By now we hope you've already heard that the appeal of the harbor redevelopment land side Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application will be heard by the Dana Point City Council starting at 6 PM tomorrow night, Tuesday, June 17th. The location of the appeal hearing is the Dana Point Community Center at 34052 Del Obispo in Dana Point.
Click here to read the official announcement which we have loaded onto our website.
This meeting is a "must attend" event for all boaters as well as others interested in the future of our harbor. While the reconstruction proposed by this CDP "only" involves the rebuilding the commercial core and tear down of the existing Embarcadero Marina, this is a very significant project, with 13 separate construction stages that will take 5+ years to complete at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.
Both the scope and specifics of this project are extremely important, including its cost since Dana Point boaters are the primary funders through our slip and dry storage rents. The primary financial benefit of the project, increased sales tax revenue, goes elsewhere of course. Sorry, your Dana Point Boaters Association leadership does not know yet how much it actually might cost or how it will be paid for. Not even rough estimates have been made available yet, except for that 140 million dollar figure first floated some 10 years ago. This is sadly true despite our countless requests and two separate 1-on-1 meetings with Mike Giancola, OC CEO recently where the need and benefits of public disclosure was discussed at length.
It's been acknowledged by all, even by the Santa Ana regional government sponsors, that this project will dramatically impact the nature of available recreational boating resources. A boat without a trailer, stored in a barn and accessible by appointment is not the same recreational experience as a boat on a trailer. But many boaters realize that it will also impact the net affordability, availability and accessibility of other existing resources. Boaters on docks L thought O, Cove side, are likely already keenly aware of this fact.
It's therefore essential that you make plans now to attend this meeting. If you don't attend then plan to abide by the views of others, including a powerful outside commercial interests and many other non-boaters.
In closing please reference the two attached open letters to the City of Dana Point (
click here) which were delivered to the City of Dana Point today to articulate Dana Point Boaters Association concerns in detail.
We'll be there on Tuesday night. Will you?
The Officers and directors
Dana Point Boaters Association
Please Remember, to keep Dana Point boaters voice strong, we need your support.
As public hearings on the "finalized" DPH Commercial Core CDP proceed, as behind-the-scenes meetings are held, as decisions are made on the future of your harbor, whose voice do you want in the room?
Please make a donation to your Dana Point Boaters Association by
Clicking Here.
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