• Increases in surface boat/mast up storage within the harbor from 93 to perhaps 300 + spaces (may be slightly more or less when engineers do design).

• 200+ additional surface boat/mast up spaces in the MSC@SCWD.

• There is expected to be optional valet delivery of boats from the MSC@SCWD to the harbor (tee times as they say on the golf course - this has been proven to work well elsewhere).

• With the dry stack boat storage building gone there should be room for more staging docks to be built to allow staging for boats coming from/to the launch ramp as well as the MSC@SCWD.

• There should be marine maintenance and repair space in MSC@SCWD for marine vendors and DIY (Do It Yourself) boaters.

• There should be other space for additional marine services such as fuel, canvas, boat sales, etc.

• There WILL BE a marine retail store in the MSC@SCWD.  This is the good news we promised previously - Coastal staff report has it out of the existing launch ramp facility - but it'll be in the MSC@ SCWD.

• While MSC@SCWD may be operated separately from the dry storage and boat launch area, a governing board will assure seamless service to boaters

• We are striving to see to it that the LCPA is amended to support this plan. We don't know yet if the LCPA will be amended.  We do know it won't preclude this DPBA proposal from happening and the many stakeholders involved are all enthusiastic and optimistic that it will.

1. The loss of a maximum of 477 slips called out in the LCPA report will be amended to 374, and testimony will provide that the number is expected to go down further dependent upon the outcomes of the Boater Focus Group.  We don't feel this goes far enough, though, and will voice our feelings on the slip loss proposal made by the Coastal Commission staff as well as the lack of progress to date on this issue.
   
   
   
2. The existing language in supplemental documents which calls out 1140 slips under 30' being eliminated will be amended to be the maximum rather than the expected number, which is expected to be much less.  This will also be supported by testimony to indicate that the reduction is also dependent upon recommendations forthcoming from the Boater Focus Group.  We will voice our concerns about this stated amount, as we have been doing for the past few years.
   
   
   
3. The language in the existing LUP report calling out a maximum 1000 feet distance (a Department of Boating and Waterways maximum guideline) from the farthest dedicated boater parking space to any slip gate will be amended down and supported by testimony.  The drawings are being revisited to find out how much lower the number should be.  But we are anticipating that the reduction will be substantial.  Note that this largely impacts only those boaters in the new plan who will occupy just two docks with 40-50' slips in front of the Festival Plaza.  Otherwise, the existing distances will remain essentially the same throughout the harbor.
   
   
   
4. Existing dedicated boater parking will not be adversely impacted by plans involving the existing Marina Inn, should it be rebuilt.  Should it be rebuilt, it may have more rooms (may go from 136 to as many as 220 rooms), but boater parking will be a priority, and the appropriate number of parking spaces will be maintained in proximity to their slips.  Any proposed change would be done through the public, appeal-able, CDP process.

1. If you want to make sure that the items above are addressed in a manner that is best for boaters, especially items 1 and 2, then you must participate in the Boater Focus Group.
   
   Don't "let George do it" - you do it!  Contact Rodger Beard or OC DPH to find out how, or take your chances.
   
   
   
2. You need to attend the Coastal Hearing next Thursday, June 11th stating at 8:00AM.  No, we can't tell you what time to be there (it will likely be early afternoon or later??).  But if you can make it, then you should plan on it.  You should also plan to support the work the DPBA leadership is doing with OC DPH and the City of Dana Point, if you are planning to speak during the public comment period (please do!) please understand that your DPBA Board of Directors is not happy with various sections of the plans as proposed, but we understand the global perspective the City and County working with the Coastal Commission must have with this project.  We are confident the County will continue to work with DPBA to resolve to the best of all of our abilities, our issues, and end up with a sensible plan for boaters.

• Regardless of the hearing next Thursday, DPBA is not done!  There's a lot of heavier lifting to do in the months and years ahead.  Whatever happens regarding the LCPA, there still is a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) required for each and every new harbor design feature.  We are optimistic that with focus, hard work, and continued cooperation that most all boater needs will be addressed.  However, we can appeal any CDP application prior to being issued under a new LCP and it then AUTOMATICALLY will be heard by the full Coastal Commission.  Depending on specific CDPs that are submitted downstream, we are planning to do just that.  That said, we are encouraged by the open dialogue we are now having with OC DPH and we are hoping that we can continue to work together to find acceptable solutions to boaters so that an appeal to CCC won't be necessary.

• Should you have interest in coordinating transportation to the hearing on Thursday, please contact SteveCarpenter@danapointboaters.org.   We are building upon a list that was started at the Boat Show last weekend (only five signed up).  We need to determine the level of interest by our members in attending, and will try to facilitate ride-sharing where we can.  Realize, though, that we have been swamped with the review of the LUP and Staff Report, providing a written response, and meeting with OCDPH in the few short days since its release, and of course getting ready for the hearing next Thursday.

• For a better understanding of the issues go to the DPBA website to read our request to Coastal Commission voicing our concerns and request for a continuance of the consideration of the LCPA DPT-MAJ-1-08) until October; next local CCC Hearing in Oceanside.

• DPBA Open Letters To California Coastal Commission:

• Letter dated May 28th, 2009 in response to CCC STAFF REPORT & LUP "Click Here"

• Follow-up letter dated June 5th, 2009 in response to TIMING OF PUBLIC HEARING, ISSUES SPOTTED SO FAR, ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID UNDUE HASTE, and MORE... "Click Here"

THE DANA POINT BOATERS ASSOCIATION
ACTING WITH INTEGRITY AND ETHICS ALWAYS