This laid back Victorian seaport and artist colony has long been funkily charming, attracting visitors from around the world to enjoy architecture, birding, boating, weekend getaways and the impressive array of weekend-long festivals. Some are so enchanted they consult realtors on the first visit, thinking this would be a great place to live out retirement. This small peninsula town is bound by water and mountains, trails and natural features inviting all manner of recreation, no city investments needed. This was a key consideration for planning as envisioned in the “City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan,” given lip service by the town’s ambitious administrators.
At the July 17, 2023 City Council meeting it became very clear that they intend to transform the town through contriving public consent that will ultimately cost millions in tax dollars, inflating city debt to the bursting point.
On this night, council was being directed to act on the agenda item City Council presentation on the Envision community discussion:
“Action: City Council will receive the final recommendation on the future decision of the Envision the Port Townsend Golf Course and Mountain View Commons and be asked to make a decision.”
You are not alone in trying to understand what the above “action” means. In fact, any comments directed at Mountain View Commons were not acceptable, so directed the mayor. This discussion was strictly limited to the future of the Port Townsend Golf Course. Council’s vote on this action would box the community into the administrators’ plan to close down the one hundred year old golf course and usurp the 58 acres for uses mostly unwanted, according to the majority of public responses garnered over this last year.
And here’s how the magic of manufacturing consent is implemented.
The “Envision Port Townsend Golf Course and Mountain View Commons” is a project overseen by Carrie Hite, a short-term contracted Director of Parks & Recreation Strategy; consultant Chris Jones, principal architect of Groundswell; plus four other contracted consultants. The genesis of this project was the 2020 Parks Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan focused on management of the golf course and exploring the feasibility of alternate uses of the golf course lands. It included 830 responses to a survey. Only thirty indicated an interest in housing; none of the more than 800 respondents suggested a dog park.
Stacking the Deck
Sometime during lockdown, newly-hired city manager John Mauro contracted Carrie Hite and then multiple consultants, thus the Envision project got underway. The exploration involved such things as open house events at the Fort, online surveys, recommendations by a city-appointed stakeholder group and by the Parks, Recreation, Trees and Trails Advisory Board (PRTTAB).
Three open house events were held. On January 11, 2023 the consultants reported 291 people placed 1,985 dots on 23 project boards with 3 interactive stations. The one picture offering to maintain the existing golf course got the most dots. Port Townsend Free Press contributor Brett Nunn attended that meeting and reported on it shortly after.
Project boards from the January 2023 open house. Attendees showed the greatest support for “Golf Course As-Is,” followed by maintaining the property for “Habitat”. Photo: Brett Nunn
The April 26 meeting drew 207 attendees. At the June 22 meeting the consultants amended the options adding 36 housing units, with 103 attendees viewing the proposed housing pictured in the wild habitat at the NE edge of the golf course land. The wording of the online surveys nudged participants toward preferred outcomes. As the process moved along, the option of restoring the golf course disappeared.
The last survey that included keeping the golf course as is, with restoration. Despite “Restored Golf Course” receiving nearly twice the votes as “Hybrid Golf Course,” it was eliminated from future options as seen below.
With the popular “Restored Golf Course” strategically eliminated as a choice, people were given only two options in Survey #3. Forced to choose between just those two, the majority supported a hybrid golf concept.
The inner workings of the Envision project relied on appointed stakeholders, starting with 21, eventually dwindling to 13 people. Carrie Hite set their agenda, directing which options they could vote on such as housing, a dog park, trails, concert space, restaurant/brew pub, miniature golf. Maintaining the existing golf course with planned improvements was not an option.
The stakeholders met several times, reviewing public input as interpreted by the consultants, finally voting on two concepts — a central park with no golf course and a hybrid park reducing the golf course and eliminating the driving range. Both options projected investments of $2-$3+ million just for the recreation components.
The consultants provided no projections about potential housing costs — for starters, opening and widening streets, sidewalks, parking, lighting, bike lanes, striping, and signage, all essential for future real estate development in a quiet neighborhood zoned Residential II, single family (RII,SF).
