Planning staff report highlights Monroe 30 annexation, proposed 4‑story Evergreen Health hospital and comp‑plan map changes

At the planning commission meeting on Nov. 25, staff summarized September and October community‑development activity and key pending projects that could shape Monroe’s growth, including the Monroe 30 annexation, a pre‑application for a larger Evergreen Health hospital, and final steps on the city’s comprehensive‑plan map.

Hannah, a staff member who presented the monthly reports, said September’s highlights included a pre‑application for a proposal to convert an existing RV/boat storage site into a 55‑townhome development and a tenant‑improvement (TI) for a new Starbucks on State Route 2. She reported that in September the department issued 0 detached dwelling unit building permits and 3 commercial TIs, performed 192 inspections, opened 13 code enforcement cases and closed 20, and processed about 190 total business licenses. Hannah also said staff and code enforcement conducted a temporary sign cleanup that removed “almost 90” unpermitted signs.

The commission heard updates on October activity, where Hannah said building permits and inspections increased relative to September. She identified Stanton Station — a previously approved 22‑lot townhome final plat recorded in February 2024 — as a project expected to begin construction soon. Wendy’s binding site plan has approval pending final recording and building permit submissions, she said. Hannah also reported work on contract language for a new permitting system and noted that a permit technician had resigned and taken a position with Lake Stevens.

Kate, a staff member working on the comprehensive‑plan update, briefed commissioners on recent public‑hearing outcomes. She said City Council accepted the Planning Commission’s recommendation with two requested changes to the future land‑use map: removal of the mixed‑use designation for the Strawberry Lane neighborhood (south of the hospital) and a change affecting Chain Lake Road’s designation (transitioning to residential designations rather than mixed use). Kate said those two changes did not affect the city’s ability to meet its 2044 growth targets or housing allocations by income level and that the revised plan would go back to council for a first reading on Dec. 3.

On the Monroe 30 annexation, staff explained a recent procedural hurdle: WSDOT owns part of Tester Road (part of SR‑522 right‑of‑way), which complicated the annexation boundary. Hannah said the applicant refiled legal documents and that an interlocal agreement with Snohomish County was required; the city council approved that interlocal agreement and County approval is expected by year‑end. Staff said the city will not finalize the annexation until the related development agreement is approved and until the Boundary Review Board (BRB) process is complete; staff expressed hope the annexation will proceed in Q1 2025.

Hannah said the Monroe 30 pre‑application in October proposed 181 detached single‑family units and 40 townhome units (221 total lots) and included a boundary line adjustment to create an outparcel. Staff noted parkland dedication and a required mix of housing types would be part of the negotiated development agreement with City Council.

Commissioners also discussed a pre‑application from Evergreen Health for a new four‑story hospital on the existing hospital footprint. Staff said the proposal would significantly expand services locally but is not funded; Hannah and commissioners noted Evergreen would likely need to pursue bond financing and that separate public‑hospital district governance and financing arrangements complicate the process.

Kate and staff described outreach and noticing challenges during the comprehensive‑plan update. Kate said the city exceeded state notice requirements in many respects but that a mail‑merge glitch caused one neighborhood to miss initial postcard notice, which contributed to heightened last‑minute public concern. Kate said staff will consider earlier targeted postcards when future land‑use changes are first discussed to improve early awareness.

Nut graf: The updates show multiple, concurrent development processes — annexation, a large residential preliminary plan, hospital expansion planning, and code and map updates — that are at different stages of review and subject to interlocal approvals, Boundary Review Board processes and, in the case of the hospital, potential bond financing. Those processes shape where and how Monroe will accommodate future population and service needs.

Ending: Staff gave timeline signals: the Monroe 30 annexation and related interlocal agreement should clear early 2025 if county and BRB actions proceed as expected, the comprehensive‑plan ordinance first reading is scheduled for Dec. 3, and Evergreen Health’s hospital concept remains a pre‑application until financing and formal applications arrive.