Seeking feedback from community members, the City of Yelm is conducting a survey to find out how residents perceive the city-owned 640-acre property and the different options for development.
Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto said 44% of respondents so far live within the 98597 zip code; 51% of respondents have children or grandchildren in Yelm Community Schools; 64% of respondents do not work in Yelm; and 89% utilize Yelm’s services, like parks and recreation programming.
After the initial questions, the survey presents some check-box options seeking what top three recreational amenities or opportunities residents would like to see at the 640 acres including fields for a variety of sporting events; an indoor sports and recreation complex; pathways and trails for hiking and biking; parks and open spaces; an aquatics center or swimming pool; or a write-in option.
DePinto said the top three amenities listed so far are No. 1: an aquatic center or swimming pool; No. 2, an indoor sports and recreation center; and No. 3, pathways and trails for hiking and biking.
The final survey question asks if the 640 acres were developed into a master plan community, what residents’ three biggest concerns would be? Answer options include water availability, environmental impacts, sewer impacts, traffic and roads, increased taxes, urban sprawl, schools and a write-in option.
DePinto said the top three biggest concerns so far are No. 1, traffic, roads and road conditions; No. 2, increased traffic; and No. 3, schools.
People can fill out the survey online at https://s.surveyplanet.com/85s475hu.
“At this point there have been 874 people who have taken the survey, and it has been valuable for the council and myself to better understand how the people of our community view this project and what their general thoughts are on different paths the council can take,” DePinto said Sept. 17. “It is important for the council and I to hear what the people we serve want. While ultimately we want more of our constituents to fill out the survey, we want to hear from people with a 98597 zip code because they often shop, work and have children that go to school in Yelm. They are part of our community.
“I do want to emphasize that my priority for the 640 is to ensure we continue the four-lane road that will alleviate traffic congestion in that area,” DePinto added. “The southern loop will continue from the medical plaza intersection all the way to the state highway heading to Rainier. Council seems to support the southern loop and traffic reduction overall.”