It is as yet unknown how such housing would be affordable.
Engineering Outcomes
On June 14, 2023 Hite presented to City Council a review of the “Envision“ process and a preview of the formal presentation to come on July 17 by Chris Jones of Groundswell.
On July 17, 2023, Jones presented two options to Council. He included a fleeting reference to the July 11, 2023 special meeting with the PRTTAB and their recommendation against leveling and paving wild habitat for housing. Their considerations included the interests of thousands of avid birders and the need to protect wildlife corridors from human impacts.
Groundswell’s “Central Park” and “Hybrid Golf Course” Concept Renderings
Local designer Robert Horner submitted a plan that members of the Port Townsend Golf Club (PTGC) described as thorough and well-conceived, saying Horner’s “…design honors history and it has practical solutions” and was “a win-win compromise.” It provides room for many of the ideas in the Jones hybrid plan, including trails north to south and east to west; native prairie expansion; putt-putt golf course; bird blind at the pond; community garden; affordable housing; a 5-10 year plan for a larger restaurant/taproom and event space; and a driving range to host a few summer concerts with a portable stage. All things brought forward by the consultant at the open house events except housing, which was added on later.
Robert Horner/Pi R Squared concept, June 30, 2023
Key to the Horner plan was that the historic nine-hole golf course and driving range would remain and be maintained. The cost of this plan is under $1 million, with Horner’s expertise volunteered and free to the community.
Jones declared that it was submitted too late.
“Golf Is Dead”? Not So Fast!
Jones’ Central Park option eliminating the golf course telegraphed the mayor’s pronouncement that “golf is dead.”
The 2018 National Golf Foundation (NGF) business analysis reported that over 8% of the general population play golf an average of 18 times per year; those over 65 play an average of 36 rounds per year. More than 20% of the PT population is over 65 and aging in place. Another 1400 people are projected to increase the population by 2036. Casual data indicates that currently 200 or so people, including many retirees, play golf on this course each month during the season—similar to pool usage (a saga yet to come).
During public comment, local people provided specific knowledge regarding the history and development of this golf course, conceived by a premier course designer from Scotland in the 1920s. Golfers report it is a well planned and challenging course. Many recognize it as an irreplaceable historic open space with mature trees, ponds and wildlife habitat corridors in the middle of town — a treasure.
But when it came time after two hours of public comment for the council to take action, they faltered. Mayor Faber urged a decision sharing his anecdotal experience — his feeling when walking by the golf course that barbed wire was keeping him out.
Faber has determined that the community needs trails crossing the golf greens, new recreation activities, no golf, more prairie meadows, concerts, and housing on the driving range to fill the bill. But council members dithered until after 10pm. They simply could not bring themselves to vote on the preferred “Hybrid Option.” But they did vote down a motion to maintain the legacy golf course. Their stated priorities were financial viability, public access, affordable housing, amenities for children and families, possibly a dog park, and trail connectivity.
In part, Council’s equivocation was the result of the lack of data about demand and use of existing private and public amenities throughout town, including the community center, Fort Worden and the fairgrounds. These assets offer miles of trails and sidewalks, biking infrastructure, a skateboard park, picnic areas, venues for indoor and outdoor events, and restaurants/brew pubs.
Why Housing at the Golf Course?
Mayor Faber at one point suggested housing should go on Blaine Street where infrastructure and bus lines already exist. An alternative to the Jones hybrid and Horner alternative proposals would be to site apartments on the school tennis courts on the corner of Blaine and Kearney, relocating the Recyclery to the “community garden” corner of the golf course on 19th and San Juan at the foot of the golf park. The Recyclery is a subsidized non-profit community bike project used by about 70 people each month during the season. A permitted building with bathrooms would replace its clever shed array.
Aerial view of Mountain View property, the abandoned tennis courts with Recyclery at bottom left. At top left is the golf course driving range bordering Blaine Street where the mayor suggests housing should go.
