THE GOVERNMENT: Road, water, sewer fixes eyed to attract more businesses:

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Progress Sunday, March 17, 2002 Joe Nicholson/The Olympian Shelly Badger (left) is Yelm's city administrator, and Catherine Carlson is the city's planner. Rivas THE GOVERNMENT: Road, water, sewer fixes eyed to attract more businesses LORRINE THOMPSON THE OLYMPIAN YELM -- Yelm Mayor Adam Rivas has a vision. It involves Gov. Gary Locke and a handful of legislators commuting to work at the Capitol every day through Yelm, along state Route 510, where the city's central traffic light will turn green and red a few times before a car will get through it at rush hour. Maybe it's more of a wish than a vision, but Rivas wouldn't mind some state government folks getting a first-hand look at how clogged up this particular state highway can get. Since that highway runs through the center of Yelm, Rivas and other city officials see the traffic problem as a roadblock -- no pun intended -- to the continuation of Yelm's lively growth. "Until we get the governor commuting through Yelm every day to work, or a bunch of legislators, then we're going to need some help," Rivas said. An alternate route around Yelm's core, one that would take truckers and passers-through away from downtown traffic, has been in the city's plans for nearly a decade. It is a primary focus of city leaders for improving conditions downtown, though it likely will not begin for years, said City Administrator Shelly Badger. The project is estimated to cost more than $20 million, and is not yet on the state funding list, she said. Rivas believes once the project is completed -- it's been dubbed the "Y2-Y3" route for years -- "then I see a large growth spurt happening." It would not be the first growth spurt to happen to Yelm, and city government leaders have been working to encourage the commercial growth, while making sure it fits with the city. Zoning regulations for the core downtown don't allow industrial or auto-related businesses, and encourage building up to the street front, where business is easily accessible for walkers. A project to include planters and sidewalks in front of new commercial growth will encourage walking and add a connection from the traditional city core. The city also has plans for a rail connection to the north, and is focusing on acquisition of water rights and transfers for the future, Rivas said. To jump-start the last growth spurt, the city built a new sewer system and a cutting-edge water reclamation plant. The city recently approved a water rate increase to upgrade its system even more. The idea behind making water and sewer available and easing traffic problems is to "try to encourage new business owners to at least look at Yelm," Rivas said. The benefit behind that, other than added shopping choices? "Increasing the income levels in our community is one," Rivas said. A vital downtown and commercial core provides jobs, services to elderly and others who can't travel to distant cities, revenues that help the city government maintain roads and parks and other city services, and more, say city leaders. The idea is to better provide for the residents of Yelm and its outlying communities, by encouraging business growth, but also managing it. "It's not easy," Rivas said, "finding that perfect balance." On the Web: Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce Gov. Gary Locke The Olympian Copyright 2002 back to main Progress index

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