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Dana Point commenters warn 66-year harbor leases would privatize tidelands
Summary
Three public commenters urged the Dana Point City Council to press Orange County supervisors and halt an MOU on the Harborview revitalization, saying proposed 66-year leases and changes to dry-stack storage will shift costs to boaters and reduce day-parking. They asked for public hearings and greater transparency.
Several residents used the public-comment period at the July 7 Dana Point City Council meeting to urge the council to intervene in Orange Countys Harborview revitalization negotiations and to demand more public hearings.
Miss Eubanks, president of the Dana Point Boaters Association, said the countys proposed 66-year leases with Dana Point Harbor Partners would shift the financial burden onto boaters. Citing county figures, Eubanks said the total revitalization is estimated at $705,000,000, with the marina and dry-stack portion listed at $209,000,000. "It appears the burden to pay for the majority of the project falls on the back of the boaters," she said, and added that "approximately 800 boaters have left the harbor, leaving coastal access to only more wealthy individuals."
Lisa H., a San Clemente resident and long-time member of the Dana Point Yacht Club, criticized a county MOU that she said replaces a promised five-level vertical dry-stack building with cheaper flat storage racks and would cut day-boater parking from 334 spaces to 150. "They are sacrificing 184 public parking spots so they don't have to build the facility they initially promised," she said, and urged the council to demand a town-hall meeting in Dana Point and a county halt to negotiations until required public processes are completed.
Mary Herron, a Dana Point resident, echoed concerns about transparency and long lease terms, saying 66-year agreements "effectively, permanently privatize public tidelands" unless stronger protections, rate caps and enforceable methodology are included. She asked the council to seek public hearings and clearer safeguards before the county finalizes long-term lease terms.
All three speakers asked the Dana Point City Council to communicate with Orange County supervisors — including support for Supervisor Foley's suggested slip-rate formula — and to request full public disclosure of the MOU terms. The council did not take action on the Harborview project at the meeting; the comments were submitted during the general public-comment portion of the agenda.
