Montgomery board approves zoning amendments, gateway sign, truck restrictions and TIF rebate; all motions pass 5-0

The Village Board of Trustees of Montgomery voted unanimously on multiple items Tuesday evening, approving two ordinance amendments related to special uses and truck restrictions, authorizing the purchase and installation of a large gateway monument sign, and directing staff to issue a recommended TIF 2 rebate to King County.

Board members said the actions were routine and consistent with staff recommendations. President Briley read the consent agenda and called for separate action items; trustees then voted on each measure with recorded 5-0 tallies.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes of the Jan. 13 meeting and an accounts-payable summary, and adopted Ordinance 21‑13 (second reading) granting a special use and related variation. Later in the meeting the board approved Ordinance 21‑12 (second reading), an amendment to a special use for outdoor storage and related variations for the northeast corner of Allcutt and Orchard Road. According to staff, the ordinance revision adopts option 1: no expiration date but ties the special use specifically to the approved site plan and landscape plans.

On gateway signage, the board approved the purchase and installation of a 21‑foot-by-7.4‑foot aluminum-acrylic monument sign to be located at the southwest corner of Orchard and Jericho, adjacent to a gas-and-wash site. Christina (staff presenter) said the sign will match phase‑1 signage, include brick elements that echo village hall and police department architecture, and that installation costs will be paid from the MDF budget rather than the general fund. The board voted 5-0 to proceed.

Regarding tax-increment financing, staff reported the village collected just under $2,000,000 in FY25 TIF 2 increment and recommended a rebate of $497,017 to taxing districts per the joint review board process. Following staff comment that no new parcels qualified to retain increment, the board voted to waive the 14‑day objection period and direct staff to issue the rebate to King County for redistribution to the other taxing districts. The motion passed 5-0.

The board also approved Ordinance 21‑14 (waiver of first/second reading sequence as applicable) to add prohibited-truck weight limits on additional village streets. Director Wolf told the board the restrictions exclude local deliveries and essential services (garbage, snow plowing) and apply to trucks over six tons to prevent cut-through truck traffic. Staff confirmed funding is available to purchase and post required signs; the board voted 5-0 on the measure.

Votes at a glance (formal actions taken): - Ordinance 21‑13, second reading, granting a special use and related variation — passed 5-0. - Ordinance 21‑12, second reading, amendment to special use for outdoor storage (N.E. corner Allcutt & Orchard) — passed 5-0. Staff clarified the approval ties the use to the approved site plan and landscaping. - Gateway monument sign purchase (21' x 7.4' aluminum/acrylic, Orchard & Jericho) — approved; funding from MDF budget; passed 5-0. - TIF 2 rebate — board waived the 14‑day objection period and directed staff to pay $497,017 to King County for distribution to taxing districts — passed 5-0. - Ordinance 21‑14, amending village code to prohibit certain trucks on designated streets (signing and enforcement required; local service exempt) — passed 5-0.

Board members voting "Yes": Trustee Geier; Trustee Sperling; Trustee Bauman; Trustee Youngerman; Trustee Brzozka. No abstentions or negative votes were recorded.

President Briley closed the business portion and the board moved on to two lengthy presentations on pavement management and the water revenue/rate study later in the agenda.