YESTERDAY WAS A VERY GOOD DAY FOR BOATERS!As most have probably already heard by now, yesterday's California Coastal Commission Hearing in Oceanside was a very full agenda of testimony, followed by approval the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization. But approval with two very major amendments which were critical to Dana Point boaters. Here are those amendments:
1. Total slip loss as a result of reconstruction of our docks shall not exceed the 155 necessary to adhere to ADA and Department of Boating and Waterways guidelines. Further, the goal is zero slip loss.
This is something that your DPBA leadership has been working on for many, many months. Previously it became a Coastal Staff recommendation. A recommendation we supported during testimony. We consider this to be a very major victory for many generations of boaters to come. Prescription number one in our Boaters Rx published over two years ago. (Yes, this victory was very sweet!)
The commissioner approved approach is to follow boater approved slip redesign alternative 3.5O as the reference point and then to find ways to expand the number of slips to achieve the goal of NO SLIP LOSS if this is feasible. So that will certainly be our goal as the Boater Focus Group continues to meet and work with OC DPH.
One other thing of special importance to those boaters who have slips under 30', is that commissioners also ruled that boats under 25' will receive priority consideration in slip allocations. What this means in specifics is yet to be worked out. But there's ample time to figure this out during the upcoming waterside CDP process.
An aside, from this point forward the waterside and land side processes will proceed somewhat independently, except where we boaters have concerns. (One example, we're concerned about is the placement of new full-time dinghy docks.) But one thing we will be working on during the CDP process is to get this number bumped up to include boats under 30'. Yes, we can and will do that! After all, the biggest number of slips to be eliminated by the current 3.5O design alternative is in the 26-29' size category.
2. The number of trailerable boat spaces shall no be reduced. The size of trailerable boat spaces shall be a minimum of 10 x 40' (not 10 x 30')
In the reduced time allocated for testimony (15 minutes), we quickly but carefully explained that the current LCPA Land Use Plan calls for a reduction of almost 14% in land surface area in in MSC 1 (the Embarcadero) and a 15% loss in the total number of boats that could be stored. That the Coastal Act does not permit this.
Then the hours passed as we waited (and waited) to see if Commissioners heard us. Well they did! In only what can be described as a Perry Mason ending, it turned out that they were listening closely. Commissioner Sara Wan amended a previous motion by Commissioner Patrick Kruer to approve the LCPA. The amendment, quickly approved, was as follows:
"No net loss in trailerable boat spaces, and make the parking spaces 10 x 40 rather than 10 x 30 (existing). If this results in needing more area, the likely outcome, then this area is to come from the commercial area."
We haven't seen a transcript yet and the exact language will probably vary slightly. No worries though, the message was very, very clear in spirit (and besides, if we have a comma out of place you'll no doubt hear about it elsewhere). Here is the spirit of that message again, as stated within our Powerpoint presentation:
1. Dana Point Harbor is a harbor. It's first and foremost a place for boats.
2. Boating and related water access uses have a higher priority than any commercial uses. Other such uses may be accommodated where feasible, but they are lower priority.
3. There is no number 3!
To view our full presentation click
here. See the hearing summary
below for further hearing details.
