Westport Light State Park Planning
Project summary
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.
Update
On October 18, 2023 Westport Golf, Inc. will be updating the Washington State Parks Commission regarding the proposal to construct a golf course at Westport Light State Park. The meeting will be held at the Sun Mountain Lodge, 604 Patterson Lake Road, Winthrop, Washington. For the Work Session you may participate remotely by listening and/or watching using the following link:
Commission meetings & agendas | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
This is only a report and no action will be taken.
SEPA Process
In March 2023, Washington State Parks (State Parks) and The City of Westport (the City) entered into a Lead Agency Agreement identifying The City as the nominal SEPA Lead Agency for the Westport Light Golf Links proposal.
The City will be overseeing the EIS process in close collaboration with State Parks. Once the EIS is complete Westport Light Golf Links will move forward to procure any environmental regulatory compliance required for the project. Once the project proponent has secured the necessary required permits to move forward with the proposed development, the proposal will be brought to the Commission for consideration.
For more information about the EIS, or to participate in the process, please go to the city's web page .
Public meetings
The City of Westport and Parks co-hosted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping open house on May 2, 2023.
Westport Golf, Inc. proposes a Scottish links-style golf course within the boundaries of WLSP. This proposal includes the development of a long-term concession agreement with Parks that would allow Westport Golf, Inc. to develop, operate and maintain the golf course and associated facilities. The City of Westport, as the acting SEPA lead agency for this proposal, has determined that an EIS will be required for this proposal under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).
Previous public meeting
The December 8, 2022 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
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.
View the Power Point Presentation
Question and answer
Please submit comments and questions here.
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
- 01-October 8, 2019 Westport Light State Park Community Meeting Presentation
- 02-Westport Light Proposal Comments
- 03-MOA Between Parks and Westport Light Planning LLC
- 04-April 1 to March 22 2022 Comments
- 05-October 3 to November 18 2022 Comments
- 06-Westport Golf Links Economic Impact Study
- 07-November 18 to December 19 2022 Comments
- 08-December 19, 2022 - January 4, 2023 Comments
- 09-January 4 - January 30 2023 Comments
- 10-January 31 - March 20 2023 Comments
- 11-March 21 - April 30 2023 Comments
- 12-May 2 - June 5 2023 Comments
- 13-June 6 - July 5 2023 Comments
- 14-July 6 - October 23 2023 Comments
- 15-October 23 2023 - February 5 2024 Comments
Environmental Reports (note: some file sizes are large)
- Coastal Study Report June 2022
- Habitat Report_9-22-21
- Hydrologic Report_20220407
- Restoration Feasibility Study
- Vegetation Survey_North
- Vegetation Survey_South
- Wetland Assessment Report 8-6-21
- Wetland Discipline Report 5-31-22
Project history
Background information
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.
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
An updated MOU is being drafted by Westport Light and will be uploaded once it has been signed.
SEPA process
As of 2023, the City of Westport and Westport Golf INC, will hire a consultant to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) process. The EIS review process requires a number of additional process steps and review requirements. Progress on the EIS will be posted directly to the City’s webpage Washington State Parks/ Westport Golf LLC Golf Course Project.
No decisions about this proposal have been made.
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.
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.