The following data is a copy of 1997 material handed out to the public at a meeting, June 8, 1999. The meeting was conducted by Grays Harbor County Planning Division at the Sharon Grange. The purpose of the meeting was to gather citizen viewpoints concerning land use and development issues.

The meeting was one of several held by Grays Harbor County. In each meeting (over two evenings) residents sat at tables and discussed several questions dealing with land use. The results of these discussions will be assembled by employees of the County and made available to residents later in 1999.


1997 Grays Harbor County Landuse Inventory Survey

Please answer the following questions as head of your household.

1.) Street Address & Parcel (Not Applicable)

2.) Do you own or rent the property listed above?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Own 98% 98%
Rent 2% 2%
Total 100% (1994 responses) 100% (4188 responses)

3.) Please check your residency status

- East County Grays Harbor County
Full-time resident 89% 71%
Seasonal resident 9% 19%
Nonresidential Landowner 2% 10%
Total 100% (1998 responses) 100% (4164 responses)
- - -

4.) Please check which of the following was your primary consideration in purchasing and/or residing at this location

- East County Grays Harbor County
Aesthetics 10% 13%
Cost of property 20% 23%
Cost of rent 2% 2%
Location 51% 67%
Other 10% 0%
Work 7% 9%
Total 100% (2497 responses) 100% (4052 responses)
- - -

5.) How far is the round trip travel distance (in miles) to and from your workplace?

- East County Grays Harbor County
1 to 10 miles 33% 32%
11 to 25 miles 30% 31%
26 to 75 miles 29% 28%
76 or more miles 8% 9%
Total 100% (1753 responses) 100% (2613 responses)

6.) Which of the following best describe the employment status of person(s) in your household?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Employed 39% 37%
Home Business 3% 4%
Retired 37% 41%
Self-employed 11% 13%
Unemployed 6% 5%
Total 100% (3381 responses) 100% (6938 responses)

7.) Do you think of your community as:

- East County Grays Harbor County
Rural 65% 62%
Suburban 14% 11%
Resort 1% 9%
Fanning 10% 7%
Urban 2% 2%
Bedroom 4% 3%
Retirement 3% 6%
Other 1% 0%
Total 100% (I 874 responses) 100% (3471 responses)

8.) How long have -you lived or owned property in Grays Harbor County?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Less that 5 years 11% 12%
5-15 years 22% 65%
Over 15 years 67% 23%
Total 100% (1933 responses) 100% (3852 responses)

9.) How many people currently reside in your household?

- East County Grays Harbor County
1 to 2 persons 65% 70%
3 to 4 persons 28% 24%
5 or more persons 7% 6%
Total 100% (1865 responses) 100% (3852 responses)
- - -

10.) How many people drive in your household?

- East County Grays Harbor County
I to 2 persons 83% 86%
3 to 4 persons 16% 13%
5 or more persons 1% 1%
Total 100% (1833 responses) 100% (3815 responses)

11.) How many vehicles are owned by members of your household?

- East County Grays Harbor County
I vehicle 14% 20%
2 vehicles 42% 51%
3 to 4 vehicles 37% 34%
5 or more vehicles 7% 7%
Total 100% (1 822 responses) 100% (3163 responses)
- - -

12.) What types, and how many, vehicles need to be parked at this household or location?

- East County - Grays Harbor County -
- Number Percentage Number Percentage
RV's 562 29% 1264 28%
Heavy Truck(s) 292 12% 541 10%
Light Truck(s) 1675 73% 3156 66%
Boat(s) 396 18% 709 15%
Construction Equip. 223 5% 323 4%
Passenger Car(s) 2321 89% 4808 86%
Other 379 15% 656 13%
- - Total 100% (1739 respondents) - 100% (3586 respondents)

The number, 1739, represents the number of people responding at least once to Question 12.

The number of people who responded that they own a particular vehicle-type is represented as a percentage of the total number of people responding to Question 12.

13.) In order for us to better estimate the potential for traffic congestion and the need for road maintenance in your area, please indicate where your workplace(s) is located (Olympia, Aberdeen, Westport, etc.).

