential member dues, LRHOA was succumbing to the mounting legal expenses needed to respond to the encroaching wave of commercial development that would compromise homeowner’s property values and rural lifestyle;
- Unfortunately, these commercial development challenges were compounded by the City of Temecula’s efforts to widen Temecula Parkway and Margarita Roads. The City also planned to widen the cross streets of La Paz Street and Jedediah Smith, and to widen the 2.5 mile Ynez/De Portola Road thoroughfare to four lanes;
- From 1995 through 2000, the Board of Directors, together with passionate members of LRHOA, fought the City of Temecula and developers from commercially developing LRHOA residential lots. This included face-to-face negotiations, hiring attorneys to develop legal strategies and filing temporary restraining orders. Despite fervent letters of support and encouragement asking all members for voluntary financial support and appeals to vote for an increase in annual member dues of $75 to $100 per year, all financial resources of LRHOA were depleted;
- This led to the two most contentious development issues between LRHOA, potential developers and the City of Temecula. Both issues are summarized below:
- Four contiguous lots along Temecula Parkway (Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 of Tract 3750), beginning at La Paz Street and running westward, were re-zoned Professional Office (PO) by the City of Temecula. The City confirmed in writing that they would not approve any personal residences to be built on these lots, even though the lots are within LRHOA. Ultimately the Board of Directors negotiated development agreements that would keep all four lots under the control of LRHOA CC&Rs, only allow public access to these lots from Temecula Parkway, establish limited hours of operation and limiting the type of business and construction that could be built. The terms of the Moramarco/Bedford Court development agreements and operating provisions called for the developers to contribute an aggregate $60,000 capital contribution to LRHOA, with annual member dues of $1,000 for each of the four lots. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA;
- The City of Temecula had begun condemnation proceedings on the lot at the northeast corner of Temecula Parkway and La Paz Street for which they intended to build a public Park and Ride. The Board of Directors and our attorneys negotiated a development agreement which would allow the City to condemn the property without LRHOA contesting the proceedings, provided that the City limit access to and from the Park and Ride Facility to only Temecula Parkway. The agreement also required the City to establish a permanent berm, install trees and greenery and maintain a landscaping screen that would shield the Park and Ride from both La Paz Street and Vallejo Avenue. This agreement would also limit access to and from the Park and Ride Facility to only Temecula Parkway and create a permanent landscape screen and sound barrier for Los Ranchitos residents that live near Vallejo Avenue and La Paz Street;
- Four contiguous lots along Temecula Parkway (Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 of Tract 3750), beginning at La Paz Street and running westward, were re-zoned Professional Office (PO) by the City of Temecula. The City confirmed in writing that they would not approve any personal residences to be built on these lots, even though the lots are within LRHOA. Ultimately the Board of Directors negotiated development agreements that would keep all four lots under the control of LRHOA CC&Rs, only allow public access to these lots from Temecula Parkway, establish limited hours of operation and limiting the type of business and construction that could be built. The terms of the Moramarco/Bedford Court development agreements and operating provisions called for the developers to contribute an aggregate $60,000 capital contribution to LRHOA, with annual member dues of $1,000 for each of the four lots. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA;
- Although neither the Moramarco/Bedford Court or the Park and Ride Facility developments were begun until 2016, the results of these two challenges significantly influenced the future strategies of the LRHOA Board of Directors. Through proactive involvement and the ability to fund responsive legal actions with Capital Contributions from Commercial Developments, the Board was able to negotiate concessions that appeased both parties. Ultimately, these two agreements avoided insolvency, the dissolution of our CC&Rs and homeowners association, and established cash reserves that would fund future legal expenses to defend LRHOA members and their property values.
Reflecting back from our vantage point nearly 20 years later, these efforts saved our land from detrimental development and preserved our future rural, equestrian neighborhood. Without the resolve of these passionate neighbors and members of the board, it is difficult to imagine any of us living the lifestyle we collectively call Los Ranchitos today.
