Dana Point staff: general plan update will focus on economic development and circulation; Coastal Commission certifies LCP changes for Victoria Apartments

City of Dana Point planning staff told the Planning Commission on Feb. 10 that the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) recommended no changes to the land use element and instead advised updates to the economic development and circulation elements of the general plan.

Chris Johnson, principal planner for the City of Dana Point, told the commission the council reviewed the GPAC report, thanked the advisory committee for its work, and supported the recommended path. Johnson said the next steps include updating the schedule and developing clear policy direction for staff and future councils; staff is coordinating a possible seventh GPAC meeting to review policies before formal commission and council hearings, with that meeting likely to be pushed beyond February and detailed policy review expected in April.

“the recommended path identified by the general plan advisory committee was to move forward with recommendations they have provided, regarding no updates to the land use element and instead focusing updates on the economic development and circulation elements of the general plan,” Johnson said.

Staff also briefed the commission on a related Coastal Commission action. The Coastal Commission certified modifications to the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) for the Victoria Apartments project at a recent meeting. Staff said the Coastal Commission’s changes were limited and would not affect project details but included additional policy language, including dark‑sky lighting policies and tribal consultation and monitoring provisions during grading. City staff said the next step is for City Council to accept the suggested LCP modifications.

John (staff) summarized the Coastal Commission changes: he said the commission requested some policies related to dark skies and additional tribal consultation and oversight, including tribal monitoring during grading. City staff characterized the certification as “very good news” because the commission approved the item by consent.

Commissioners offered brief remarks and congratulations on recent reappointments. The planning commission noted the schedule implications for forthcoming policy review and directed staff to continue coordinating the GPAC meeting schedule and the timing of planning commission and council presentations.

No formal action on the general plan elements or LCP modifications was taken by the planning commission at the Feb. 10 meeting; staff presented the status update and outlined next steps for further policy review and council consideration.

Ending: Staff expects to present detailed policy language to the commission and council in upcoming months; the GPAC seventh meeting and subsequent commission and council hearings were described as likely to occur after a short schedule adjustment.