Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Dana Point council clears amendment to replace ‘funicular’ with broader ‘strand transit system,’ directing staff to pursue replacement options
Summary
Council approved a local coastal program amendment to replace the term “funicular” in the Headlands Development and Conservation Plan with “strand transit system” and authorized submittal to the California Coastal Commission, after residents urged faster progress on the out‑of‑service Cliff lifts.
Dana Point — The City Council on Jan. 21 approved an amendment to the Headlands Development and Conservation Plan that replaces the specific term “funicular” and “inclined elevator” with a broader term, “strand transit system,” and directed staff to submit the local coastal program amendment to the California Coastal Commission for certification.
City planner John Ciampa summarized staff’s recommendation and the technical reasons behind the change, saying the existing funicular has become unreliable, relies on obsolete parts and is vulnerable to coastal corrosion. “The funicular was incorporated into the HDCP to allow for an alternative motor transportation to bypass those stairs,” Ciampa said, explaining the amendment is intended to preserve the HDCP’s intent while allowing modern replacement technologies.
The amendment formalizes that flexibility: the plan language…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