The 21st Century – 2001 to present
From 2000 until the present, there have been new challenges and accomplishments for LRHOA. Population growth continued as Temecula nearly doubled during the first decade of the 21st century, to reach 100,097 in 2010. The Board of Directors of LRHOA was approached in 2003 (De-annex Lot 24, Tract 3752) and again in 2005 (De-annex Lot 25, Tract 3752) to de-annex two LRHOA lots, each on the east side of Margarita Road along De Portola Road. In both cases, these lots had been disconnected from LRHOA by Margarita Road and were not suitable for rural, residential homes. In addition, the City had re-zoned both lots for commercial development. The Board of Directors negotiated with each property owner to pay a one-time capital contribution of $25,000 each and to be de-annexed from LRHOA. The membership agreed and approved both of these amendments to de-annex.
Recognizing that the character of LRHOA was to preserve rural, equestrian lots of 2 or more acres each, the Board of Directors in 2008 recommended that Section 3.01 of the LRHOA CC&Rs be amended to assure that all existing lots could not be further sub-divided to less than 2.5 acres. Previously, the original CC&Rs allowed lots to be split down to 1/6th of an acre (7,200 sf). Minimum Lot Size 2.5 acres. This amendment was also approved by the membership.
In 2009, the Board recommended that members of LRHOA be classified either as “residential members” (single-family residences) or “commercial members” (lots approved by the membership for commercial development). This allowed annual dues for “residential members” to remain at $25 per year and “commercial members” to pay annual dues at the rate negotiated in their development agreements. Multiple Membership Classifications. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA.
A New Hospital for Temecula
As news of a potential new regional hospital in Temecula began circulating early in the 21st century, interest in developing medical office buildings near the proposed hospital site escalated. Eager to incentivize the owners of the proposed Temecula Valley Hospital to build in Temecula, the City of Temecula re-zoned property contiguous to the hospital site as “Planned Development Overlay” zoning districts.
(Planned Development Overlay Zoning Districts establish guidelines to permit a creative mix of uses, flexibility in design standards and often encourage a mix of residential and commercial business activities within the same project area to encourage pedestrian activity.)
Anxious to have a regional 320-bed hospital within the city, the City of Temecula approved the Temecula Valley Hospital in January 2006 to be built on a 37-acre site along Temecula Parkway. At that point, commercial developers became very active in securing proximate development sites for future medical office buildings. With a few undeveloped lots within LRHOA that were now zoned “De Portola Planned Development Overlay District – PDO 8”, multiple inquiries were made to the Board of Directors of LRHOA regarding commercial development of these lots. The construction of the hospital was delayed for nearly seven years due to the national recession. See the “Temecula Valley Hospital” section below.
De Portola Medical Center
In the fall of 2012, the Board reached a development agreement with a commercial developer, subject to operating provisions, to build the De Portola Medical Center on the southwest corner of Margarita Road and De Portola Road. Due to the delays in completing the Temecula Valley Hospital, these two-story medical office buildings were not completed until 2015. Terms of the agreement called for LRHOA to receive a one-time capital contribution of $18,276 with annual assessment of $1,000, subject to a 5% annual increase. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA.
Temecula Valley Hospital
Temecula Valley Hospital had purchased one lot within LRHOA years earlier, which included approximately 325 feet of frontage along De Portola Road. The owners of Temecula Valley Hospital had also purchased another 35 acres as their main building pad, which included approximately 500 feet of frontage along De Portola Road. The LRHOA lot and the main 35 acre hospital site had subsequently been re-zoned “De Portola Planned Development Overlay District – PDO 8” by the City of Temecula. After prolonged legal negotiations, the Board of Directors and Temecula Valley Hospital reached a development agreement in 2013.
The final Temecula Valley Hospital development agreement and operating provisions called for LRHOA to receive a one-time capital contribution of $35,000, an additional $10,000 towards legal fees incurred by LRHOA, plus an annual assessment of $3,500, subject to an annual cost of living increase. The agreement also required Temecula Valley Hospital to install and maintain 2,200 linear feet of a multi-use trail with split rail fencing on each side of the trail, agree to set back all hospital buildings and landscape a buffer zone between De Portola and the hospital buildings. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA. Temecula Valley Hospital opened in August 2013.
