ORANGE COUNTY—Parking in Southern California has grown substantially in the headache department and the waterside is no different. In recent news, The Log has reported extensively on Dana Point Harb
Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu
13 Responses
I am dismayed to learn the OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol has cut off public access to the public docks in Newport. I’ve seen all sorts of folks using those docks especially kids. I’m glad the Coastal Commission is pushing back to make things right. Given the Harbor Patrol Sheriffs are blessed with the best gig in law enforcement, I am disappointed to see them treat public access in this fashion. Hip, Hip, hooray for the California Coastal Commission!
When was the last time you were at the Harbor Patrol docks? I happened to stop by there Memorial Day weekend and discovered that they had extended the dingy dock hours to “Dawn to Dusk.” That’s about 12 plus hours! Looks like they are working with the Coastal Commission.
Local Boater, I believe they only “cut off” access to the dock by their office, not the dinghy dock by the pump out area. That time limit has apparently changed to “Dawn to Dusk.” Which currently would be about 14 hour time limit. Things are looking up!! And no more permanent boat storage for the selected few..
Concerned boater, in the past year, the access at the dinghy dock went from 72 hours, to “red-no/tie-ups”, to “20 minute” useless tie-up. It appears now that the Coastal Commission is applying the pressure, the Sheriff’s are trying to appease the Coastal Commission with the minimum access possible. What a bummer that the OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol doesn’t place more value on public access in regards to the serving the public that pays their salaries…….
Local Boater, I see your point, however all the docks in Newport Harbor have permanent storage issues. Take a drive around and you’ll see the how crowded the public docks are. Many mooring owners use the public docks as their free permanent storage areas. I don’t get free boat storage, why should they? The Harbor Patrol basically eliminated that issue on their dock by shortening the time limit. I think 12-14 hours is reasonable, don’t you? Should anyone get to store their boat for free and take up space for visiting boaters? What the HP changed to is fair for EVERYONE.
Concerned Boater, to address any “boat storage” concern all the OC Sheriff Harbor Patrol Deputies had to do was get off their duff and write a ticket or impound. The dinghy dock is right under their nose. But this would actually involve work for them. The fact is the OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol does not want to deal with the public any more than they have to. That is why they had “keep out” signs posted on the 5 guest slips at their location and that is why they are now the only Harbor Patrol operation in California without a visitor dock. They simply have very little interest in serving the public that pays their salaries.
Local Boater, It appears you are not a fan of the Harbor Patrol. It looks like we agree to disagree. Daily use in my opinion is reasonable, 72 hour boat storage is not. Who needs to park their boat there for 3 days? Definitely not visiting boaters or people that want to use the county beach or walk to the store or use the restrooms.
Concerned Boater, you are correct, I am quite concerned with the OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol behavior. They have been depleting the OC Parks budget for years and specifically the Dana Point Tidelands funds with their runaway budget. And now, they have told the recreational boater to pound sand by closing off their visitor dock. The OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol simply has no interest in serving the public and more interest in creating their own private Sheriff’s Yacht club as evidenced by their annual lavish boat parade party at the same docks in Newport that they have closed from public access. Very concerning Mr. Concerned Boater
Local Boater, So you good with the 15 hour time limit or is that to short for you too?
Concerned Boater,
The O.C. Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol should abide by the laws of the land and restore the access to 72 hours, as it was prior to violating the CA Coastal Act. If the Sheriff feels the need to change it, he can go through the lawful process that ultimately involves public input. It was not appropriate the Harbor Patrol to act like they are god and unilaterally take away public access. I am relieved the CA Coastal Commission called them out. It seems the Sheriff’s Department is not the correct agency to be managing public access at public docks in Newport.
We learned earlier this year that “extended overnight parking” is no longer permitted at the Dana Point Embarcadero Marina. This was just devastating news to us, as we have been trailering our 30-foot boat to Dana Point from San Diego and leaving our truck and trailer in the parking lot for many days (typically about a week) for over 10 years. We would do this to take family trips on our boat to Catalina. Now there is no easy way to do this. Also, we would often get a guest slip and stay for two weeks, leaving to go over to Catalina during that timeframe. We would, of course, park our trailer in the lot. This new decision to only allow single-night overnight parking totally removes our ability to easily access coastal waters and Catalina for several nights. Leaving out of San Diego is not an option. Yes, I know we can go to Newport Harbor back bay launch ramp, but that is further to trailer, nowhere near as nice of a marina and launch ramp, and further to get out to sea. Anyway, if there is anyway Mr. Ralph Grippo, principal of Bellwether Financial Group, would consider allowing boaters who trailer to Dana Point to park their trailers and trucks in the lot for more than one night and up to, say, two weeks, this would make us so happy. We have been very upset trying to figure out how best to get over to Catalina this summer on our boat. We were turned away from the Embarcadero Marina office when we asked to pay for multiple nights (as we have for over 10 years). Please make access to Catalina for trailered boats easy and let us pay for in advance and park in the lot for multiple nights. The article states “According to Grippo, there will be no construction this summer…Dry storage parking, trailer parking, visitor parking and overnight parking will operate as normal in reserved spaces.” To us, “operate as normal” means we should be able to pay in advance for multiple nights of parking in the trailer lot. That is “normal” operation, at least for the past 10 years. I really hope this can happen. Thank you.
Dear Dana Point Boater, while I am not familiar with the Dana Point overnight parking consideration it may be worthwhile contacting the California Coastal Commission. I am not an attorney and this should not be considered legal advise, but in general: Any change in public access (or private property or public property) requires a Coastal Development Permit with the change spelled out in the permit. Just as in the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol situation, the CA Coastal Commission may be the only government agency to assist you in this coastal access concern. Here is their phone number: 562-590-5071
Thank you Local Boater!