Housing is the least financially viable component of the options — claimed to be affordable but with no definition. The consultants focused on golf course land, considering no other locations to meet the recognized need for affordable and low income housing. However, Olycap has provided a good model — the new Seventh Haven apartments, adjacent to QFC, has 43 low income studio to three bedroom apartments with parking and child care on 0.54 acres, about 4 city lots plus the right-of-way. Filled within a month of opening, there is a waiting list.
Factoids about the Seventh Haven apartments:
- Handicapped Accessible;
- Single Parents, Veterans, Elderly Accommodated;
- Financing: about $11 million;
- Peninsula Housing Authority, Dept of Commerce, H.U.D.;
- About six years from start to finish;
- Current unmet demand is for studio and 1 bedroom apartments.
The Mountain View tennis court footprint is about 110′ x 170′ with another chunk of school land and the unopened Gaines Street easement, pushing an acre or more. It is centrally located and practically shovel ready. The site has city infrastructure and is on flat land near another apartment structure. It is readily accessible to bus lines, Co-op, pool, playground, food bank, sidewalks, golf park, Kah Tai park, and the Recyclery.
The Recyclery on the old tennis courts including surrounding school and Gaines Street land – a shovel ready housing idea. Photos: Julie Jaman
The city could partner with the School District, Peninsula Housing Authority and Olycap in this endeavor. Together they possess a wealth of experience and expertise. It might be possible to have such housing available by 2030 to dent the already existing demand of low income workers. Affordable and low income housing needs more focused community effort rather than simply trading away open space parks.
Win-Win Alternatives Getting the Bum’s Rush
Council members are aware that the majority of participants in this Envision process are not favorable to eliminating the historic, well-planned golf course. Some propose that golfers, including the high school team, drive the 20 mile round trip to the old Chevy Chase golf course beyond Cape George. Golf is not a dying game. Tiger Woods and other great players have helped golf grow as a national sport in the 21st century.
The decision to spend another month or so reworking the Hite/Jones hybrid idea opens the way to take into consideration the Horner golf park design that has strong support from the community and is financially viable. The housing element in both plans is inappropriate and far from affordable.
It has been suggested that the food bank be relocated up to the industrial park. This would be more convenient and accessible with ample parking. It would also alleviate the jammed parking on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Mountain View campus. No data so far on how many people use the parking area and food bank each month, but demand seems to be growing as the economy becomes more tenuous.
On July 27, 2023, KPTZ aired an interview with city manager John Mauro and strategist Carrie Hite. When asked about the Horner alternative Hite said that she rejected it because, “it does not allow for other public desires.” Apparently her choices as the hired authority are the only ones the stakeholders are allowed to consider rather than the other way around.
Hite seemed almost adamant about moving the dog park onto golf land to make way for a huge parking area in the future, although the parking needs at Mountain View (current and future) are unaddressed at this time. There is no data on how many people bring their dogs to the Mountain View dog park, but it likely needs to grow. Alternatively it could move to the fairgrounds (already used for dog exercise) where community members are ready to assist in its relocation if the county would consider such an option.
Mauro quipped on KPTZ about the “new evolution of thinking” as an aspect of the envision process. Unless he means thinking coming from the top down, the Horner alternative is exactly the sort of evolution of thinking the community is interested in.
This project has already cost well over $200,000 with City Manager and staff time, multiple contracted consultants and more to come. Strategist Carrie Hite assured Council she could secure grant monies from Washington Recreation and Conservation funds to further the undoing of Port Townsend’s golf course, and likely the big enchilada — the $30 to $50 million aquatic center.
The legacy golf course is under extreme threat from ill-conceived agendas. If the City Council were to honor the civic efforts, sentiments and needs of the community, maintain the continuity provided through the Comprehensive Plan, and recognize the growing burden on taxpayers, it would be beneficial for all to consider the Horner win-win alternative as appropriate evolution for the treasured golf course.
———————————————-
Top photo shows the “save our golf course” yard sign (inset)
now displayed throughout Port Townsend.