Julian Charter School
Hope Lutheran Church had purchased the former Rancho Community Church property at 29141 Vallejo Avenue in the fall of 2005. In 2014, Hope Lutheran approached the Board of Directors of LRHOA regarding the opportunity to sell their property to Julian Charter School, a public charter school.
This property was formerly Lots 10 & 11 of Tract 3552 (line 7), when it was purchased by Rancho Community Church in 1968 from the Rancho California Partnership. Over the 37 years Rancho Community Church operated at this location, it had built out this 6.3 acre site to serve 2,000 members.
The Board negotiated a development agreement with Hope Lutheran that would allow Julian Charter to purchase and operate the property as a public charter school, subject to operating provisions including a maximum of 350 student enrollment, parking limitations and additional limits to uses of these facilities.
Terms of this agreement called for LRHOA to receive a one-time capital contribution of $30,000 with an annual assessment of $3,000, subject to a 3% annual increase. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA in February 2015.
Temecula Medical Office Building
In 2015, developers approached the Board of Directors to build a medical office building on a vacant 2.01 acre site along De Portola Road to be called the Temecula Medical Office Building. This property (Lot 27, Tract 3752) is adjacent to the De Portola Medical Center which is on the southwest corner of Margarita and De Portola Roads. The Board of Directors concluded that this lot was not suitable for a rural, equestrian home, so they negotiated a development agreement and an operating agreement for a two-story medical office building. Both the Temecula Medical Office Building and the adjacent De Portola Medical Center are in LRHOA. The development agreement with both properties extends the horse and multi-use trail to Margarita Road.
The Temecula Medical Office Building was also re-zoned “De Portola Planned Development Overlay District – PDO 8” by the City of Temecula. Financial terms of this agreement provide that LRHOA receive a one-time capital contribution of $40,000 with annual assessments of $5,000, subject to an annual cost of living increase. This CC&R amendment was approved by the members of LRHOA in January 2016.
After selling their former Church building to Julian Charter School, Hope Lutheran Church obtained LRHOA membership’s approval to allow commercial development of the adjacent 2.93 acres located at 28975 Vallejo Ave (Lot 9, Tract 3552) to build their new church. The Development Agreement and Operative Agreement include an annual assessment of $3,000, subject to a 3% annual increase with a one-time capital contribution of $30,000. The agreement also states that Hope Lutheran Church will install an 8-foot wide horse trail along Vallejo Ave, fenced on both sides, the length of their property. Furthermore, Hope Lutheran Church will also pay 1/3 of the cost to continue the same fence along the property owned by Julian Charter School. (LRHOA and the developers for Temecula Gateway have committed to split the remaining 2/3of the cost to install the fence the length of the property owned by Julian Charter School. The amendment to the CC&Rs was recorded May 31, 2017. (See terms above for non-residential operating agreement between Julian Charter School and LRHOA recorded in February 2015.
The original CC&Rs have been extended for an additional 20 years to September 30, 2036 by members of LRHOA. Future extension of the CC&Rs will automatically be extended for successive periods of ten (10) years unless fifty-one percent (51) of the property subject to these restrictions agree to terminate the CC&Rs at the end of September 30, 2036 or successive ten (10) year period(s).
In February 2017, just prior to the current owners of TV Phase One Office Building starting their development, it was determined that .76 acres of the 2.23 acres are within LRHOA boundaries. (A lot split had occurred in 1968 but the change in the boundary line was unknown by the current owners or by LRHOA. This proved to be a timely discovery by homeowner Bob Brooks while he was researching documents for the development of this website.) Once this was independently verified, a Development Agreement and Operative Provision was negotiated and then approved by the members of LRHOA. The Development Agreement amends the CC&Rs to allow commercial development of the 2.23 acres located at 31625 De Portola Road (Parcel 4 of Parcel Map No. 13043.) Annual assessment shall be $5,000 per year, subject to a 5% annual increase with a one-time capital contribution of $40,000. This property is commonly known as TV Phase One Office Building.
