Protect Rancho Santa Fe
About Us
Our mission is to protect Rancho Santa Fe from all high density, commercial development that threatens our peaceful, rural way of life and hold the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board and Art Jury accountable for upholding the tenets laid out in our Protective Covenant.
Championed by longtime Rancho Santa Fe residents, Protect Rancho Santa Fe is a rapidly growing group of concerned community members. To date, our group consists of over 500 of Rancho Santa Fe Association members and numerous residents of other homeowners associations within the San Dieguito River Valley area. Together, we are working to preserve the area’s rural character and oppose commercial development outside of the downtown area of Rancho Santa Fe.
We are extremely concerned about the proposed Silvergate high-density rental project at the corner of Calzada del Bosque and Via de la Valle.
We moved here for peace, space, and community. The Silvergate project jeopardizes all of that. Now is the time for community members of Rancho Santa Fe and surrounding neighbors to raise our collective voices in opposition to this massive project.
The Silvergate development is a threat to all community members of Rancho Santa Fe and surrounding areas. The current 178 unit development proposal is by far the largest commercial project ever contemplated for approval by the Rancho Santa Fe Art Jury and Board of Directors. The project, in its current form, is almost DOUBLE the size of the village of Rancho Santa Fe, and its proposed density far exceeds what is prescribed by the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant Area Minimum Lot Map.
This project threatens:
- Traffic safety and flow
- Rancho Santa Fe’s Protective Covenant, which has served to inform and regulate the types and sizes of developments within our community for over a century
- Disaster, making fire evacuations more difficult and potential for significant flooding
- Additional high density projects within Rancho Santa Fe
- Property Values
What we’re protecting:
- Rural, tranquil atmosphere
- Large lots with minimum zoning of 2–2.86 net acres, outside the center of town.
- Walkable, charming downtown
- Private trails, open spaces, and playing fields
- Art Jury oversight to maintain rural aesthetics and limit bulk, height, and lighting
- Rancho Santa Fe Association preserving our character
- Private Rancho Santa Fe Association owned Golf & Tennis Clubs
- Full-time RSF Patrol supplemented by the Sheriff and Highway Patrol
- Roger Rowe School
- Strong community spirit with local events and volunteerism
Now is the time for residents of Rancho Santa Fe, and of the numerous homeowners associations that lie within or along the San Dieguito River Valley, to raise our collective voices in opposition to this massive project.
Protect Rancho Santa Fe
Meet the Team
Russ Penniman
President
About Russ
Russ and his wife, Carol, moved to Rancho Santa Fe with their two children in 1990 and completed construction of their present home on La Gracia in 2003. He currently serves as Managing Partner of Penniman & Associates, LLC, focusing on private real estate ventures. He was also a founding partner of Owens Geotechnical, Inc., an engineering services company based in Las Vegas.
Active in the community, Russ served four terms as a board member of the State of California’s 22nd District Agricultural Association, which oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack, including two terms as President. He also served as a board member and Vice President of The Irvine Museum and the Joan Irvine Smith & Athalie R. Clarke Foundation, Vice President of the Wyland Foundation, Trustee of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, and board member of the Rancho Santa Fe Riding Club. He currently serves on the board of the Don Diego Scholarship Foundation.
Russ served in the United States Navy from May 1979 until his retirement with the rank of Rear Admiral in October 2014. A veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, his most senior leadership roles include Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet. A former F-14 Tomcat pilot, he logged more than 3,000 flight hours and 430 carrier arrested landings. He holds a B.S. in Engineering Management from the U.S. Naval Academy and completed executive leadership programs at the Harvard Kennedy School and other leading institutions.
Dick Clotfelter
Vice President
About Dick
Dick’s family has been connected to Rancho Santa Fe for nearly a century, arriving in 1931 when his father became manager of the Santa Fe Land & Improvement Company, which operated the Ranch before the Rancho Santa Fe Association was formed.