- East County Grays Harbor County
Workplace location by incorporated cities - -
Aberdeen 33% 31%
Cosmopolis 3% 2%
Elma 12% 7%
Hoquiam 6% 10%
McCleary 5% 3%
Montesano 11% 7%
Oakville 1% 1%
Ocean Shores 0% 2%
Westport 1% 5%
- - -
Workplace location by unincorporated areas - -
Aloha 0% 0%
Amanda Park 0% 1%
Artic 0% 0%
Brady 1% 0%
Central Park 1% 1%
Copalis Beach 0% 0%
Copalis Crossing 0% 0%
Grayland 0% 1%
Humptulips 0% 0%
Junction City 0% 0%
Malone 0% 0%
Moclips 0% 0%
Neilton 0% 0%
Ocean City 0% 0%
Ocosta 0% 0%
Pacific Beach 0% 0%
Porter 0% 0%
Quinault 0% 1%
Satsop 1% 0%
Taholah 0% 0%
Wishkah 0% 0%
- - -
Other workplace locations - -
- - -
Within the County 2% 3%
Outside the County 23% 19%
Total 100% (1716 responses) 100% (2952 responses)

14.) Check the services that you use at this household or location

- East County Grays Harbor County
Mail Delivery 90% 70%
E-911 80% 73%
Storm Drainage Facilities 5% 8%
Sidewalks 3% 5%
Public Sewer 4% 8%
Roads 87% 82%
Flood Control 4% 5%
Public Parks 11% 12%
Ambulance 61% 55%
Phone 94% 85%
Garbage Collection 74% 64%
UPS/Fedex 58% 49%
School Bus 30% 25%
Fire 81% 75%
Septic Tank Pumping 69% 62%
Cable TV 64% 63%
Oil &/or Gas 17% 19%
PUD 91% 85%
Vanpools 1% 1%
Other County Services 8% 7%
Total 100% (1745 responses) 100% 3572 responses)

15.) What are the occupations of person(s) in your household?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Agriculture 3% 3%
Forestry & Fisheries 5% 5%
Mining 1% 0%
Construction 5% 5%
Manufacturing 7% 5%
Distributive Services 10% 8%
Producer Services 30% 34%
Social Services 25% 24%
Personal Services 6% 5%
Disabled 1% 1%
Retired 6% 6%
Other 3% 4%
Total 100% (2078 responses) 100% (3767 responses)

16.) How many houses per acre would you support for your neighborhood (a football field is slightly larger than I acre)?

- East County Grays Harbor County
4 or more dwellings/acre 7% 14%
2 dwellings/acres 22% 23%
1 dwelling/acre 29% 28%
1 dwelling/5 acres 27% 22%
1 dwellings/10 acres 8% 6%
1 dwelling/20 acres 1% 1%
I dwelling/40 acres 4% 1%
Total 100% (1701 responses) 100% (3427 responses)

17.) How close should you be able to build to your property line?

- East County Grays Harbor County
1 to 5 feet 19% 21%
6 to 10 feet 28% 33%
11 to 25 feet 29% 27%
26 to 50 feet 16% 12%
51 to 75 feet 1% 1%
76 feet or more 7% 7%
Total 100% (1598 responses) 100% (3246 responses)

18.) Would you object to a commercial or industrial use such as an autobody shop, beauty shop, or mini-storage locating in your neighbor's garage?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 49% 58%
No 37% 30%
No Opinion 14% 12%
Total 100% (1807 responses) 100% (3783 responses)

19.) Have you ever incurred financial losses at your site due to the occurrence of one or more of the following?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Flood 34% 25%
Fire 13% 13%
Landslide 3% 3%
Water Quality 9% 11%
Septic System Failure 11% 11%
Water Quantity 13% 14%
Other 17% 23%
Total 100% (599 responses) 100% (1251 responses)

20.) Do these occurrences happen over and over again where you live?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 18% 17%
No 82% 83%
Total 100% 1375 responses) 100% (2865 responses)

21.) Would you object to a technical, health, or research type business or industry locating in your area?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 58% 44%
No 30% 41%
No Opinion 12% 15%
Total 100% (1787 response) 100% (3801 responses)

22.) What might cause you to move from your present location?