Temecula Gateway Development
Amends CC&Rs to expand the commercial development of Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 of Tract 3750. (See line 15 of “Chronological Listing of All LRHOA Legal Documents” for summary of original development agreement recorded on January 21, 2000). This new CC&Rs amendment allows Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 of Tract 3750 to be commercially developed, subject to the 2016 Development Agreement and Operative Provisions. The amended annual assessment will be $2,000 per lot ($8,000 in the aggregate), subject to COLA. This agreement calls for a one-time capital contribution of $15,000 for each lot ($60,000 in the aggregate). This development is commonly known as Temecula Gateway.
In addition to the accomplishments stated above, the last 15 years have also included a number of other significant accomplishments by concerned Los Ranchitos homeowners and the Board of Directors. Here are a few to note:
- To preserve Los Ranchitos’ rural, equestrian heritage, enhance residential values and sustain a country lifestyle for all members;
- Launch the new Los Ranchitos website “The Equestrian” to present members with a comprehensive history of LRHOA and provide interesting and contemporary information about our community. A considerable effort has been made to provide all association documentation from the past 50 years and transparency into our communities issues in the future. We trust that “The Equestrian” will enhance communications among members and the board of directors;
- The association’s opposition to Rancho Community Church’s planned expansion on its original association property resulted in an amicable agreement for Rancho Community Church to relocate to property outside of LRHOA. These negotiations have also resulted in a “good neighbor” relationship that benefits LRHOA members with improved horse trails, lighting, fencing and cooperative hours of operation from Rancho Community Church at their current location;
- Rigorous opposition to the City of Temecula’s General Plan Update in 2005 to widen De Portola/Ynez thoroughfare to 4 lanes with street lights, sidewalks and curb and gutter urbanization. Additional proposed changes would have added multiple lanes at cross streets of Santiago and Jedediah Smith. The overwhelming opposition by homeowners and the Board of Director resulted in the De Portola/Ynez thoroughfare to remain at 3 lanes, plan for adjacent horse trails and for all cross streets to remain two lanes. The third lane along the De Portola/Ynez thoroughfare is only be used to access Los Ranchitos homeowner’s driveways;
- Expanded Los Ranchitos Horse and multi-use trails to more than four miles and established a maintenance program which is now funded through commercial members annual dues;
- Ongoing opposition to temporary relocation of Helipad at Temecula Valley Hospital. The hospital is committed to make the permanent location of the Helipad on top of the second hospital tower when it is built;
- Continuing negotiations with City of Temecula to eliminate public access to LRHOA roads from the future City of Temecula’s Park and Ride lot that is located along Temecula Parkway, at the northeast corner of La Paz Street. Through the spring of 2017, the board of directors of LRHOA has funded more than $100,000 in legal fees and costs to defend our association from additional traffic from the City’s Public Park and Ride facility to enter and exit onto La Paz Street and Vallejo Avenue. (LRHOA Legal Expenditures by Fiscal Year and Classification)
- In 2014, we opposed City of Temecula’s interest in installing mandatory sewer service to Los Ranchitos and neighboring areas at a projected cost of $45,000 per home, plus additional annual property tax assessments on each lot;
- Completed negotiations with City in 2015 to establish new “Rural Standard” for horse trails within LRHOA in lieu of street lights, sidewalks and curb and gutter. The initial “Rural Standard” will be implemented along Vallejo Avenue in front of Julian Charter School and Hope Lutheran Church, with future plans to continue this new horse trail eastward thru La Paz Street;
- 2015 re-pavement of LRHOA streets at Cabrillo Avenue and Ynez intersection;
- Installation of rural street signs at all Los Ranchitos intersections;
- Successful negotiations with commercial development projects on lots that are neither suitable nor zoned for residential, rural estates by the City of Temecula. By negotiating development agreements that keep commercial development and operations under the control of our CC&Rs, member residential values are enhanced and operations of commercial developments remain within the control of LRHOA CC&Rs. The negotiated capital contributions and higher “commercial member” annual dues, with cost of living adjustments, has allowed LRHOA to meet past and current financial requirements and to establish a legal fund to protect member residential values and preserve our Los Ranchitos rural, equestrian lifestyle. The relationship between LRHOA legal expenses and Capital Contributions from Commercial Developments can be viewed on these two documents, LRHOA Legal Expenses for Fiscal Years 2008 through 2016 and Annual Member Dues and Capital Contributions from All Residential and Commercial Members;
- These long-term financial strategies have insulated members from substantial, future assessments necessary to meet association legal requirements while maintaining the annual residential member dues at $25, first begun in 1980;
- Have deployed a new system of horse trail crossing signs within LRHOA streets;
- Are pursuing a working relationship with City of Temecula planning and community development representatives by communicating a clear understanding of LRHOA values and expectations;
Los Ranchitos Now
Current and Pending Issues:
The Equestrian
Each homeowner has recently been mailed a newsletter introducing our new website “The Equestrian”. The newsletter introduces a comprehensive article on the 50-year history of LRHOA. The entire History and Vision for Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association article can be viewed online at www.lrhoa.com. Here are other features you will enjoy when visiting “The Equestrian” online.
