Comprehensive Plan Update

Monroe Tomorrow – City Council Approved (03/26/2018)

Comprehensive Plan Update Process Status:

In October 2017, City of Monroe began the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan is a stated mandated 20-year development plan that provides information, analysis, and policy recommendations that help guide the City’s decision-making process. Monroe’s Comp. Plan was adopted in 1979 and has had minor updates in 1980 and 1986. The first part of the process is to have a community conversation about the future of the community, the vision people have for Monroe, and the aspirations we share for how it changes in the future. This will provide the framework for establishing new City Council adopted policies guiding decisions on needed updates to the zoning ordinance; investments in sewer, water, and streets; and specific planning needed for areas like the downtown area. 

On November 18, 2017, a Public Workshop was held at the American Legion Hall. During this workshop, the community had a conversation about its vision and aspirations. Questions were asked of all participants such as “What is it you aspire Monroe to look like in 20 years?” and “How would you like to see Monroe develop and grow as a community?” From the conversation facilitated at this workshop, a draft document was created – Monroe Tomorrow. This document will be the introduction to developing a framework to establish a new City of Monroe Comprehensive Plan. 

On January 8th, the City Planning Commission approved a draft of Monroe Tomorrow and published it publicly. From January 11 – 22, 2018, an online public feedback survey was published to gain additional comment and input from the greater Monroe community on the Comprehensive Plan visioning document – Monroe Tomorrow. On February 5th, the Planning Commission held a work session where they reviewed the comments and input received from the survey and made revisions to Monroe Tomorrow.

At the March 26, 2018 Council Meeting, City Council voted to adopt the vision document above. 

Monroe Tomorrow Public Feedback Survey Results

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Comprehensive Plan impact everyday life in Monroe?

Below are several examples of how the City you live and work in is shaped by this Plan every day:

• It provides mapping and regulations about where Manufacturing, Retail, and Housing should be located.
• It determines Housing’s minimum lot sizes.
• It determines transportation corridors including paths, trails, truck routes and streets.

Why is the Comprehensive Plan being updated NOW?

There are two critical reasons why this Plan Update has become relevant today. The first being that the last Comp. Plan update was completed in1986. The second reason is the City has seen more interest in growth and development within the last year than it has seen within the last decade. For example, there have been at least 10 new building permits submitted this year. This includes two significant projects in Monroe’s downtown – the new Long Timber Brew Pub at the corner of Highway 99W and Kelly and the permitted Dollar General Store.

What does the Comprehensive Plan Update mean to you?

It presents an opportunity to have a voice in community decisions for the next 20 years.

Your input will help the community answer some of the following questions currently facing it:

• Does the city save the old brickyard property for some future manufacturing process or change the zone to residential and allow more houses?
• Does the City allow smaller lots for homes so that they are more affordable?
• Should we have a zone for just multi-family housing to be built on? (We don’t currently).
• Do we want to see public access and paths by the river?
• What do you want the City of Monroe look like in 20 years?

Still have further questions? Please contact RJ Theofield, City of Monroe Community Development Coordinator, at 541-847-5175 for assistance.