Rough Sailing Ahead for Dana Point Harbor Plans

About 300 people were asked by the county Monday night for their thoughts about a proposed face lift of Dana Point Harbor.

Their answer: a resounding “leave it alone.”

The large turnout at a meeting held by the Harbor, Beaches and Parks Department filled an assembly room as people who sail, live and do business in the harbor showed up in response to rumors that the county’s proposed revitalization would hike slip fees and reduce parking, among other changes.

“I already pay $550 per month here,” said boat owner Joel Krasnow. “It’s going to cost more than a mortgage to keep my boat here.”

It was the first group meeting between county officials and harbor denizens since plans for the revitalization were announced. A group of county consultants and planners denied that there is any predetermined course of action for the harbor.

“There is no plan in my mind, or in staff’s mind,” said County Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson. “Nothing is set in concrete.”

Grace Dove, project manager for the county, told boat owners that many of the stories they’ve heard are simply rumors.

“There are a lot of stories going around, there are a lot of numbers tossed around,” she said. “There are no conspiracies, there are no secret plans. This is just the start of the process.”

County officials’ attempts to break the large audience into small working groups largely failed as residents stood and demanded answers.

“Less is more,” said 20-year resident and boat owner Tom Pezman. “Don’t build more, don’t add more.”

Not every voice in the room demanded the county immediately stop the planning process.

Marc Acosta, chairman of the Recreational Boatowners of Dana Point, a group formed to seek input on the planning process, asked his fellow boat owners to keep an open mind.

“There is a time to get upset,” he said. “There is a time to get fighting mad. This is not that time.”