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What’s Up With... Five things Dana Point should know this week Candidates Ponder Future of Town Center in Lantern District

THE LATEST: In October 2019, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce’s proposal to amend the Town Center Plan—a policy on how to regulate development for the Lantern District area of Dana Point— sparked multifaceted public input on how to approach improving the area.

A letter sent by the Chamber to city council requested that the city facilitate a ballot measure that would reduce the 18- foot, ground floor minimum height requirement to a 14-foot, ground floor minimum height requirement for new development in the Town Center/Lantern District. The Town Center Plan was amended by the 2015 Town Center Initiative to include a provision that any future changes must be approved by a vote at a municipal election.

While council did not move forward with a ballot initiative, city officials confirm hearing from developers that the minimum ground floor height requirements are a challenge.

“The other challenge is always parking. That is a sensitive issue, and we want to be careful with it,” said Brenda Wisneski, the city’s community development director.

Wisneski’s hire was announced in January; however, earlier in her career, she worked as an associate planner in Dana Point in 2000—a tenure in which she had helped work on the original Town Center Plan.

The Town Center Plan aimed to establish a framework for public improvement to support private investment and redevelopment, while encouraging a pedestrianfriendly environment for shopping and dining for residents and visitors alike. But in 2014, a mixed-use project proposed by Majestic Housing and Development for the Lantern District was met with controversy largely due to its variance requests.

City council had overturned the planning commission’s decision to deny the proposal. Gary Newkirk, who had served on the planning commission during that time, cast one of the dissenting votes.

Shortly after the project’s passage, a group of citizens filed a petition to put a measure on the ballot that would revert to many of the changes made by the city council in that amendment, while also adding a number of new regulations. That ballot measure was known as Measure H.

While city council moved forward in put

Candidates Mike Frost and Gary Newkirk are competing to hold the District 4 seat on city council in this year’s election. The district includes the Town Center located in the Lantern District area of Dana Point. Photo: Lillian Boyd

ting their own initiative (Measure I) on the ballot, Measure H secured the majority vote and passed.

The Majestic project was acquired by the group Raintree Partners.

“(Raintree) came in with a different vision. To the city’s benefit, Raintree was able to work with staff to rework the design, and lower the height and provide parking on-site,” Wisneski said.

Tuesday, Nov. 3 will determine the inaugural councilmember to represent District 4, which covers the Lantern District area, since Dana Point converted to districted elections in 2018, as constituents within the district cast their ballots. Newkirk and Mike Frost are the candidates running for the District 4 seat.

As of now, there are eight vacant lots in Town Center, offering potential for future development. While Raintree’s Prado West project was made possible by accumulating neighboring lots, some members of the community hope that lots can be developed individually and on a smaller scale, including both candidates.

“I think we could have better scaled requirements that would make it financially attractive for the smaller structures to be developed,” Frost said. “I think we can be

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more difficult on the bigger structures.”

Newkirk has pointed to Coastal Kitchen and Craft House as ideal examples of individual lots being developed creatively.

As far as a path forward for Town Center, both candidates also agree that the city should reexamine the plan. Frost says that he’d like to see the subcommittee report to council on the strengths and weaknesses of the plan’s implementation thus far and work toward any of potential changes.

“I think we should reassemble the Town Center Subcommittee,” Frost said. “Economics have changed, tenants have changed, times have changed. I have to believe that there’s a way we can protect the adjacent residents and make smaller structures profitable in order to not have the consolidation of lots.”

Newkirk would like to see a legislative body be assembled for the Town Center and be subject to the Brown Act, in order to engage the public as much as possible.

“At minimum, I think we need open dialogue and something to the level of a task force to fully engage the public,” Newkirk said. “We should be as transparent and as engaging as possible and really go above dotting the ‘i’ with this.”

Newkirk added he also doesn’t want to see residential neighborhoods shouldering the burden of parking that should be placed on the developer.

“If residents don’t feel like their voices are being respected, go ahead and pick a letter for the next measure, because I think that’s what led to Measure H,” Newkirk said. “If there’s a place for an apolitical world, it’s here. These are our neighbors; we all came here for the same reasons, to live in a wonderful town.”

Wisneski told Dana Point Times in an interview that the city is exploring a parking inventory and analysis following project completion in the Town Center.

Upon reexamining and modifying regulations, Frost says decisions should be made that will adhere to preserving the coastal village feel for which Dana Point is known.

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“I am open to examining and implementing modifications needed to ensure the Town Center/Lantern District, and any other city zoning regulation, respects our beach town atmosphere, promotes local business, and creates a place for everyone to enjoy,” Frost said.

Should any amendments to the Town Center Plan come to fruition, voters would need to approve a ballot initiative, and the California Coastal Commission would need to give approval.—Lillian Boyd

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club Debuts in Dana Point

THE LATEST: Going forward, Monarch Beach Resort will now be known as Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, as announced by the Hilton luxury hotel brand.

“We are incredibly excited about welcoming the resort and its team members to Hilton,” said Danny Hughes, Executive Vice President and President, Americas, Hilton. “We are already partnering with the team at Ohana Real Estate Investors as we transition the resort management, and we look forward to welcoming guests and members to Southern California’s premier luxury destination.”

It was previously reported in December, prior to the hospitality industry experiencing the impacts of COVID-19, that Ohana, a global financial services firm, planned to put $32 million into upgrades at the resort. However, this likely will not be the case in the near future.

“While we do not anticipate any significant physical changes over the short term, some new elements will be implemented to align with the signature Waldorf Astoria culture,” said Terra Girvin, a senior publicist for the hotel. “As always, we will continue to seek ways to elevate the guest experience in any way possible, including property enhancements, as opportunities arise.”

The 400-room, AAA five-diamond hotel was purchased from KSL Capital Partners by Ohana Real Estate Investors in November for $497 million.

“It’s fitting that the storied Waldorf Astoria brand is coming to Dana Point—which is one of the most iconic beachfront communities in California,” said James Cole, Ohana Real Estate Investors partner. “The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club is a welcome addition to the Ohana portfolio of luxury properties. This partnership will elevate the entire resort experience.”

For more information, visit newsroom. hilton.com/waldorfastoria.—LB CUSD Board Candidates Talk Pandemic Fallout, Racism