- The History and Vision for Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association is hyperlinked to dozens of supporting documents, pictures and details that can be viewed with a click of your mouse. The majority of this information has never been available to members before;
- All LRHOA original CC&RS, amendments and summaries for quick viewing can be accessed and downloaded;
- The LRHOA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, with all amendments can be read and downloaded;
- A picture Gallery of our association featuring rural, equestrian estates, horse property and trails and the beautiful amenities available to all LRHOA members;
- Newly developed digitized maps that display all 188 association lots, streets, horse trails, street addresses, acreage, Assessor Parcel Number, association boundaries and all perimeter property of LRHOA. A second map shows aerial views of each association lot, adjacent property. A third map is an overhead of the entire Temecula Valley Hospital property along with the eastern portion of De Portola. All three maps can be zoomed in to see details not previously available;
- Significant financial information documents are now available for your viewing:
- Annual Member Dues and Capital Contributions from All Residential and Commercial Members
- LRHOA Legal expenses by Fiscal Years ending June 30, 2008 thru 2016 from 2008 to the present.
- Historical documents such as the “Equestrian Trail Network” agreement from 1972 and letters from members written from 1997 to 1999 regarding LRHOA challenges;
- Insightful financial information documents are now available for your viewing:
- A summary of LRHOA Annual Dues Revenues from Residential and Commercial Members;
- A summary of LRHOA Capital Contributions and Annual Assessments for each Commercial Development;
- A summary of LRHOA legal expenses by fiscal year from 2008 to the present. This details the amount and classification of legal expense paid. This will provide an overview of the financial commitments and other issues that the Board of Directors has and continues to work on for the benefit of all LRHOA members;
- Historical documents such as the “Equestrian Trail Network” agreement from 1972 and letters from members written from 1997 to 1999 regarding LRHOA challenges;
- A summary of LRHOA Annual Dues Revenues from Residential and Commercial Members;
- A calendar of events and activities within and about Los Ranchitos is available and will be enhanced in the months to come. Please provide any events with dates and descriptions by return email for inclusion;
- Email access to Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association Board of Directors and Property Management Company. This provides a convenient and easy communication tool to share your thoughts and ideas quickly and without expense;
- Email access to “The Equestrian” webmaster for members to recommend articles, information, events for our association calendar or just to let us know about a spelling or typographical error.
- Community links to quickly find and access community contacts at the City, schools, emergency services, utility companies, public services, emergency preparedness and home ownership tips
- As a convenience, you can also pay your annual dues online.
Annual Members Meeting
On June 17, 2016 the Board of Directors hosted the Annual Members Meeting at Vail Ranch Steakhouse. Over 75 members enjoyed a hosted dinner while board members shared and answered questions on all association financial, real estate, commercial development projects, an up-date on the City of Temecula’s Park and Ride and future plans for improving our association through communications and pride through new signage displaying our new logo and design.
The Board of Directors also announced that all members that were in good-standing with their annual dues would receive an annual audited financial statement beginning with the year ending June 30, 2016.
