Resources
Shoreline Master Program (SMP)
The Shoreline Management Act of 1971 (“SMA”), codified at Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 90.58, requires all cities and counties with “shorelines of the state” to prepare and adopt a Shoreline Master Program (“SMP”) that is based on state laws and rules, but tailored to the specific jurisdiction. The SMA of the State of Washington requires cities to update their Shoreline Management Program and Regulations every ten years. Monroe was required to perform a periodic review update of its SMP on or before June 30, 2019, and began the work in 2018. In 2019 the City’s Shoreline Master Program was adopted by the Monroe City Council (City of Monroe Ordinance No. 015/2019). The City received conditional approval, from the Department of Ecology (Ecology), of Monroe’s periodic review on October 20, 2020. Ecology stated that upon closer review following Ecology’s initial determination, additional changes to the SMP Periodic Review Update were identified as necessary to insure consistency with the SMA or SMP Guidelines.
The City started the process of amending the SMP in October 2023 and the updated SMP was approved on February 27, 2024, by the Monroe City Council (City of Monroe Ordinance No. 001/2024). The City received final approval of the updated SMP from Ecology in March 2024.
Shoreline Master Program - Updated June 2019
Housing Action Plan (HAP)
On June 13, 2021, the Monroe City Council unanimously adopted the Housing Action Plan through Resolution No. 007A/2021. The Housing Action Plan was adopted on June 13, 2021, by the City Council.
The City of Monroe has chosen to develop a housing action plan. As required by the State legislation, the project will generally focus on possible future actions that would “…encourage construction of additional affordable and market rate housing in a greater variety of housing types and at prices that are accessible to a greater variety of incomes, including strategies aimed at the for-profit single-family home market.”
The HAP process itself will not result in any Comprehensive Plan Policy or development regulation changes. However, the project elements will outline information, recommendations, and possible actions that the City can consider taking in the future. The development of a HAP should also be a helpful tool as the City embarks on updating the comprehensive plans prior to June 2024. The elements and objectives of a HAP are directly linked to housing requirements under the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Exhibit A Res 007A-2021 Final HAP corrected
Appendix 1 - Draft Housing Needs Assessment
Appendix 2 - Housing Policy Analysis
Appendix 4 - Monroe PROS Demographic Analysis Memo
Appendix 5 - Public Participation
Determination of Non-Significance (DNS)
Planning Commission Discussion
Downtown Sub-Area Plan
A sub-area plan is a land use plan for a specific geographical area, in this case historic downtown Monroe. The focus of this plan is to review the overall land use pattern, uses, and infrastructure to enhance economic vitality and promote a greater sense of community. To accomplish this, an inventory of existing conditions is generated including, but not limited to, land use patterns, public facilities and utilities, traffic patterns, and off-street parking. A comprehensive environmental review will take place for potential development alternatives. Goal and policy statements will be created to guide future development of this area and incorporate these findings into the City of Monroe Comprehensive Plan. Finally, development standards will be adopted into the zoning code, MMC Title 22, to implement the new goals and policies for this sub-area.
East Downtown Neighborhood Design Guidelines
Downtown Planning Area Map 2024