Discretionary Approval

Discretionary Approval refers to projects or uses which require Discretionary Approval by the City Council and/or Planning Commission, according to Federal, State, or local laws. The two (2) key purposes of Discretionary Approval are to allow for citizen-based public evaluation of project quality, and the ability of the City to approve, conditionally approve, or deny a project. The first phase of the Discretionary Approval process is the definition of the proposed project, involving the preparation of a Staff report and exhibits that clearly explain a project to decision makers and citizens. In the second phase, environmental determination, the potential environmental impacts of a project are evaluated in accordance with state law and presented in the Staff report to decision makers. Public review and comment, the third phase of the process, provides the opportunity for the public to review and comment on a project. The last phase is discretionary decision making by the City Council and/or Planning Commission, in which the project is; approved, conditionally approved, or denied
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Due to the complexities and unique aspects of any given project, the City of Dana Point has established a project manager-type of approval process. Your planner will act as the project manager for your discretionary application, and will be your direct contact during the process. The planner will help coordinate your application and guide it through the various review procedures and noticing requirements. This process requires significant time and coordination between you as an applicant, your planner, and all of the other various components of this process. Whenever you have questions as to where your application is in the process, what steps need to be taken, please contact your planner.
The goal of the City is to assist you as much as possible in creating a quality project consistent with community goals and policies. The application has been formatted so as to enable the planner to indicate those material deemed necessary for a particular project.

The application has been split into (2) two parts. The first part is referred to as the “Information Packet.” The Information Packet contains all of the project specific information. Completion of this packet is required for all Discretionary Approval submittals. The second part of the application is referred to as the “Submittal Requirements.” The submittal requirements vary by approval and are based on the type of discretionary approval requested and the scope of the proposed project.
Please contact the Planning Department if you have any additional questions regarding the Discretionary Approval applications and submittal requirements.

The Planning Department can be reached at (949) 248-3564.

Click on the links below to download the appropriate application

Project Information Packets:
Project Information Packet
Project Information Packet for variances

Submittal Requirements For:
Antenna Use Permit
Coastal Development Permit
Administrative Coastal Development Permit
Conditional Use Permits
Minor Conditional Use Permits
Site Development Permits
Minor Site Development Permits
Variance