Dana Point residents have successfully rallied to save nearly 70 mature pine trees in Lantern Bay Park from removal, prompting the City Council to form a subcommittee tasked with overhauling proposed renovation plans to ensure the trees' preservation. The initial plans, presented at an October 6 City Council meeting, stemmed from an offer by the nearby Marriott hotel to renovate the public park, aiming to improve harbor sightlines from its property.
The Marriott hotel, currently undergoing a $60 million renovation, had previously replaced a water line on city property within Lantern Bay Park. As part of that arrangement, city staff coordinated with Ocean Cliffs, an entity connected to the hotel, which agreed to fund and construct improvements to the park. The hotel's proposal sought to clear existing tree canopies that blocked harbor views from its rooms.
Under the original park overhaul plan submitted by the Marriott, both a grove of Stone Pines and Torrey pines lining a walkway were slated for removal. A staff report acknowledged that two of the Torrey pines along the walkway were in "declining health" due to extensive bark beetle damage, and an arborist recommended their removal. However, the report noted that the remaining Torrey pines and the entire Italian Stone pine grove appeared healthy. The report stated that removing the healthy stone pine grove would be a compromise between preserving the existing canopy and creating new views and open space.
The proposed improvements from the Marriott included adding a botanical garden with native plants, updating the Smyth Brothers Amphitheater with new lighting and regrading, replacing the pines lining the amphitheater walkway with roses and crape myrtles, and constructing new walkways throughout the park. Marriott officials did not return calls for comment on the matter.
Community efforts to save the trees were spearheaded by Dana Point residents Gwendolyn Oxenham and Alex Katona. Oxenham first brought the issue to residents' attention on Nextdoor, a neighborhood discussion app, just days before city officials were scheduled to discuss the plans. Their campaign generated over 150 public comments and a Change.org petition that quickly gathered over 4,000 signatures in support of keeping the trees. Residents shared deep sentimental attachments to the pines, with Oxenham noting messages about proposals and high school graduations under their shade. Katona underscored the community's perspective, stating, "Our issue is this is a public park for its residents."
Beyond aesthetic and sentimental value, Katona highlighted the trees' critical ecological role, noting they assist with rainwater runoff and stormwater issues. He emphasized their contribution to soil stability, which is particularly vital as Southern California faces a predicted historic El Niño season this year. Oxenham further explained that tree roots act as anchors, keeping soil in place and helping to maintain the safety of the bluff, a concern as the region experiences coastal erosion.
A city-conducted survey between August 28 and September 21, which gathered feedback from 75 park-goers—45 of whom were Dana Point residents—revealed strong community preferences. More than half of the respondents indicated they wanted to keep the landscaping the same and add more amenities like shade and seating. In contrast, only three respondents preferred fewer or smaller trees to keep harbor views open.
During the October 6 City Council meeting where the plans were detailed, council members were divided. Councilmember Jamey Federico and Mayor John Gabbard initially supported the project as proposed. Federico commented that the pine grove had an untidy appearance beneath it, citing overgrown roots and pine needles preventing grass growth, and suggested that redesigns could ultimately improve the park. However, Councilmembers Mike Frost, Matthew Pagano, and Michael Villar expressed support for working to preserve the trees if possible and modifying Marriott’s proposal. Frost conveyed that he was swayed by the evident popularity and usefulness of the shade provided by the trees.
A motion to proceed with the original plan, including the tree removal, and subsequently form a subcommittee, failed after three out of the five council members voted against it. Following this, the council voted to create a subcommittee specifically tasked with engaging with Marriott to revise the park overhaul plans, with the explicit goal of preserving the trees.
The appointed City Council Subcommittee has since engaged in discussions with Marriott leadership and, according to a public meeting flyer, will recommend preserving all existing trees. The subcommittee is scheduled to meet with the public at Lantern Bay Park on November 1 to gather further community concerns and share updates on their discussions. The issue is expected to return to the full City Council agenda for further review on November 17.