Photos: Julie Jaman
Julie Jaman has spent the last 40 years on the Quimper Peninsula where she raised two daughters and now two cats; tends a garden that seems to get larger as she gets older; once a hiker, dancer, and swimmer. She has been a civic and political activist, ready to question authority, most of her adult life. Very engaged in the early years of the Co-op, she sits on the board of the Olympic Environmental Council.
From Behind the Green Mask, Rosa Koire on the Delphi technique:
“Delphi is used in school board meetings, in trainings, at neighborhood association meetings, and other places where the organizers want to give the appearance that they have listened to community opinion and incorporated it into their plan. By the way, you’ll never hear the word ‘Delphi’ — they never acknowledge that they’re doing it.
The key thing to know about this is that of course you have no input. Only comments and observations that support the pre-approved plan will be supported. All others will be written on a big pad of paper [or pictures you can put dots on] and discarded later. The illusion of public buy-in is all that is needed. The organizers can later point to the fact that they held a public meeting, a certain number of residents attended, public comment was taken, and the community approved the plan. The facilitator is often a private consultant who has been professionally trained in running and managing a meeting. This consultant has been hired by your city to fulfill the requirement that the project has been seen and supported by its citizens — it’s YOUR plan.”
Describes our city’s performative processes to a tee.
Much thanks to Julie J for the great piece. Also thanks for Annette’s comment about the method being used to pretend the City officials give a hoot about public concern.
There has not been a study to show all the values of the golf course. I have added my first hand knowledge and education AND experience for evaluation of the positive attributes this golf course brings to our community. But what really gets me is this need to quantify or in this case, tread on others rights to pursue life liberty and persuit of happiness. Today let’s hate golfers…tomorrow who will we hate.. who will no longer matter.. it sounds like republican standard procedures. I would love to tell people my history and why we should keep the golf course. And BTW I do not golf.
Seems this little town, it is a little town with a hidden history of big, intertwined egos in its highest places, keeps having symptoms that are related. Delphi a tool used at times such as with “public input” for streateries or mess tents and going back to forming the FWPDA. Both costly messes in many ways.
You can try to treat repeated symptoms or address the underlying or root cause. In this case the cause is those who would use the Delphi technique to achieve their goals. Herding “public input” as a shepherd does sheep into the corral where you are fleeced of whatever is wanted. To build empire. A relatively tiny little empire a tiny little town. With tiny little egos at the helm. Historically messing up most all they control. Echoes of back slapping heard from Fort Worden to Cherry Street. Great work team! Self-assessment not a skill learned at all.
The simplified current power structure not ready for prime time is Faber/Mauro. And a no term limit council. Faber attempts to lead the sheep with “golf is dead”. About as complex a thing that I have ever heard from his lips. A very simple and dull tool is Mr. Faber. With a law degree. Go figure. Mauro is behind the sheep with Delphi shepherds he has hired and coached. He works closely with a community member and appointed mayor who says that to be mayor “you have to be a pervert and deviant”. Voters will forget or never be aware of his part in dividing the community a year ago regarding women’s privacy. Julie was there on that clouded issue as well.
Here is more on that to help understand root causes of many symptoms. https://www.porttownsendfreepress.com/2022/08/25/city-officials-lead-hate-campaign-against-women/
From that article: “Mayor David Faber joined those doing the name-calling, twisting the narrative from a request for common-sense solutions for women’s privacy in public spaces into a trans-rights call to action, grandstanding behind his mask about hate and discrimination having no place in our “welcoming” community. Those who had actually delivered the hate that night were lauded as the inclusive ones, protecting a special and fragile minority.”
Why would anyone think of this person as someone to listen to? Or reelect? The tiny official newspaper in this tiny town keeps the sheep from hearing much from any goat’s perspective.
