Mayor Ed Welter talks about Westport with KXRO News
Environmental Impact Study
The city of Westport is currently undergoing an Environmental Impact Study with Washington State Parks, specifically for the proposed golf course. Mayor Welter says that the study is ultimately about so much more than golf. “The State Park takes up about 605 acres in the middle of Westport, that’s one third the land mass of the city. Anything that impacts that park is going to have a huge impact on Westport. The EIS study is really going to determine what can and can’t be done with that property.”
Also worth noting, there is only one commissioned ranger for all the South Beach parks- Westport Light, Twin Harbors, Bottle Beach, and Grayland State Park. Mayor Welter expressed concern how one ranger can patrol such a large area.
Fire Risk
Westport recently had a Fire Wise assessment done by the Department of Natural Resources. In that study there is documentation about how an uncontrolled wildfire from those 605 acres of unmaintained pine forest could not be contained. The State Park uses DNR to handle fire response and it would take them an hour to arrive.
“When you have an unmanaged pine forest right next to a pile of dune and beach grass, that is a recipe for problems.” says Welter. “It only takes one bonfire on the beach with the wrong winds. South Beach Regional Fire Authority has said if a fire were to start and hit Ocean Avenue they would have no ability to stop it.”
Mayor Welter is talking with the State Parks Commission and working on how to partner for the future of Westport.
Beach Access and Safety
A series of winter storms has created safety concerns for beachgoers Westport Light State Park.
Mayor Welter also addressed the shore erosion with State Parks, specifically the situation of getting down to the sand at Westport Light State Park. “State parks is responsible for the mile of beach at the jetty,” says Welter. “Part of that is currently abutted by a 20 foot sand face. That is unsafe. In 2003 a young man died when an eight foot sand face collapsed on him at North Cove. We have a park that has 443,000 visitors each year and we have a public safety hazard to access the beach.”
Mayor Welter wants to see this addressed quickly as summer is just around the corner.
(Related story- Surfers Make Trails More Accessible)
Four Million Dollar Pacific Professional Building
The city council voted to purchase the Pacific Professional Building. While some residents expressed their concerns over such a large expense, Mayor Welter says it’s about looking at the bigger picture and the long term growth of Westport. “Things are piecemealed around the city in buildings that are not designed for what they are doing. The city streets department is in an old library. The police department is in an old bank. This is an opportunity to put all our resources in a building designed for professional use. This will also give us space to provide for medical facilities.”
Town Square
Mayor Welter would like to see a future town square or hub in the center of town once the other city services have moved into the Pacific Professional Building. “Westport doesn’t have a town square feel to it. This is an opportunity for the city to create a community center, youth activities, a bigger community garden, and combine that with some business space, and workforce housing.”
More details are in this longer interview The Drift had with Mayor Welter in March.