Donna Kalez, who operates Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, has been waiting to have her dilapidated and decaying docks replaced for two decades.
Years ago, she marked white Xs on pilings that were in the worst condition. The Xs are still there, and the docks have only become worse. They are a blight on the harbor and slips for her fleet of 17 boats, she said.
But she is becoming convinced the time to replace them is approaching.
“We’ve had so many setbacks,” she said. “We almost didn’t believe it when they voted unanimously to move forward. My father (Don Hansen, who was the harbor’s first tenant when it opened in 1971) is beyond thrilled.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the California Coastal Commission unanimously supported a development permit for Bellwether Financial Group, a marina development firm that, with two other development groups working as Dana Point Harbor Partners, took over in 2018 a 66-year lease of Dana Point Harbor from the County of Orange.
Also put in motion was a plan to renovate the 49-year-old harbor at an expected cost of $330 million.
The Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan is the result of more than 20 years of collaborative efforts with the county, the city of Dana Point and community stakeholders.
The project includes reconstruction of the commercial core and the east and west marinas, two new hotels and fully rebuilt docks. Under the public-private partnership, the developers will design, fund and build the improvements, then operate those portions of the harbor on the 66-year lease, before returning the property to the county.
The marina will be developed by Joe Ueberroth, of Bellwether Financial Group. Bryon Ward, of Burnham-Ward Properties, and Bob Olson, of R.D. Olson Development, will work together on the harbor’s commercial core.
The Coastal Commission approval is the second state permit the harbor project has received. The permit for the work in the commercial core has already passed through the commission. The last thing needed will be a review for two new hotels on the site.
The city of Dana Point in June approved some changes, including to the square-footage for certain amenities. The two new hotels will replace the existing Marine Inn, with a new lower-cost hotel and the construction of a boutique-style hotel, similar to the Lido House on Balboa Island. The city approved plans for both hotel locations to be closer to the waterfront than the Marine Inn is now.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Ueberroth said about getting the permit. “Something that has been worked on for two decades is now months away. We still have a lot of work to do.”
As part of the Coastal Commission’s approval – which includes re-configuring the harbor and replacing 2,409 recreational boat slips with 2,254 slips, re-configuring the fuel and bait docks and installation of a boat wash – Uebberoth must address a series of special conditions.
Among these are creating a sea lion and seal monitoring program, planning for post-construction water quality protection and enhancement, and maximizing public access and recreation so environmental justice considerations such as educational access for youth are addressed.
For the latter, Ueberroth said he is developing a program in which he commits to bring at least 1,000 low-income and disadvantaged youths to the harbor every year. The program will include a variety of water education programs including sailing and surfing.
“We believe the whole community should enjoy the assets,” Ueberroth said. “This is a groundbreaking partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and (with) input from Surfrider.”
There is little public access to the docks now, which are locked, said Denise Erkenneff, who represents the South Orange County chapter of Surfrider and who will weigh in on the education program.
“The renovation is badly needed and the environmental upgrades are badly needed,” Erkenneff said. “The new design gives access to two anchor docks.”
The Dana Point Boaters Association, a group of 3,000 boaters that weighed in during several meetings in 2018 before the county signed the lease, also supported the waterside permit at last week’s commission meeting.
James Lenthall, the associations’ president, praised Ueberroth as a developer who has the means to perform with a plan that represents boater input.
“Many of our recommended modifications were incorporated into the final approved plan,” Lenthall said. “The loss of 155 slips was a consequence of current Department of Boating and Waterways standards for dock and fairway design, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, as well as to address disproportionate demand for slightly larger slips.
“The average slip size will increase from 30 feet to 32 feet,” he said. “This will bring a little parity to wait lists that can exceed 15 years for slips larger than 30 feet.”
Still, some, including commission staffers, questioned Ueberroth’s reduction in the slip numbers and increasing the number of yacht slips from 11 to 13.
Ueberroth said there has been a change in boaters’ demands since 1971, which has shifted from using small boats to larger ones.
Another complaint came from Marc Levine, a local boat owner who said the marine plan limits his operation.
“The last thing I want to do is bring in more boats and not have the business,” Ueberroth said. “Two charters want to expand and we don’t have the slips for that.”
Beyond Kalez, who likely will get new docks in 2021, other merchants are thrilled the renovation is moving forward.
“Hallelujah, I’ve been waiting 21 years,” said Jim Miller, who operates Coffee Importers, a popular breakfast and lunch spot overlooking the marina.
Miller has also benefited from some of the new amenities already in place on the land side of the harbor. He has new tables and chairs and there is new landscaping around his restaurant.
Three new businesses have moved into the harbor: Frisby Cellars, Killer Dana and Jerky and Cali Gifts. A new parking lot is open at the boat launch ramp and construction on a new parking structure is expected to start in January.
“I’m almost back to normal,” Miller said of his restaurant’s business pre-COVID. “I think the harbor is doing really well.”
Each year the harbor draws tens of thousands for the holiday light spectacular and boat parade. The lights are scheduled to go on on Nov. 11.
“We’ve got the permit for the commercial core, now the waterside, I’m really excited for the hotels,” Miller said. “The dream we had 27 years ago is happening now.”
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Dana Point Harbor marina redevelopment gets green light from Coastal Commission - OCRegister
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