Council accepts first reading of Monroe 2044 citywide rezone ordinance

Monroe — The Monroe City Council on Tuesday conducted a public hearing and voted 7-0 to accept first reading of Ordinance 006/2025, which would adopt the Monroe 2044 citywide rezone and related amendments to Monroe Municipal Code Title 22.

Planning Manager Kate Turtello told the council the rezone is the first phase of implementing the city’s new comprehensive plan adopted in December and is intended to align zoning with the forecasted 2044 needs for people, housing and jobs. “The recommendation for your consideration this evening is … accept first reading of Ordinance 006/2025 to adopt the Monroe 2044 citywide rezone and associated amendments to the Monroe Municipal Code Title 22 Unified Development Regulations,” Turtello said during her presentation.

The rezone proposal changes multiple zones across the city. Key changes presented include converting much of the former R‑4 (single‑family) zoning to R‑7 (7 units per acre), designating some northwest city limit areas from Residential‑4 to Mixed Use‑General, returning two Smith Brother parcels on North Kelsey to General Commercial, and phasing out the Transportation zoning district and the R‑4 classification from the zoning tables. Turtello said the shift from R‑4 to R‑7 helps the city meet county and annexation-related minimum density expectations and the 20‑year growth forecast.

During the hearing resident Hank Wirtz asked whether accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules in the draft would override private homeowners association covenants; Senior Planner Amy Bright later told the council the state changes do not allow cities to supersede HOA restrictions, so homeowners associations would need to change CC&Rs themselves. Council member Scarborough voiced concern about single‑family lots potentially being redeveloped at higher densities, saying, “it seems to me that this is a step towards making the people that live in single family housings … lose your single family house to something that's more dense.” Planning staff acknowledged the potential for greater development intensity on properties that change zoning but noted that existing bulk standards and development processes still apply.

Council member Beaumont moved to accept first reading of Ordinance 006/2025; Council member Gamble seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as Fulcher, Beaumont, Hanford, Walker, Gamble, Fisher and Scarborough — all voting yes, motion passes 7‑0.

The ordinance as drafted also repeals Chapter 22.30 (the Transportation zoning district), removes the R‑4 designation from code tables and updates bulk standards tables in chapters identified by staff. Turtello and staff said additional implementation work remains (they called this “phase 1”) and further policy and code changes will follow.

The council closed the public hearing before the motion and first‑reading vote. Staff indicated written comments submitted to the clerk had been forwarded to council members before the hearing. Turtello said property owners affected by the rezone received mailed notice and that one inquiry from the Strawberry Lane neighborhood did not involve a rezone area.

Council members did not request amendments before accepting first reading; staff said alternatives would include continuing the hearing, directing modifications, or declining first reading. The council’s vote advances the ordinance to the next steps in the legislative process.

The city clerk will publish the official minutes and ordinance language; additional public comment and subsequent council action (including second reading or final adoption) were not completed at the May 13 meeting.