Beach Pass holders can get new passes for lots near Doheny State Beach

Surfers, harbor walkers and others who last year purchased the county’s beach parking pass once valid at two lots in Dana Point Harbor near Doheny State Beach, are eligible for new passes.

In an agreement with the county, Dana Point Harbor Partners, a group of three developers who have taken over the harbor’s lease as part of a $330 million redevelopment project, announced on Wednesday, March 27, the passes purchased through the county will be valid through their original end date.

The beach passes – used at the Puerto Place lot and metered spots along the point near the harbor’s fuel docks – stopped being honored after Jan. 1.

Locals who typically used the lots were upset when their recently purchased passes – regular price is $55 – no longer worked at the lots.

Bryon Ward, a principal with Dana Point Harbor Partners, said the group needed time to institute its own pass program.

“We needed to figure out how to honor those pass holders,” he said. “No one will walk away upset, we’re trying to make this transition as smooth as possible.”

Letters will be sent to pass holders identified by the county with directions on getting their new pass sent to them from Dana Point Harbor Partners. There will also be an option to pick up passes over the counter at 34571 Golden Lantern.

The beach parking pass from the county will still be valid at county-operated lots.

The developers are figuring out now the future of those parking lots as they launch their massive renovation project.

“It’s difficult to commit to it because we don’t know how we’re improving those lots,” Ward said. “We’ll explore a new program as we move forward. We will always have beach access, likely we’ll add more parking in the harbor redevelopment.”

Those who don’t have a pass for the Puerto Place lot or the parking spots near the point, can use parking meters which cost $1 an hour with a maximum of $18.