Look for an announcement by mail for the 2017 Annual Members Meeting. It will be scheduled in the month of June 2017.
Our Vision for the future
Los Ranchitos recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary on September 30, 2016. Despite unforeseen challenges and the impact of Temecula’s population explosion over five decades, LRHOA remaines committed to the principles and vision begun by the Rancho California Partnership and the CC&Rs they developed back in 1966.
Those principles were created to establish and manage a general plan for the use and development of our land, emphasizing a rural residential, equestrian neighborhood of multi-acre lots. Furthermore, those CC&Rs also establish that each lot will be protected against improper use and development of surrounding lots that could depreciate the value of the lot or interfere with the beneficial use and enjoyment of each lot, consistent with a rural residential, equestrian neighborhood.
LRHOA is a self-governing body that elects nine directors from our property owners to manage the homeowners association. Three board members are elected each year at the annual membership meeting held in June. Every board member volunteers their time, without any form of compensation, for the greater good of all members. A number of past and current board members have served multiple years, providing a continuity of experience and expertise that establishes an invaluable heritage to our association.
Please contact Luci Ralston, our association manager, at Ralston Management with any input, questions and suggestions. Her email is luci@ralsonm.com and office number is (951) 296-9030
The Board of Director’s vision for the future includes initiating programs that will enhance the rural, equestrian lifestyle Los Ranchitos has enjoyed for 50 years. These include:
- Working with the City of Temecula’s established Development Code and Community Design Elements, we will design and install new Los Ranchitos Homeowners Association signage at intersections entering Los Ranchitos;
- We will utilize “The Equestrian”, our new website, for members to efficiently communicate with the board of directors and the association’s property management company. The Board welcomes and encourages member input which can now be done easily through the website.
- By providing your email address, you will receive future communications by email, in lieu of mailings. (We will not share your email address with others.) However, CC&R amendments and annual association voting will continue to be mailed;
- We will expand the value and communication reach of our new website to members by adding featured articles about Los Ranchitos heritage. Subjects for future articles planned are:
- Rose Haven Heritage Garden,
- the local significance of raising Alpacas,
- Upcoming Los Ranchitos events, including the annual member meeting in June,
- Proposed future Los Ranchitos community and equestrian events,
- Interviews with interesting and long-time residents of Los Ranchitos,
- A look back to 1972 when the Rancho California “Equestrian Trail Network” was first begun in Los Ranchitos. And how it lives on through the Rancho California Horsemen’s Association today,
- And the most current updates about Los Ranchitos news related to the City of Temecula, Temecula Valley Hospital, neighborhood support groups, and potential commercial developments in and around Los Ranchitos.
- We all know that the potential for the City of Temecula to attempt to widen the Ynez/De Portola thoroughfare and other streets within Los Ranchitos in the future is likely. We also know that it is likely that the growth of Temecula Valley Hospital will influence the City of Temecula’s future plans, and that will in turn affect Los Ranchitos members and our lifestyle. To these and other future challenges we commit to be actively engaged and to commit our efforts and financial assets to protect our Los Ranchitos’ rural, equestrian lifestyle.
- We will also continue to maintain and improve and expand our association resources like our community’s four miles of horse and multi-use trails, future rural standard enhancements and the aesthetic qualities of our association. We are committed to utilize our current financial assets and future revenue stream to protect, preserve and enhance our land, homes and lifestyle as first established in our CC&Rs in 1966.
The Board of Directors is committed to preserving Los Ranchitos’ rural, equestrian heritage and enhancing the residential home values for all members. Like the interesting people groups that came before us, our culture and our dreams are tied to this land. Our lives continue that legacy.
Based upon the lessons and experiences learned from the people that came before us, we acknowledge that we are writing the story of this land today and then passing it on to future generations.
We value the beauty, the opportunity and the lifestyles we enjoy in Los Ranchitos. This is why we choose to live here, and this is why we serve. Our goal remains to preserve Los Ranchitos as the most influential rural residential, equestrian neighborhood in the Temecula Valley.