Strands Beach Access

Surfrider Foundation South Orange County won a court victory to maximize beach access rights at Strands Beach on the Dana Point Headlands. In 2006, the Headlands LLC Developer received a coastal development rights from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) only if maximized public beach access and partial conservation of the Headland was guaranteed. In 2010, after the residential development was built, gates and limiting hours were established to restrict the main central accessway most heavily used by the public. Surfrider Foundation fought these excessive beach access restrictions in court and won. On June 1st, 2011 Judge Joan M. Lewis ruled in favor of open beach access at the Dana Point Strands Beach. Specifically, she ruled that the City of Dana Point’s severe beach access restrictions are unlawful because the record put forth by the City was “entirely lacking in evidentiary support for declaring a nuisance and that the City acted arbitrarily and capriciously in making such a declaration.” The City has appealed the judgment won against them and the CCC has appealed the ruling against them. Our South Orange County Chapter is continuing to apply pressure on the City Council at their meetings and in the media.