Westport Light State Park Planning

Westport Light Aerial

Public Meeting

The December 8th meeting updated the public on the progress and status of the ongoing master planning effort at Westport Light State Park to consider a Scottish-style links golf course. The presentation provided a summary of findings of the environmental and economic site analysis conducted, introduce the golf course conceptual design, and discuss next steps in the planning process.

Public meeting presentation December 8 2022

  1. Dec 08 2022 Public Meeting Presentation

Link to December 8, 2022 public meeting recording.

Audio Recording of Dec. 8, 2022 Public Planning Meeting

Meeting was hosted by City of Westport

Recording supplied by David McKay Kidd.
Note: the sound quality is poor.


Commission Work Session video

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC) Nov. 16, 2022 Work Session - YouTube

Westport starts at 1:10:11 into the meeting.

Westport Golf Links Update to Commissioners – PowerPoint 

Update of the progress of the ongoing master planning effort at Westport Light State Park to consider a Scottish-style links golf course. Their presentation included a summary of findings in the environmental and economic site analysis and introduced the golf course conceptual design.

To view the PowerPoint Click Here

QUESTION AND ANSWER 

Please submit comments and questions by clicking on the PROVIDE COMMENTS below. 

Provide Comment button

NEXT STEPS

The environmental and ecological studies for Westport Light State Park have been completed. Westport Golf Links Economic Impact Study has been completed and are below under documents.

DOCUMENTS

  1. 01-October 8, 2019 Westport Light State Park Community Meeting Presentation
  2. 02-Westport Light Proposal Comments
  3. 03-MOA BETWEEN PARKS AND WESTPORT LIGHT INC
  4. 04-April 1 to March 22 2022 Comments
  5. 05-October 3 to November 18 2022 Comments
  6. 06-Westport Golf Links Economic Impact Study
  7. 07-November 18 to December 19 2022 Comments
  8. 08-December 19, 2022 - January 4, 2023 Comments
  9. 09-January 4 - January 30 2023 Comments
  10. 10-January 31 - March 20 2023 Comments

Environmental Reports (note: some file sizes are large)

  1. Coastal Study Report June 2022
  2. Habitat Report_9-22-21
  3. Hydrologic Report_20220407
  4. Restoration Feasibility Study
  5. Vegetation Survey_North
  6. Vegetation Survey_South
  7. Wetland Assessment Report 8-6-21
  8. Wetland Discipline Report 5-31-22

In 2019, Westport Golf INC approached Washington State Parks with a proposal to construct, operate and manage a Scottish links style “artisanal” golf course and a 30- to 40-room inn as part of overall development of Westport Light State Park near Westport.

State Parks is in the process of considering the proposal, but no decisions have been made at this time.

STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION (COMMISSION) UPDATE/S

State Parks staff and Westport Golf INC provided an update to the Commission at its January 2022 work session meeting. The presentation starts at approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes and is at the following link:

Jan. 26, 2022 Washington State Parks Regular Commission Work Session - YouTube

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Washington State Parks, Westport Golf INC and City of Westport staff held a community meeting on Oct. 8, 2019 in Westport, WA. The Westport South Beach Historical Society recorded this meeting and posted it to their YouTube page here: 

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA)

On Aug. 7, 2020, Washington State Parks and Westport Golf INC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining the process steps — or milestones — that must be taken for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to consider this request.

The milestones include:

  • Pre-scoping (conducting ecological and environmental studies)
  • Analyzing of site opportunities and constraints based on what was learned in the pre-scoping milestone
  • Developing a master plan development
  • Conducting State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) review

These steps will provide the Commission with enough information to consider approving the proposed master plan for Westport Light State Park. Throughout the process, State Parks, Westport Golf INC and the City of Westport will work together to host public and stakeholder meetings to keep the public informed and collect input.

No decisions about this proposal have been made.

RECREATION CONCESSION AREAS

The Westport Golf LLC proposal is consistent with Washington State Parks’ 2015 real estate policy update, which provides for development of privately financed recreational facilities in state parks. In 2016, the State Parks Commission completed a public process to select four pilot sites for private investment, known as Recreation Concession Areas (RCAs). Westport Light State Park was one of the four parks identified.  

The purpose of RCAs is not to privatize the parks system but to provide park visitors with amenities that are beyond State Parks’ financial capacity or expertise, while generating revenue to help operate the park system.

ABOUT WESTPORT LIGHT STATE PARK

In 2015, State Parks acquired nearly 300 acres through a $1.9 million grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office. The land purchase enabled State Parks to connect Westhaven State Park and Westport Light State Park with the newly acquired property located between the two parks. The parks and new property, located in Grays Harbor county, now total 603 acres and are known collectively as Westport Light State Park. For more information, visit: https://parks.state.wa.us/284/Westport-Light.

FOR QUESTIONS, CONTACT:

Email
Planning
PO Box 42650
Olympia WA 98504-2650