Needing four votes to pass, a proposed restructuring aimed at helping finance two long-planned hotels at Dana Point Harbor failed again to advance Tuesday after the Orange County Board of Supervisors deadlocked 2-2, with one abstention.
Ongoing disagreements about worker protections at the Marina Inn hotel are still complicating the $700 million harbor redevelopment, which is already 70% completed.
Supervisor Katrina Foley proposed to separate the 66-year hotel ground lease from the harbor’s commercial and marina leases, which would allow R.D. Olson Development to seek financing while also still negotiating with the county about labor issues.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said worker-retention protections are needed before moving forward, but he still supported Foley’s plan. Chair Doug Chaffee said he would not support the plan until labor issues are resolved. Supervisor Don Wagner voted against it, and Supervisor Janet Nguyen abstained.
R.D. Olson Development Founder Bob Olson told the Business Journal that the latest vote makes the future of the proposed hotels even more uncertain.
Olson said he expects to hear from the county’s chief executive of real estate on Wednesday about the next steps.
