Yelm planning commission approves rezoning of annexed parcels to residential

The Yelm Planning Commission on June 16 approved rezoning several parcels added to the city through a recent annexation, moving land previously zoned industrial and commercial into residential designations to reflect local access constraints and adjacent housing.

City staff told commissioners the land — part of about 1,200 acres annexed into the city — contains narrow, dead-ended roads that make industrial truck traffic impractical and that several property owners had requested residential zoning. "Those parcels back there would have to go through two large turns and they're pretty narrow roadways to get semi-trucks or industrial traffic through there," planner Cody said, arguing that residential traffic would better suit local streets and abut existing residential zoning.

Staff presented four rezoning groupings: multiple parcels from industrial to R6 (moderate density, minimum three and maximum six units per acre), ten parcels from industrial to R4 (up to four units per acre), another set of industrial parcels to R6, and two parcels adjacent to the Safeway shopping center from C1 (commercial) to R16. Staff said one of the C1 parcels is already developed as Salmon Run Apartments and that rezoning would surround the developed parcel with consistent residential zoning.

During public comment, Bill Rothwell identified himself as the executor of his late father's estate and said the family has cared for the property for more than 50 years. "There is some oak on there — mostly toward the canal part of the land — but the rest of it isn't oak," Rothwell said, urging commission attention to which areas are designated critical habitat. City staff responded that critical-area rules will constrain how parcels with oak habitat can be developed and that protected areas would likely be set aside as tracts or require performance standards to protect root zones.

Commissioners asked how the rezones align with other local proposals, including a previously discussed athletic-complex location, and staff said the mayor's planning for an athletic complex has shifted and other sites are under consideration. After discussion, a motion to approve the rezones as listed passed; the chair announced the motion carried.

The commission’s action changes the official zoning for the named parcels and will guide future subdivision and development reviews under city code; staff noted the rezones were processed after annexation so municipal land-use authority applies. The commission moved on to a separate public hearing on updates to the Unified Development Code later in the meeting.