DANA POINT : Parking Charges to Begin at Harbor

Parking gates are coming to Dana Point Harbor and parking could cost up to $18 a day.

Construction has begun on gates to the 724 spaces in the popular Mariner’s Village and Dana Wharf parking lots where visitors have parked free since the harbor opened in 1971.

A gate will also restrict another parking lot of 124 spaces, commonly called Lot 4, which will be reserved for harbor employees.

Once the gates are complete this month, parking will cost up to $18 a day without any validation from a harbor concessionaire. Officials estimate that the gates could be in operation by Feb. 15.

County officials, who control the harbor, say the controversial paid parking plan is the only way to control the parking problems and traffic congestion at the harbor. They say paid parking has been discussed by officials and urged by harbor commercial tenants for two years.

More than half of the harbor’s 1,623 spaces, in the outer parking lots, will remain free, officials said.

“Our intent is not to inconvenience people but to avoid congestion at the peak parking times,” said Ken Bruner, an aide to Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, whose 5th District includes the harbor.

Validations from retail shops in the harbor will offer patrons one hour of free parking, restaurants two hours. Sport fishermen will get as many as four hours of free parking in the Dana Wharf parking lot only.

San Diego-based Ace Parking has been given the parking lot concession for the private harbor lots. Ace Parking will employ traffic directors and managers to control the parking during peak hours, county officials said.

The paid parking program was approved by the Dana Point Planning Commission last May.