Mauro keeps defining himself as a manipulator. Manipulated into being hired by Sandoval/Stinson as he was sweet talking another town in Maine for a job there. Playing both cards as his “favorite” until the last minute, holding out for more and more money and benefits. With no experience.
https://www.porttownsendfreepress.com/2020/10/07/who-is-john-mauro-port-townsends-city-manager/
So, that old standard carnival game of whack a mole here in Tinytown will go on and on. The moles may change from time to time to keep the carnival operators busy. The manipulations are like old TV reruns becoming predictable. Simplified in black and white. Leading into red ink and stolen power.
Are not a majority 4 no term limit council seats up for grabs? Want Faber and the like gone? You had the answer the whole time, Dorothy. Or not.
Thanks for your efforts on so many fronts Julie. I see another mole about to surface.
Thank you, Julie, and the Free Press for this excellent, detailed summary of events over three years which I did not totally understand before. It seems to me like it is time for a change and there is an opportunity in January to appoint a new Mayor. Since it is the City Council that makes this choice, if you agree, please contact your council men and women. All contact information is on the City of Port Townsend web site.
One of the common refrains now being used by City administrators and Council is the golf course and lands should be accessible to the greatest number of people. Without data about how many use which assets how often, research about all the city’s assets, and an honest public process there is no way to know that more people would walk on trails cut through the greens, would exercise their dogs on the fairway, would eat at a new restaurant, would play miniature golf than currently play real golf, visit on the club house deck with its expansive view, or share wine and food at the existing restaurant. The city has no numbers on how many people use the miles of side walks, miles of trails, the dog park, or how many desire an expanded remnant prairie (now tended by volunteers who know about native species) to look at in the spring. What would be the impacts and costs to the city for the unknown numbers of “most people”.? Does the City plan to build a new restaurant and lease it? Do they plan to build a stage and staff a City Entertainment Dept.? Does the city have the staff to keep 58 acres of new park? Who will guard the place at night? What kind of new lighting will be required and how will it impact surrounding neighborhoods? And the noise, the traffic of the greatest number of people using this facility?
Can Mauro show that by investing a few million in upgrades the greater number of people accessing this newly accoutered park will pay fees, buy tickets to pay city and contracted staff and the City will reap net revenues?
Just asking.
Why is it that out of 7 council members no one asks the questions Julie does? Failure will cost Mauro and others nothing. Mauro can cherry pick his new resume’ and move on and up. With Cherry Street Faber, a key player was appointed mayor. And likely will be again. Howard another player was appointed Deputy Mayor. Promotion for failure. They were next in line. People don’t pay attention. Read the city newsletter. We are GRRRREAT!!!! That simple.
At Fort Worden massive amounts of pay to the executive director who drove the FWPDA (a city entity) into the ditch. No downside for him and others. Other people’s money. Council and 2 city managers ignoring the requirement of assessing audits.
Even on the small scale, the curb bump outs by my business were supposed to get lighting for all important safety as curb bump outs were claimed to be for. Years later a pole stands without a light across the street. Unfinished business. Details. The unused pole and base were not free. Other people’s money.
Another small-scale city engineered fiasco. Dozens of times people drove into and got stuck in the new “rain garden” pits connected to bump outs to filter run off as I warned they would. It took well over a year of photos of stuck cars being towed and some damaged out to get a simple pole at one end, so cars didn’t blindly pull forward from free all-day parking posted as 2 hours and get stuck. We called the pits the tourist trap. Over and over and over. Just wait until you see what we do with Evans Vista!!!!
Broken systems. The gift that keeps on taking. When so many are compromised no one will call out the bullshit others are responsible for. Mauro starting from day one as compromised, working for compromised people in a compromised system. His track record here speaks for itself. Plenty of data there.
Many don’t trust the election process. But at least as a statement run for council, Julie, then those who elect you might pressure whatever toxic sheep remain on council to appoint you mayor. A goat among sheep. Or keep the infinity loop of those with noses stuck up each other’s behinds going on for infinity. Or until the money runs out as new grand plans are devised by known failures.
I pledge $1,000 to get that campaign for Julie going if she is willing and able Who else will step up to run for open council seats and flip the script? Who will help organize? I do know the odds of getting organized. Those who say not participating is the only way can surely do so. If elections are to be corrupted at least make them work for it.
