Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Dana Point, California, Town Center and Public Parking City Council Referral, Measure I (June 2016)
| Measure I: Dana Point Town Center and Public Parking City Council Referral |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local zoning, land use and development |
| Related articles |
| Local zoning, land use and development on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Orange County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Dana Point, California |
A measure referred by the city council concerning the Dana Point Town Center was on the ballot for Dana Point voters in Orange County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of approving a city council ordianance designed to compete with the Measure H citizen initiative and allow the city council flexibility regarding development restrictions in the Town Center Plan, such as height limits and parking regulations. |
| A no vote was a vote against approving a city council ordianance designed to compete with the Measure H citizen initiative and allow the city council flexibility regarding development restrictions in the Town Center Plan, such as height limits and parking regulations. |
A competing measure, Measure H, was put on the June 2016 ballot through a citizen initiative petition drive. Measure H was designed to enact regulations on the zoning and height limits in the Town Center to restrict development. Measure H was also written to require voter approval of any zoning or construction code changes to the Town Center area, removing the city council's authority to approve changes to the Town Center Plan itself.
Measure H and Measure I were competing measures, which means that if both had received majority approval, the one with the most "yes" votes would have been enacted and the other would have been rejected. Measure H was approved, and Measure I was defeated.
Election results
| Dana Point, Measure I | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 6,449 | 58.57% | ||
| Yes | 4,561 | 41.43% | ||
- Election results from Orange County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Measure, which ratifies the Town Center Plan previously approved by the City Council and the California Coastal Commission, as well as the amendments thereto approved by the City Council in 2015, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Dana Point City Attorney:
| “ |
Measure I is known as the Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Measure. This measure relates to the Town Center Plan and its stated purpose is to directly compete with Measure H [2015 Town Center Initiative], which also relates to the Town Center Plan. The Town Center Plan is a planning document that was adopted by the City Council (and subsequently approved by the California Coastal Commission) with the stated purpose of encouraging the revitalization of the area of Dana Point identified as the Town Center. The Town Center Plan: (i) establishes a framework of public improvements that are expressly intended to support private reinvestment and development, (ii) zones the Town Center Plan area as “mixed-use” and, (iii) incorporates a series of policies, development standards and design guidelines to guide the revitalization of the area by adding residential uses and encouraging pedestrian-oriented retail and commercial uses. Prior to the adoption of the Town Center Plan, the City Council created a fifteen person Town Center Subcommittee, which held approximately thirty (30) public meetings. Following this public process, the Town Center Plan was adopted by the City Council in 2006 and subsequently certified by the California Coastal Commission in 2008. In September 2015, following various public hearings on the topic, the City Council approved amendments to the Town Center Plan and associated Municipal Code provisions. Those amendments were expressly intended to, among other things, implement improved parking standards for residential and non-residential uses in the Town Center. If this measure is adopted, the voters will ratify the Town Center Plan and associated Municipal Code provisions in the form approved, following the above noted public process, by the City Council (and certified by the California Coastal Commission), as well as the September 2015 amendments approved by the City Council which addressed parking standards. Additionally, if this measure is adopted, the City Council will have the flexibility to directly address future amendments to the Town Center Plan and associated Municipal Code provisions, although further amendments would also require certification by the California Coastal Commission. The September 2015 amendments to the Town Center Plan changed its name to the Lantern District Plan, but the term Town Center Plan is used in this analysis to avoid confusion. The Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Measure has been placed on the ballot by the Dana Point City Council. This measure provides that if it and the competing measure each receive a majority of votes cast, but this measure receives more votes than the competing measure, the voters intend that this measure will prevail in its entirety[2] |
” |
| —Dana Point City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- John A. Tomlinson, Mayor of the City of Dana Point
- Richard A. Viczorek, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Dana Point
- Joseph L. Muller, Dana Point City Councilman
- Carlos N. Olvera, Dana Point City Councilman
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
The City of Dana Point is committed to implementing the Town Center Plan and its vision of transforming the Lantern District into a pedestrianoriented, mixed-use district. This revitalized district will serve the community and create a more meaningful and memorable place that adds to the identity and quality of life in Dana Point. The 2016 Town Center & Public Parking Improvement Measure will help ensure achievement of those goals. Let us remind you of the history of the Town Center Plan. • 2006 – Plan unanimously approved by City Council after 30 public meetings held • 2008 – Plan unanimously approved by California Coastal Commission • 2010 – Survey finds Town Center revitalization one of the top priorities of residents • 2013 – Project is value engineered resulting in $3 million savings • 2015 – City completes improvements to Town Center while incurring no debt Additionally, the City developed and adopted a parking plan for the Town Center which built on the community’s prior extensive work. This parking plan recognizes that the parking spaces in the Town Center need to be better managed by converting the existing private lots into shared public parking and also addresses potential spillover into adjacent neighborhoods. A vote for this Measure affirms the progress made to date and the commitment of the residents of Dana Point to implementing the vision of the Town Center Plan. If you are in favor of revitalizing the Lantern District, of ridding that area of its vacant lots and empty storefronts, of improving the management of our parking supply, are in support of the progress we’ve made so far and would like to continue moving our city forward, those are the things that this Measure will help accomplish. And that is why the Dana Point City Council urges you to vote YES on the 2016 Town Center & Public Parking Improvement Measure.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Lester Hill, Chairman & CEO (Retired) of Pacific Scientific
- Debra Lewis, Former Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
- Sandie Iverson, Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development
- Betty Hill, President of Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development
- Roxanna Watrous, Attorney for Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
VOTE NO! THE COUNCIL’S DECEPTIVE MEASURE: • DOES NOT IMPROVE PUBLIC PARKING • DOES NOT SUPPORT THE 2008 TOWN CENTER PLAN • CANCELS THE 2015 TOWN CENTER INITIATIVE IF IT WINS THE COUNCIL’S PARKING PLAN: • REDUCES all parking requirements even though a lot of development is underway with the higher requirements • REDUCES restaurant parking from 10 to 2 spaces per 1,000 square feet, not even enough for employees • REDUCES other commercial parking by 50% • REDUCES parking for high density residential units • PRODUCES TRAFFIC CONGESTION and PARKING NIGHTMARES • DISCOURAGES new BUSINESSES in Town Center and existing businesses will suffer • LEAVES TAXPAYERS on the hook to provide future parking City government has already spent over $20,000,000 of taxpayers’ money on Town Center for the BUSINESS DISTRICT desired by residents, with new shops and restaurants that also produce sales tax revenue and jobs. Now the City is catering to developers and special interests, turning Town Center into a high density RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. CITY GOVERNMENT IGNORES RESIDENTS. Despite a Planning Commission denial and residents’ strenuous objections, 3 Councilmembers approved a major residential project: • 109 RESIDENTIAL UNITS • 56 to 59 FOOT TOWERS vs 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT • 4 STORIES vs 3 STORY LIMIT • PARKING SPACE REDUCTIONS saving developers millions • BUILDINGS OVER AND UNDER PUBLIC ALLEYWAYS to make them larger and more profitable for developers THE CITIZENS’ 2015 TOWN CENTER INITIATIVE SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT BUT MAKES DEVELOPERS FOLLOW THE RULES. It prevents 3 councilmembers from changing the Town Center Plan anytime and without voter approval. Developers and special interests fear passage of the Citizen’s Initiative and support the Council’s measure to increase their profits at taxpayers’ expense. VOTE NO TO OPPOSE THESE PARKING REDUCTIONS VOTE NO TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL TOWN CENTER PLAN[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Dana Point, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Dana Point Town Center Plan Referral Measure I. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
