diff --git a/src/app/api/eterra/uats/route.ts b/src/app/api/eterra/uats/route.ts
index f9e4f4f..3664663 100644
--- a/src/app/api/eterra/uats/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/eterra/uats/route.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,49 @@ import { getSessionCredentials } from "@/modules/parcel-sync/services/session-st
 export const runtime = "nodejs";
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+/*  Feature count cache (expensive query, cached 5 min)                */
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+const gCache = globalThis as {
+  __featureCountCache?: { map: Map<string, number>; ts: number };
+};
+
+async function getCachedFeatureCounts(): Promise<Map<string, number>> {
+  const TTL = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 minutes
+  const now = Date.now();
+
+  if (gCache.__featureCountCache && now - gCache.__featureCountCache.ts < TTL) {
+    return gCache.__featureCountCache.map;
+  }
+
+  // Run in background if cache exists but expired (return stale, refresh async)
+  if (gCache.__featureCountCache) {
+    void refreshFeatureCounts();
+    return gCache.__featureCountCache.map;
+  }
+
+  // First call: must wait
+  return refreshFeatureCounts();
+}
+
+async function refreshFeatureCounts(): Promise<Map<string, number>> {
+  try {
+    const groups = await prisma.gisFeature.groupBy({
+      by: ["siruta"],
+      _count: { id: true },
+    });
+    const map = new Map<string, number>();
+    for (const g of groups) {
+      map.set(g.siruta, g._count.id);
+    }
+    gCache.__featureCountCache = { map, ts: Date.now() };
+    return map;
+  } catch {
+    return gCache.__featureCountCache?.map ?? new Map();
+  }
+}
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 /*  Types                                                              */
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
@@ -119,37 +162,25 @@ function unwrapArray(data: any): any[] {
 /*  No eTerra credentials needed — instant response.                   */
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 
-export async function GET(req: Request) {
+export async function GET() {
   try {
-    const url = new URL(req.url);
-    const withFeatures = url.searchParams.get("features") === "true";
-
     // CRITICAL: select only needed fields — geometry column has huge polygon data
     const rows = await prisma.gisUat.findMany({
       orderBy: { name: "asc" },
       select: { siruta: true, name: true, county: true, workspacePk: true },
     });
 
-    // Feature counts are expensive (scans entire GisFeature table)
-    // Only include when explicitly requested
-    let featureCounts: Map<string, number> | null = null;
-    if (withFeatures) {
-      const groups = await prisma.gisFeature.groupBy({
-        by: ["siruta"],
-        _count: { id: true },
-      });
-      featureCounts = new Map<string, number>();
-      for (const g of groups) {
-        featureCounts.set(g.siruta, g._count.id);
-      }
-    }
+    // Feature counts: use in-memory cache (refreshed every 5 min)
+    // The groupBy query is expensive (~25s without cache) but the data
+    // changes rarely (only when sync jobs run)
+    const featureCounts = await getCachedFeatureCounts();
 
     const uats: UatResponse[] = rows.map((r) => ({
       siruta: r.siruta,
       name: r.name,
       county: r.county ?? "",
       workspacePk: r.workspacePk ?? 0,
-      localFeatures: featureCounts?.get(r.siruta) ?? 0,
+      localFeatures: featureCounts.get(r.siruta) ?? 0,
     }));
 
     // Populate in-memory workspace cache for search route