Responses for Grays Harbor County (number of responses as percentage of total responses for each category of cause)

Cause to Move Total Responses Central Park South Beach East County North Beach Other Areas
Age & Health 646 129 [19.9%] 95 [14.7%] 132 [20.4%] 86 [13.3%] 203 [31.4%]
Personal Finances & Work 1,318 232 [17.6%] 160 [12.1%] 307 [23.3%) 240 (18.2%] 466 [35.3%]
Character of Development 960 187 [19.5%] III [11.6%] 248 [25.8%] 105 [10.9%] 309 (32.2%]
Government Regulation 175 15 [8.6%] 25 [14.3%] 50 [28.6%] 17 [9.7%] 68 [38.8%]
Natural Hazards 239 23 [9.6%] 45 [18.8%] 30 [12.5%] 70 [29.3%] 71 [29.7%]

(number of responses as percentage of total responses for each area of county)

Cause to Move Total Responses Central Park South Beach East County North Beach Other Areas
Age & Health 646 [19.3%] 129 [22.0%] 95 [21.8%] 132 [17.2%] 86 [16.6%] 203 [18.1%]
Personal Finances & Work 1,318 [39.5%] 232 [39.6%] 160 [36.7%] 307 [40.0%] 240 [46.3%] 466 [41.7%]
Character of Development 960 [28.7%] 187 [31.9%] 111 [25.4%] 248 [32.3%] 105 [20.2%] 309 [27.6%]
Government Regulation 175 [5.2%] 15 [2.5%] 25 [5.7%] 50 [6.6%] 17 [3.3%] 68 [6.1%]
Natural Hazards 239 [7.1%] 23 [3.9%] 45 [10.3%] 30 [3.9%] 70 [13.5%] 71 [6.3%]
TOTAL RESPONSES 3,338 586 436 767 518 1,117

23.) Would you object to a commercial or industrial use such as a gravel pit, warehouse, or wood processing facility locating in your neighborhood ?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 74% 73%
No 18% 18%
No Opinion 8% 9%
Total 100% (1835 responses) 100% (3866 responses)

24.) Who should bear the cost of maintaining and upgrading public services in your area? (Results compiled separately)

25.) How close should your neighbor be able to build to their property line?

- East County Grays Harbor County
1 to 5 feet 18% 20%
6 to 10 feet 28% 32%
11 to 25 feet 29% 27%
26 to 50 feet 16% 13%
51 to 75 feet 1% 1%
76 or more feet 8% 7%
Total 100% (1595 responses) 100% (responses 3266)

26.) List 3 specific public works projects you would like the County to pursue. (Results compiled separated)

27.) Who should bear the costs of providing public services to new development?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Development 70% 75%
Community 12% 12%
Future Owner 13% 13%
All 5% 0%
Total 100% (1634 responses) 100% (3222 responses)

28.) Do you think it is important to regulate the number, location, and size of buildings on a lot?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 72% 74%
No 16% 15%
No Opinion 12% 11%
Total 100% (1733 responses) 100% (3679 responses)

29.) What kinds of improvements should be provided by new development?

Within the New Development - -
- East County Grays Harbor County
Lot Surveys 85% 80%
Paved Roads 80% 75%
Gravel Roads 33% 33%
Underground Utilities 88% 83%
Sidewalks 52% 47%
Storm Drainage Retention 76% 75%
Street Lighting/Signage 73% 69%
Others 3% 3%
Total 100% (1456 responses) 100% (3139 responses)
- - -
Outside the New Development - -
- East County Grays Harbor County
Road/Bridge Capacity Imp. 75% 66%
School Impact Fees 66% 62%
Utility Capacity Imp. 72% 66%
Park/Recreation Impact Fees 37% 37%
Flood Storage Capacity Imp. 62% 58%
Drainage Facility Imp. 77% 71%
Street Lighting/Signage 62% 56%
Sidewalks 37% 32%
Other 3% 3%
Total 100% (I 107 responses) 100% (2530 responses)

30.) Which costs should the following be responsible for? (Results compiled separately)

31.) Should roads in new development be privately owned and maintained?

- East County Grays Harbor County
Yes 25% 27%
No 53% 51%
No Opinion 22% 23%
Total 100% (1574 responses) 100% (3332 responses)

32.) Anything else you would like to tell us? (Results compiled separately)




Back to Whats New Index Page
Back to CRC Index Page
Back to Grays Harbor County Issues Index Page

This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council

Now, you can Search this  Chehalis River Council site!