ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the City, County, and R.D. Olson proposal for two new hotels as part of the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan. After nearly four years of negotiations, the approval includes support for a robust community benefits package negotiated by Supervisor Foley that invests more than $6 million in Orange County based service organizations over the life of the project.
“Over the past 18 months, our office spent countless hours negotiating with the city, Coastal Commission, and the Dana Point Harbor Partners to ensure this project supports and uplifts the social and non-profit programs in Dana Point Harbor through a comprehensive community benefits package,” said Supervisor Foley. “This package includes investments in ocean based educational trips for Title 1 students, internships promoting indigenous land stewardship, sailing lessons and trips for disabled residents and their families, exercise classes for fixed income seniors, and robust coastal programming. In addition to significantly contributing to the local economy by creating jobs, increasing tourism, generating revenue for local businesses and the city, the revitalization of the Harbor and new hotels create new opportunities for all to enjoy Dana Point Harbor.”
The California Coastal Commission’s approval of the City’s Local Coastal Plan Amendment allows for R.D. Olson, of Dana Point Harbor Partners, to replace the current Marina Inn with 169 lower cost hotel rooms and build a new 130 room market rate hotel. In addition to 57% of the development providing affordable hotel rooms, the hotels are designed sustainably and incorporate measures to protect our wildlife and marine environment. The project also increases public access to the coastal zone with improved pathways, viewing areas, and public seating, ensuring the harbor remains accessible and enjoyable for all. The community benefits package agreed to by the city, County, and Coastal Commission includes:
- Ocean Access Education for Title 1 Students. The hotel shall support at minimum 10 Adopt-A-Classes per year to support ocean access and education for Southern California Title I students. Founded in 1977, Ocean Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission of using the ocean as our classroom to inspire children to learn. Ocean Institute is one of the leading resources for non-formal education executed on the ocean for students all around the Southern California region. One of the most successful programs run by Ocean Institute is their Adopt-A-Class. The Adopt-A-Class program is long-standing (20+ years) which brings approximately 10,000 Title I students annually to Ocean Institute each year at no charge to the school/student. DPHP to contribute $25,000 annually.
- Indigenous Land Stewardship. The hotel shall make an annual contribution to Sacred Places Institute’s Orange County Indigenous Land Rematriation & Fellowship Program. The Dana Point Harbor lies within the ancestral lands of the Acjachemen Nation. To support displaced communities, including the tribal communities who have called this area home since time immemorial, the hotel shall annually sponsor five fellows of Acjachemen Nation lineage to participate in the Sacred Places Institute Orange County Indigenous Land Rematriation & Fellowship Program. The Fellowship program prioritizes Indigenous land return as one of the most promising strategies to achieve long-term community resilience and sustainability. This work is all to support tribal land and water stewardship, climate resiliency planning, co-management, access, and, where identified as a priority by local tribal communities, acquisition. DPHP to contribute $25,000 annually.
- Inclusive Outdoor Recreation. The hotel shall support initiatives to incorporate California Inclusive Sailing experience at the Dana Point Harbor at least once per month. California Inclusive Sailing is a grassroots volunteer-based charity that promotes inclusive outdoor recreation. The volunteer team transfers disabled residents safely and comfortably onto the RS Venture, which can accommodate four people and participants are encouraged to invite physical therapists, family members, and service dogs for a full inclusive experience. DPHP to contribute $18,000 annually.
- Sailing Experience for Disabled Persons. Dana Point Aquatic Foundation’s mission is to provide access to and support for community sailing and boating, and boating safety education, regardless of physical, developmental or economic limitations; to promote environmental stewardship, with deference to the Dana Point area; and to support diverse recreational, social, and cultural experiences for the general public at the Orange County Sailing and Events Center. Dana Point Aquatic Foundation’s Adaptive Boating program provides on-the-water therapy and teaches safe boating and sailing to individuals with special needs. DPAF clinics cover: basic boating and water safety, terminology and skill development on Capris 14-foot sailboats, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. The program expands to accessible sailing instruction, with a high instructor-student ratio to maximize safety while facilitating hands on experiential learning. DPHP to contribute $18,000 annually.
- Hospitality Internships. The hospitality industry supports more than 83,000 jobs and generates $590 million in state and local tax revenues within the County of Orange. The hotel shall create and fund a hospitality internship program for 10 students per year to support career development in a competitive market. DPHP to contribute $13,000 annually.
- Exercise for Fixed Income Seniors. The hotel shall support at least one class per week at Dana Point Jazzercise. Dana Point Jazzercise has a 40-year history of providing classes to at least 40 fixed income seniors daily at the County Sailing and Events Center. By supporting 1 class per week, the Hotel will allow Dana Point Jazzercise to expand their classes to offer low impact cardio dance classes for seniors at the Sailing and Events Center, in addition to strength and stretch workouts throughout common space in the Harbor. DPHP to contribute $6,000 annually.
- Sailing Experience for Youth. The hotel shall sponsor 10 young Mariners through the Mariners 936 program. Mariners 936 is a co-ed Sea Scout boating program for young people ages 14 through 18 and the Mariner Junior program is for those 12-14. Members learn nautical skills and how to sail a variety of boats, from 14- foot Capris to 38-foot fully equipped yachts, not to mention the 118′ Tall Ship ‘Spirit of Dana Point’. Activities include day sails, weekend trips, an annual week-long summer cruise, and exciting weekend competition events with other Sea Scout groups. Mariners 936 endowment fund totals $15,000 annually, the hotel shall sponsor 10 Mariners through the endowment. DPHP to contribute $5,000 annually.
- Expanding existing Education and Sailing Program for Underserved Youth. On an annual basis, the anticipated Dana Point Harbor Hotels' CDP will supplement the approved Dana Point Harbor Marina Education and Sailor Program for Underserved Youth with 100 additional underserved youths.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee Vice Chair, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