Born in Rancho Santa Fe in 1937, Dick attended local schools, graduated from Stanford University, and served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. He has spent more than 64 years in commercial real estate, with extensive experience in sales, leasing, finance, pension fund management, corporate leadership, and private real estate development throughout California, Washington, and Montana.
Throughout his career, Dick has remained deeply involved in civic and community affairs. He served on the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board of Directors and has held leadership positions with numerous homeowners associations, private clubs, charitable organizations, and business ventures, including participation in the founding of a commercial bank in Seattle.
Dick and his wife have been continuous property owners in Rancho Santa Fe since 1967 and remain permanent residents today. As one of the principals of Protect Rancho Santa Fe, he is committed to preserving the community’s unique character, history, and planning principles for future generations.
Sharon Ruhnau
Secretary
About Sharon
Originally from Montreal, Sharon eventually found her way to Rancho Santa Fe after living in several countries and cities around the world. Drawn by the community’s rural character, open space, and extensive network of equestrian trails, she has proudly called Rancho Santa Fe home for more than three decades.
Over the years, Sharon has become deeply involved in the community, serving on numerous committees and later as a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board of Directors for three years. Through her service, she developed a strong appreciation for the qualities that make Rancho Santa Fe so unique: its natural beauty, understated elegance, open landscapes, and the dedication of the many volunteers who help preserve its character.
After a successful career as a litigating attorney, Sharon and her husband, David, continue to enjoy the Rancho Santa Fe lifestyle and remain committed to protecting the community for future generations.
Sophia Alsadek
Board Member
About Sophia
Sophia Alsadek has been a proud Rancho Santa Fe resident since 2005 and is deeply passionate about the community and lifestyle that make the Ranch so special. She earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California and spent more than a decade working in technical support and systems testing for Motorola and Hughes Aircraft’s Space & Communications Group.
Sophia and her husband, Louay, raised their two sons in Rancho Santa Fe, where they enjoyed the unique opportunities and sense of community the area provides. An active member of the community, Sophia can often be found walking the Ranch’s trails with her rescue dog, playing pickleball, visiting Osuna Ranch, and enjoying all that Rancho Santa Fe has to offer. She is committed to preserving the character, beauty, and quality of life that have made Rancho Santa Fe her family’s home for nearly two decades.
Roxana Foxx
Board Member
About Roxana
Roxana Foxx is the Founder and CEO of Hunter International, a San Diego-based firm specializing in law firm mergers, acquisitions, and partner recruiting. Over a distinguished 40-year career, she has built a reputation as a successful business leader, political strategist, and community advocate.
Roxana has held numerous leadership positions throughout California, including Chair of the Republican Party of San Diego County, Chair of The Lincoln Club, President of the Rancho Santa Fe Association, and board member of several civic, educational, and charitable organizations. Her service has included the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Botanic Garden, Don Diego Scholarship Foundation, Alzheimer’s Family Center, and the University Club.
A longtime Rancho Santa Fe resident, Roxana is passionate about community engagement, responsible planning, and preserving the unique character of Rancho Santa Fe. In her free time, she enjoys competitive equestrian sports and training on her family farm in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband, Dr. Robert Hertzka.
Pascale Kourie
Excecutive Director
About Pascale
Pascale Kourie is a lifelong Rancho Santa Fe resident with a deep appreciation for the community’s history, character, and rural heritage. Pascale earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate and Finance from the University of San Diego, and later completed a Master of Science in International Real Estate and Planning from University College London.
Her professional experience spans real estate, finance, investor relations, and communications. Most recently, she served as Head of Investor Relations at a London-based real estate private equity firm and has worked with leading real estate and financial organizations in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Passionate about community service and philanthropy, Pascale has supported numerous charitable organizations throughout San Diego and held leadership positions in National Charity League.
Pascale currently serves as Executive Director of Protect Rancho Santa Fe, where she works closely with residents and community leaders to help preserve the community’s unique character and planning principles. Drawing from her background in real estate, finance, and communications, she is committed to thoughtful community engagement and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same qualities that have made Rancho Santa Fe such a special place to live.