Plan Commission recommends deleting DR‑8 district and reclassifying areas to TR‑10 in zoning text amendment

The Monroe Plan Commission voted to recommend a zoning-text amendment to delete the DR‑8 district and reclassify affected areas into the TR‑10 zone.

Zoning staff (Shannon) presented examples showing how single-family and two-unit dwellings might be arranged on smaller lots and noted the draft code would allow a minimum of approximately 3,500 square feet per dwelling unit in some configurations. Staff showed alley-loaded and non-alley examples, discussed garage size constraints and said market demand may limit how many owners choose two‑unit designs on smaller lots. She also reviewed on-street parking characteristics (60-foot right-of-way, approximately 30-foot pavement width) and said that if parking on both sides becomes common, carriage of large vehicles could narrow travel lanes; remedies include one-sided parking restrictions or limits on vehicle sizes.

During the public hearing, Jim Mueller, who said he owns a lot in the area, asked the commission to consider snow removal challenges associated with smaller-lot layouts and where plows will place pushed snow.

The commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend the text amendment. Staff said the item still requires judicial/ordinance steps and will likely go to council in early 2026 after the holidays.

Why it matters: Eliminating DR‑8 and moving to TR‑10 will change permitted housing configurations and could allow more diverse housing types on smaller lots; it may also prompt policy choices about parking and snow-removal practices.

Next steps: Staff will complete ordinance language and return the item to the council for introduction and further hearings, likely in February 2026.