Dana Point Community Info
The city of Dana Point was named after Richard Henry Dana, author of the classic sea journal Two Years Before the Mast, which included a description of the area known as Capistrano Bay as “the only romantic spot in California.” Today, Capistrano Bay is known as Dana Point. In 1923 Harry Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, and General M.H. Sherman, Director of the Pacific Electric Railway Company, created the Dana Point Syndicate to purchase 1388 acres of local land. Promising tree-lined, paved streets, electricity, telephones, sidewalks, water mains, storm drains, sewers, and other amenities, several dozen homes and a number of commercial buildings were built. Depression caused construction to halt and the project was abandoned. Dana Point was incorporated in 1989. As of the census of 2000, there were 35,110 people and 14,456 households residing in the city. The city is served by Capistrano Unified School District. For detailed school information, log on to the School District’s website at www.capousd.org.
Dana Point, characterized by almost seven miles of prominent coastal bluffs and rolling hills along the Pacific Ocean, is a popular local destination for surfing and is home to a legendary surf break called Killer Dana. There is great surfing history here! Few people probably remember Boneyard Beach at Doheny. I never went, but I’ve heard of it! Apparently it was THE place to surf in South Orange County prior to building the marina. Dana Point Harbor, providing slips and mooring for thousands of boats, is one of the most significant man made alterations to the Orange County coastline. I myself spend as much time there as I can. The Harbor attracts thousands of visitors annually for dining, shopping at over fifty specialty shops, sport fishing, walking and jogging for miles, bicycling, para sailing and many other recreational activities. You can get a really great plate of fish and chips at John’s Seafood in the harbor or a really great bowl of chicken soup at the deli next door. Gemmell’s is a nice French restaurant. I’ve heard great things about it, but I haven’t eaten there yet, but I will. The harbor is slated to be completely redone and the slips reconfigured, but the renovation is years away.
A famous little beach nearby is Baby Beach which has a lifeguard overlooking the little children. The Dana Point Harbor is also considered the gateway to Doheny State Park, one of California’s most popular beach facilities which also offers bicycling, picnicking, camping, swimming, surfing and tide pool exploration. The Tall Ships Festival is held every September. It is one of the largest annual gatherings of its kind on the West Coast of the United States. ??Dana Point boasts some gorgeous ocean-front communities the newest being the Strand which is composed of both oceanfront and non-oceanfront lots. Very expensive homes are under construction right now. The gate-guarded communities of Niguel Shores and Monarch Bay boast oceanfront homes. Expect a lot of renovation in the downtown area over the next ten years!
More from Dana Point
City of San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board/ Application Deadline…
May 12, 2009
Here’s something that would probably look great as an accessorie to a student’s college application when the time comes. The City of San Juan Capistrano has 15 slots it fills every year for the Youth’s Advisory Board, appointing two adult supervisors as well. The Youth Advisory Board is a panel that acts as a liaison between youth and city government, and submits recommendations to the City Council for special events, programs, and fund raising events for the City’s youth. Obviously, this a great opportunity for those seeking experience with leadership in local government affairs.
Appointments to the Youth Advisory Board normally take place in June, with appointees taking office in August and actively serving through May of the following year. Meetings are held every 2nd & 4th Mondays at 5:00 p.m., in the City Council Chamber (this is the real deal!)
All applicants must be residents of San Juan Capistrano. Members are selected on the basis of their knowledge, leadership skills and involvement in youth activities. The geographic areas of the City where the applicant resides and the school that the applicant attends shall also be considered.
For a full description of the board and it’s duties, click here…
For a Youth Advisory Board application, click here…
For a Adult Advisor application, click here…
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted at the Office of the City Clerk, until 5:30 p.m, Thursday, May 14.
For more information call…
Maricella Moreno
949-443-6392
For assistance with the application and appointment process, please contact…
The City Clerk’s Office
(949) 493-1171.
San Juan Capistrano Open Land Preservation Meeting/ Public Invited…
May 6, 2009
On Nov. 4, 2008…
San Juan Capistrano voters overwhelmingly passed local ballot Measures X and Y. Measure X ensures that any changes to land designated open space in the City’s General Plan requires approval by voters. Measure Y enables the City to sell up to $30 million in bonds to obtain additional land for open space preservation and improvements.
On May 11th, 2009…
Members of the City’s Open Space Committee will meet to discuss progress with Open Space master planning, and eligible costs for funding Open Space Bond Measure Y. The City’s Open Space Committee is responsible for identifying obtainable open space area, funding tactics and developing strategies for future planning and environmental work. Additionally, there will be an update on open space activities and recent accomplishments, and attendee’s will learn about the causes of channel instability in San Juan Capistrano streams, along with possible ways to stabilize channels.
