Manufacturing Consent to Override Public Will, Destroy a Community Legacy, Inflate City Debt
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.
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Top photo shows the “save our golf course” yard sign (inset)
now displayed throughout Port Townsend.
Photos: Julie Jaman