What a lovely little town. Correction. What an ugly gigantic facade that looks lovely in just the right light when most are in the dark. Kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight.
Or not.
Update- Turns out Julie doesn’t live within the city limits and can’t run for council. Details. Also turns out those who run and get elected lose perspective on what and who they claimed they saw as problematic. Probably spared Julie from being hooked up to IV kool aid and getting PT council lobotomy syndrome. Go team!
Probably best to be an outsider in the long game anyway.
I so want to be part of saving the golf course, please keep me in the loop , Vincent Skidmore 360-774-1018 ………susan@skidmores.com It is time to blow this stupid miss-directed waste of our time and money out of the water, impeach the mayor!
Thank you Julie, for an outstanding overview of what has transpired, as well as your subsequent comment! And thank you PT Free Press for existing!!! I am greatly troubled by the City Council’s continual disconnection to reality for what is best for our community despite what the community wants. Equally troubling is the number of self-centered people in our community who lack empathy of how closing the golf course will negatively impact so many of their neighbors ~ and not just golfers. Some just can’t wait for a dog park. And Faber just wants those “barbwires” around the course to come down so he’ll feel better ~ he obviously doesn’t realize that it’s a safety issue for people to be on the course while golf is in play. I could go on and on about all the selfishness I’ve seen, it’s pathetic! Frankly, I just want to know what people want to do so badly on the golf course land that they can’t do somewhere else in town?
It’s a false premise that the value of the golf course land is determined by the number of people who use it, there are so many of us that love the green space, don’t our voices count as well?
I don’t know what can be done at this point to change this travesty, but I’m going to the meeting at the golf course today and hopefully will find out.
The following is my comment that I sent the Council before the meeting.
City Council ~
I wholeheartedly support Robert Horner’s “Golf Park” hybrid plan for the golf course!
While I’m not a golfer, I have long enjoyed the green space that our historic golf course provides. It makes me happy! It also makes me happy to know that there are so many people whose lives are enriched by using this treasure.
The contribution of entertainment and health that our historic golf course offers young people, families and seniors, is immense. This multigenerational use supports the tenet of community and should not be cast aside.
I have followed this issue for a number of years. I have attended online meetings, filled out surveys that did not follow “best practices”, toured the golf course and spoken with golfers. I was most moved though by the public comments given during the July 3rd City Council meeting where people gave so many heartfelt comments. While I was aware of the significance that the golf course offers our community members, I had no idea of the depth.
One comment in particular was the mom who addressed the issue of kids (as well as others) that would have to commute to Discovery Bay or Poulsbo. It is absolutely unacceptable for our kids to be forced to travel such distances. Why on earth would we make decisions that would force our kids to leave the community, generate carbon (which we are supposed to reduce), as well as increase the time spent on the dangerous roadways?
The Machiavellian approach the City has taken with this issue is abysmal. It has needlessly created a contentious environment causing angst among so many people that the course was up for grabs. It was obvious from the beginning that the City was chomping at the bit to eliminate and/or parcel out the course.
The challenges with the golf course are “figureoutable”, especially now with the hybrid plan. There are simple solutions to address costs, like rain barrels and solar, just to name a few. We have an amazing community of super smart people that are certainly more than capable of addressing the City’s concerns.
We don’t need a divisive and disingenuous approach, especially with land that was largely donated.
Michele Gransgaard
My first visit to this site. I am wondering if the golf course acreage was donated to the City of PT with restrictions on the deed – that it is for a golf course or airstrip? Is the deed open to view by the public through the Assessor?
The assessor will invite you to look at microfiche with 1927, etc. documents to find deeds on the golf course. The Jefferson Title Company never responded to my inquiry about title searches on the golf land. After the Envision project was underway with its alternative ideas, Carrie Hite (contracted parks strategist) indicated she had not seen the deed. I could not find the deed posted on the list of documents the City has provided so far. Can the City incur risks that jeopardize, exploit, sell off, or financialize in any way lands gifted to the people of Port Townsend?