Be there, don't be sorry you missed!
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Subject: "MAYDAY! If you ever boat in Orange County!" Previous Topic | Next Topic

sano Mon Feb-19-07 05:50 PM
Member since Feb 15th 2007
262 posts

#0, "MAYDAY! If you ever boat in Orange County!"


Tomorrow is the final meeting sponsored by the Dana Point Harbor Redevelopment department. If you think the harbor should have more resources for boating and not less resources for boating, this is your last chance to let the County know.

7pm. Dana Point Youth and Group Facility (by baby beach).

If you think the harbor should have fewer slips, less parking for the launch ramp, and want to see all trailer boats evicted from the Embarcadero, then the county is doing the right thing.

If, however, you think a growing OC population needs more boating resources, and that boating resources belong at marinas, then it's crunch time.

Join the new Dana Point Boaters Association and they will keep you up to date as the County plans proceed to the COastal COmmission for approval.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DanaPointharborRevitalizationBoaters/

If trailer boaters don't get it in gear and get involved, the County will be happy to build a 2 story restaurant parking lot smack dab on top of the launching ramp parking lot. Then on busy days you can launch yer boat, drive the trailer to offsite storage, unhook it, fight traffic back into the ramp. End of a long day? Go find yer truck, fight traffic to get your trailer up north, hook up, fight traffic back into the ramp, fetch yer boat. Sweeeeet.

I joined the group. Wish I could go to the meeting and help you guys, but its kind of a long drive. I may not be a resident, but I hope to be someday in the next ten years.

I'll do what I can, It's a jaunt for me as well, getting off work at 5:30, driving the speed limit on our freeways is "California Dreamin'"!!

haha yeah, California road trips were interesting growing up. The only time I heard my mom swear was when she was cussing out California drivers on the highway. LOL

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I just got back from Dana Point, I see that there are plans on the table for redeveloping the aging marina and much of the posted information was discussed above the table with lots of questions being fielded. I went in knowing that I would not have much to add, but I did not feel as though my priveledges were under any attack. I trailer my boat to Dana and will continue to do so.

I was reading the messages on the group site. Seems like parking will be a huge issue for those trailering to the harbor.

My last entry is a carbon copy of the entry this is a reply to...
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sano Wed Feb-21-07 08:15 AM
Member since Feb 15th 2007
263 posts

#6, "RE: MAYDAY! If you ever boat in Orange County!"
In response to Reply # 5


Coastal access in California is a right, not a priviledge.

Hence the California Coastal Act of 1976.
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Section 30101.3 Coastal-related development
"Coastal-related development" means any use that is dependent on a coastal-dependent development or use.

Section 30220 Protection of certain water-oriented activities
Coastal areas suited for water-oriented recreational activities that cannot readily be provided at inland water areas shall be protected for such uses.

Section 30224 Recreational boating use; encouragement; facilities
Increased recreational boating use of coastal waters shall be encouraged, in accordance with this division, by developing dry storage areas, increasing public launching facilities, providing additional berthing space in existing harbors, limiting non-water-dependent land uses that congest access corridors and
preclude boating support facilities, providing harbors of refuge, and by providing for new boating facilities in natural harbors, new protected water areas, and in areas dredged from dry land.
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What the county confirmed last night was that the small slips and the area that is dedicated for dry storage and launch ramp use is all being substantially reduced. All the 500 + boats that parked in the embarcaderro will now be competing with all the people such as yourself for the remaining (230? 250? 285?) parking spaces.

Note, too, that there is absolutely nothing to prevent the County from parking commercial core traffic at the ramp, or again allowing permanent storage in the remaining day-parking area, further reducing space for people who tow to the ramp.

The County presenter tap-danced all around his statements from past meetings that trailers may have to be parked a half mile or more north of the ramp. He tried really hard to downplay it...but he didn't deny it!

He also did not say who would have priority getting the 400 boat barn spaces: the displaced slip renters (1200) or the evicted Embarcadero renters (550?) Thats a lot of folks to squeeze into 400 spaces.

There are many many questions that need to be answered straight.

As it stands now, the space squeeze by the new mall and its attached parking structure is causing a very large loss in acreage/footage to the Embarcadero. This loss of boating resources does not jibe with the Coastal Act of 1976.

Once it's gone, it's gone.



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