Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood

 

In 1983, the land in the San Dieguito River Valley commonly known as the Polo Fields was granted to the city of San Diego in exchange for the development of Fairbanks Ranch. This is a 114-acre parcel of land located at Via de la Valle and El Camino Real within the City of San Diego. The Grant Deed imposed restrictions on the future use of this land to maintain it as rural, public open space. The Fairbanks Polo Club subsequently leased this land for equestrian activities for over 26 years, with some other sporting events occurring in more recent years.

On August 8, 2016, the city of San Diego entered into a 28-year lease with Surf Cup Sports LLC, effectively ending the years of peaceful, rural equestrian use. Since 2016, the frequency and size of activities and events on this land has grown considerably, with increasing negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Attempts to resolve the issues and concerns of the nearby residents and requests to adhere to the restrictions in the grant deed have been largely ignored by both the city and Surf Cup Sports. In response, a group of concerned citizens has now joined to form the Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood, a grassroots effort to restore the peace, tranquility, and rural character of the community.

On April 13, 2023, Fairbanks Polo Club Homes, successors to the grant deed governing use of the former polo fields property, filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego for its failure to enforce grant deed restrictions that run with the land. The grant deed bars large assemblages of people and cars (currently some 2,500 cars a day come and go on event weekends) and limits use of the property to passive, non-commercial recreational uses such as picnicking, walking, hiking, and similar activities. Most importantly, the deed restrictions limit use of the property to 25 days a year.

 
 

OUR MISSION

To preserve, protect, and secure the safety, peace, and rural character of the Polo Fields neighborhood by requiring the City of San Diego to enforce the Municipal Code, to address environmental concerns, and honor the requirements of the Grant Deed that runs with the land.

 

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Members of the Coalition include

  • Fairbanks Polo Club HOA

  • Polo Point HOA

  • Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley

  • Sun Valley HOA

    Homeowners from surrounding neighborhoods:

  • Senterra

  • Rancho Pacifica

  • Whispering Palms

  • Rancho del Mar

  • Rancho Santa Fe Covenant

  • Via de la Valle residents

  • Del Mar

  • Solana Beach

  • Del Mar Terrace

  • Carmel Valley

  • Fairbanks Ranch

Coalition Achievements to date

  • Active in lobbying residents of Fairbanks Polo Club homeowners’ association to vote in favor of approving the assessment to sue the City of San Diego.

  • Administer the Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood website. Understanding that supporters need updates and news regarding the lawsuit, this site has an email distribution list for receiving the latest news affecting the river valley and the lawsuit.

  • Maintain the Change.org website that has an email database of folks opposed to the Surf activity.

  • Established the GOFUNDME website directing donations to the HOA account.

  • Brought attention to illegal commercial parking and soccer net storage along Via de la Valle on the 21-acre wetland parcel, formerly known as the Milan property. City Land Use Department and California State Water agencies issued Surf a cease and desist for that illegal activity. With over 10 acres of fields available for overflow parking, this crippled their revenue and yielded their $6 million investment to buy the land a net loss since the debt can't be serviced by any direct revenues from parking. (Ex. 300 cars x $20 = $6,000. Over three-day event: $18,000 lost revenue) Over 30 events YTD.

  • Challenged Surf's Pioneer Sports Complex proposal. Rallied a movement of supporters to write to the City Planning Department in opposition to the Pioneer Sports Complex. After much deliberation and review the Planning Department recommended 25 pages of environmental studies before Pioneer could be moved forward. The cost of these studies is so burdensome that it likely cancelled the project as initially submitted. The cost of the land and architectural plans have been a financial burden to Surf owners.

  • Lobbied for the relocation of grey administration trailers that lined the Surf fields, parallel to the Milan property.

  • Brought attention to California State Water officials Surf’s illegal pumping of storm water from the Milan property wetlands into the San Dieguito River, resulting in a cease and desist from the attorney general and setting the precedent of poor stewardship of the former Polo Fields.

  • Actively presented fundraising efforts to Whispering Palms community at two separate meetings.

  • Presented to the Rancho Del Mar Estates HOA regarding the lawsuit and Pioneer sports complex.

  • Presented to the Polo Estates HOA regarding the lawsuit and Pioneer sports complex.

  • Presented to a gathering of 20 residents of nearby affected communities at the home of Barbara Casino, who joined the Coalition after we presented at her Polo Estates HOA meeting.

  • Supported legal efforts by uncovering thousands of email communications between City officials, Surf ownership, and community complaints.

  • Brought an audit against Surf for lack of revenue sharing with the City. Resulted in penalties and backpay of over $300,000.

  • Created a network of supporting environmental organizations and City officials that are supportive of the lawsuit.

  • Sent out direct mailers regarding the lawsuit to over 700 homes.

  • Presented to La Valle Coastal Club principal to raise awareness and for donations.

  • Presented to the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board of Directors in 2019 regarding the violation of the grant deed, illegal uses, and traffic issues resulting in their letter of concerns to City and County officials.

  • Lobbied the Rancho Santa Fe Association Board and RSFA PAC in 2023-2025 regarding the lawsuit resulting in $50,000 donation to the legal fund in 2025.

  • Presented to the Carmel Valley Planning Board in Jan 2020 regarding the violations of the Grant Deed and illegal uses, resulting in a letter of support from the CVPB to the City. 

  • Continuous education of San Dieguito Planning Group for several years resulting in numerous letters to City and County officials about illegal uses, traffic and environmental concerns, and overdevelopment at Milan parcel with proposed Sports Complex.

  • Media outreach resulting in articles in: The Washington Post, San Diego Union Tribune, ABC 10-News, KUSI-TV, KPBS, RSF Review, Coast News, Rancho Santa Fe Post, Del Mar Times.

  • Lack of a fire evacuation plan for the fields raised in discussions with the San Diego fire marshal and office of Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council President (District One). Months later, still awaiting a response.