Monroe Planning Commission unanimously recommends 2025–26 comprehensive plan amendments, including Davis UGA expansion

The Monroe Planning Commission on July 13 unanimously voted to recommend that the City Council approve the 2025–26 Comprehensive Plan amendments, including a future land use designation for the Davis UGA expansion and mapping corrections for the Smith Brothers and two Park Street properties. Commissioner Carla moved adoption of the draft findings of fact and conclusions of law; Commissioner Mary seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Planning staff presenter Amy Bright said the proposal covers three primary amendment areas: the Davis UGA expansion; a future land use correction for the Smith Brothers property; and mapping corrections for two Park Street parcels. Bright told commissioners Snohomish County previously expanded Monroe's urban growth area through a county ordinance and the city's amendment would assign a Residential 1 designation to the Davis area to align the comp plan with the city's pre‑annexation R7 zoning.

Bright explained R7 zoning typically implements Residential 1 and allows up to seven dwelling units per acre for detached housing and up to 14 units per acre for attached housing. She said the county's planning assumption for the Davis properties was about 62 dwelling units and roughly 179 residents, while the city's Residential 1 scenarios project approximately 103–122 dwelling units depending on future housing mix. For the Smith Brothers property staff reported reallocating planned capacity from approximately 16 employees under a General Commercial designation to roughly 5–10 dwelling units under Residential 2; the Park Street corrections were described as map adjustments that do not change planned housing or employment capacity.

On infrastructure, Bright said the school district reports sufficient capacity for additional students in the area and the city's Public Works Design and Construction department found Chain Lake Road has sufficient traffic capacity for development in the Davis expansion; water and sewer capacity were also reported as adequate.

Bright said staff finds the amendments consistent with the Monroe 2044 Comprehensive Plan (citing Goal 3.1 and Policy 3.1.7) and noted the package has been submitted to the Washington Department of Commerce for a 60‑day review ending in late August before it moves to City Council for a public hearing and final action.

The Planning Commission's recommendation covers updates to the future land use map, the buildable lands inventory, revisions to land use tables and figures, housing table 6.8 and associated growth allocation, housing capacity and employment projections. The commission closed the public hearing after staff confirmed no public testimony had been submitted.

Next steps: With the Planning Commission recommendation recorded, the amendments will undergo the Department of Commerce review period and then proceed to Monroe City Council for public hearing and final decision.