The Dana Point City Council has established a subcommittee tasked with re-evaluating renovation plans for Lantern Bay Park, with a specific focus on preserving existing trees. This decision follows a divided council vote on October 6 regarding an initial proposal that involved the removal of nearly 70 mature pine trees from the public park.
The proposed park improvements were put forth by the adjacent Marriott hotel, identified as Ocean Cliffs in a staff report. The hotel is currently undergoing a $60 million renovation and had replaced a water line on city property within Lantern Bay Park. In exchange for utilizing the park for this work, Ocean Cliffs agreed to fund and construct the proposed park renovations. The primary stated objective for the park overhaul was to enhance sightlines to the harbor from the hotel's rooms, which are currently obstructed by the pine canopies.
The initial plan proposed by Marriott included the removal of both Torrey pines and Stone pines. While a staff report indicated that two Torrey pines along a walkway were in "declining health" due to bark beetle damage, and an arborist recommended their removal, the remaining Torrey pines and a grove of healthy Italian Stone pines were also slated for removal. The staff report noted that removing the healthy stone pine grove represented "a tradeoff between the existing canopy and the views and open space the design creates." Marriott’s proposed improvements included a new botanical garden with native plants, updates to the Smyth Brothers Amphitheater with new lighting and regrading, replacement of pines lining the amphitheater walkway with roses and crape myrtles, and new walkways.
Community members mobilized to oppose the extensive tree removal. Dana Point residents Gwendolyn Oxenham and Alex Katona spearheaded these efforts, with Katona stating, “Our issue is this is a public park for its residents.” Residents highlighted the trees' aesthetic and shade benefits, their role in managing rainwater runoff and stabilizing soil to protect bluffs, and their sentimental value within the community. Public comments on the proposed project exceeded 150, and a Change.org petition garnered over 4,000 signatures in opposition. A city-conducted survey between August 28 and September 21, which included 45 Dana Point residents among 75 respondents, found that more than half desired to maintain existing landscaping and add more amenities like shade and seating, while only three preferred fewer or smaller trees for improved harbor views.
At the October 6 City Council meeting, council members discussed the proposal. Councilmember Jamey Federico and Mayor John Gabbard expressed support for the project as originally proposed, with Federico commenting that the "pine grove is a mess underneath it." Conversely, Councilmembers Mike Frost, Matthew Pagano, and Michael Villar advocated for working to preserve the trees. The initial vote to advance the plan, including the tree removal and forming a subcommittee, failed with three council members voting against it. Councilmember Frost noted, "it does appear as though the shade is very helpful and very wanted." Subsequently, council members voted to establish a subcommittee to collaborate with Marriott to revise the park plans and work toward keeping the trees.
As a next step, the newly formed subcommittee is scheduled to meet with the public at the park on November 1 to gather input and provide updates on discussions with Marriott planners. A flyer for this meeting indicates that the subcommittee “will recommend preserving all existing trees.” The City Council is expected to revisit the issue on its agenda on November 17, with specific proposed changes to the original plan yet to be detailed. Talks of renovation first began in November 2025.