Monroe planners review 2024 work program, set course for 2025 priorities including citywide rezone and critical‑areas update

MONROE — At its Dec. 9 meeting the Monroe Planning Commission reviewed its 2024 work program and discussed priorities and timelines for 2025, including completing the implementation steps of the city’s comprehensive plan, a citywide rezone tied to activation of the Unified Development Regulations (UDR), an update to the critical‑areas regulations and code amendments to implement commute‑trip provisions and downtown zone edits.

Kate, planning staff, gave the year‑end review and said 2024 work centered on the Monroe 2024 comprehensive plan. "2024 was really all about the Monroe 2024 comprehensive plan, and sprinkled in there, you got some introduction to middle housing. You also successfully completed reviewing code amendments to the downtown commercial zoning district," Kate told commissioners.

Key items and timelines discussed

- Unified Development Regulations (UDR): Staff said an earlier timeline was optimistic; the UDR activation and related citywide rezone have been moved out and staff expects completion by June 2025.

- Critical areas update: Staff noted the update is not required until December 2025 and that the department expects to use the full period available to complete that work.

- Middle housing and multifamily incentives: Commissioners were told that middle‑housing work was added to the 2024 work plan after the city adopted a housing action plan and that grant funding has been secured to support related work, including a multifamily tax exemption effort.

- Commute trip/production act/code amendment: Anita and staff will bring a code amendment in Q1 2025 tied to a state requirement for jurisdictions with employers of 100 or more employees who arrive between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.; staff identified the Department of Corrections, the school district and Canyon Creek as relevant large employers.

- Downtown commercial zone and sign code: Commissioners discussed downtown zoning edits that were added after the city purchased property and after recent enforcement cases. Staff said sign code clarifications are being considered for a future phase (Phase 2) and gave the example of a local business, Sushi Spot, working with staff to reduce its window signage to comply with the 20% maximum area rule.

Staff noted several items added to the packet that were not anticipated earlier in the year and that some projects will carry into 2025. Kate told the commission she and her team will return with a proposed program of work, likely in early February, and that the City Council will formally adopt the commission’s program once the commission and staff finalize it.

Recruitment and transitions: The commission thanked departing members Jay Bull and Liz Nugent for their service and discussed ongoing recruitment; staff noted the mayor may appoint one resident who lives within the city’s urban growth area (UGA) if city applicants are not available.

Why it matters: The items under discussion include state‑mandated updates (critical areas) and locally significant actions (citywide rezone, downtown zoning, middle housing). Those decisions shape where and how housing and development can occur in Monroe.

Next steps: Staff will begin work on required items in January, return a draft program of work in February, and present code amendments to the commission and, as required, to City Council.