San Juan Capistrano residents are welcome and encouraged to attend!
For answeres to frequently asked questions, click here…
For pictures of open-space acreage in SJC, click here…
For maps of open-space acreage in SJC, click here…
For statistical information, click here…
To view a list of Committee Members, with their email addresses, click here…
Open Space Committee Meeting
Monday, May 11th, at 6:30 PM
Council Chambers at City Hall
32400 Paseo Adelanto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Need a map for directions? Click here…
City of San Juan Capistrano/ Ortega Highway & I-5 Interchange Improvement Plan..
April 16, 2009
Good lord almighty, this has been a grossly overdue issue gone un-addressed since the mid-1970’s.
The City of San Juan Capistrano just a released a Caltrans declaration stating that their “enviormental study”, relavent to proposed improvements for Capistrano commuters seeking Interstate 5 access, has deemed that improvements will “have no significant impact on the human environment”.
City officials received the Final Environmental Impact Report, which says there is sufficient evidence and analysis for determining that a more thorough environmental study is not required.
Great news! Let’s break ground boy’s!!! Hell, let me grab my shovel, I’ll pitch in…
The Ortega Interchange Improvement Project is a key project in the City’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program. Last year, the environmental studies were completed and the draft environmental impact report was released to the public for comment. After considering the options, the City Council in January, selected “Alternative 3″ primarily as a stimulus to create energy in San Juan Capistrano’s downtown and relieve congestion near the interchange.
For a visual overview of all proposed plans pertaining to the Ortega/ I-5/ Del Obispo improvemnets, including Alternative 3, click here…
For an overview of (SJC) proposed dollar allocations towards Utilities, Public Works, and Infracture, through 2015, click here…
An enhanced interchange has been a longtime priority to help improve traffic flow in town. The interchange has long been a source of contention, as motorists are forced daily to inch their way through heavy congestion – particularly during the morning and afternoon commute. The interchange, which is considered a “choke point,” needs improvements because conditions are expected to get worse as South County’s population and development continues to grow.
The project is next expected to move into the design phase, which will take about 18 months to complete. The construction phase could start sometime in 2012.
Orange County Property Assessment Reviews…
April 15, 2009
The Orange County Assessor’s Office is currently reviewing over 300,000 residential properties, on their own, for a reduction in property taxes. A web page has been provided below for you to access and determine whether or not your property is already in the queue.
The website states that if your property is included in the list of properties to be reviewed, you do not need to make a request for review, and no action is required.
Additionally, they just posted a new website to help homeowner’s answer a myriad of common questions regarding qualifying, determining factors, their process, and access to the proper form for inquiry. Homeowners will have until Sept. 15 to appeal their value if they disagree with the county’s assessment.
For the official website, click here.
To see if your residential property is currently in line for review, click here.
For good answers to relavent questions, click here.
To submit an inquiry, and access Form A002-259 (Request for Informal Assessment Review), click here.
Commercial property is also being reviewed, however, commercial property information is not available on the website. Each property owner will get a notice of their tax assessed value by July.
For assistance, call… (714) 834-2727
Mailing address for Form A002-259…
Orange County Assessor
Attention: Real Property
P.O. Box 22000, Santa Ana, CA
92702-2000Hope this helps!
City of San Juan Capistrano/ Earth Day Fair…
April 14, 2009
The City of San Juan Capistrano is gearing up for its eighth annual Earth Day Fair, a daylong event that is expected to be the largest environmental-friendly event in South Orange County.
San Juan Capistrano is once again taking the lead in promoting the importance of caring for the environment by enlisting several organizations and groups to participate. The fair will feature an array of exhibitors including the City’s stormwater, recycling, historic preservation and water conservation programs. Organizations such as the Dana Point Ocean Institute, Vertez, Earth Resources, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Caspers Wilderness Park, The Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management and others will also take part in an effort to educate South Orange County residents about ways to preserve and improve the environment.
Youngsters and adults can learn from hands-on displays, environmental computer games and an enviroscape model that demonstrates how common household items can pollute the creeks and ocean. There will be plenty of free giveaways and information.
The Earth Day event will be held…
Thursday, April 23
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
San Juan Capistrano Gymnasium
25925 Camino del Avion
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
For more information, call 949-234-4564 or send an e-mail to environment@sanjuancapistrano.org