Monroe City Zoning Code
22.74 Comprehensive
Plan Amendments
22.74.010 Amendment process.
A. Amendment Schedule. The public can submit requests for amendments to the comprehensive plan at any time; however, they will only be processed in accordance with these procedures once a year and conform to the generalized schedule in Table 22.74.010: Schedule for Comprehensive Plan Amendment Review:
Table 22.74.010. Schedule for Comprehensive Plan Amendment Review
Month | Action |
|---|---|
May and June | City issues press releases, advertisements or other “effective” means of public notice soliciting public requests for comprehensive plan amendment applications. |
Last Working Day in July | The annual deadline for public submittals (including fees) of proposed plan amendments closes. Public-initiated plan amendment requests submitted after the last working day in July of each year will be processed during the following review and amendment cycle. |
September | City staff forwards all amendment requests to the city council. The city council will hold a public hearing, including a presentation by the applicants, on the proposed items for the docket and select which amendment applications, with or without modifications, should be considered, along with a review schedule. |
October/November | City staff will begin review, analysis, and evaluation of docketed plan amendment proposals, including the SEPA threshold determination. |
December through March | Planning commission reviews amendment applications and develops necessary plan amendments. Planning commission solicits public input through meetings and public hearings. |
April | The planning commission holds a public hearing on the final proposal and forwards their recommendation to the city council. |
May | City council considers recommendations and holds first reading of ordinance. Staff also forwards recommended plan amendments to Department of Commerce. |
May through July | Department of Commerce mandatory 60-day review period. |
July | City council takes final action on the plan amendments. Staff will transmit the approved amendments to Department of Commerce within 10 days of council adoption. |
B. Cumulative Impacts. All plan amendment proposals shall be considered concurrently so that their cumulative impacts can be ascertained. The above schedule can be modified based on the number and complexity of the requested amendments.
C. Exemptions and Emergencies. The comprehensive plan may be amended no more than once a year, except for certain exemptions and emergencies. The following amendments may be considered more frequently than once a year:
1. Initial adoption of a sub-area or neighborhood plan(s) that does not modify the comprehensive plan policies and designations applicable to the subarea;
2. Adoption or amendment to a shoreline management program;
3. An emergency exists and findings are adopted by the city council (in resolution form) showing the amendment is necessary, due to an emergency situation of a neighborhood or citywide significance;
4. Resolution of an appeal of a comprehensive plan filed with a growth management hearings board or with a county, state or federal court; and
5. An amendment of the capital facilities element of the comprehensive plan that occurs concurrently with the adoption or amendment of the city budget.
6. Plan amendments related to annexation may be considered during the normal annexation process and need not necessarily be coordinated with the annual plan amendment schedule. (Ord. 020/2025 § 11 (Exh. J); Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))
22.74.020 Application requirements.
All proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the city of Monroe on the appropriate city form. The proposed amendment application shall consist of at least the following information, and be consistent with the Citizen-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application and Submittal Checklist:
A. A description of the proposal, including any relevant background material including an environmental checklist. If a request to amend the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map is selected for consideration during the review cycle, additional information may be required to be submitted including, but not limited to, additional environmental review, traffic study, and utilities analysis;
B. Reference to the element(s) of the comprehensive plan that is proposed for amendment;
C. Proposed amendment language, when applicable;
D. An explanation of why the amendment is being proposed;
E. A description and/or map of the property affected by the proposal; and
F. The appropriate fee, as listed in the city fee schedule in place at the time of application submittal. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))
22.74.030 Selection of amendments to be considered.
A. Selection Process. City of Monroe staff will submit all proposed amendments received prior to the last working day in July to the city council at the second council meeting in August along with an analysis of the proposed amendment in relation to the selection criteria and the application checklist. After holding a public hearing during the third council meeting of August, the city council shall select those proposed amendments that should be considered for further review. Notification of all public hearings shall be in the same manner as for project permit applications, as outlined in Chapter 22.84 MMC, Permit Processing. The city council may modify a proposed amendment during the selection process.
B. Selection Criteria. The city council should consider the following criteria when determining which proposed amendments should be considered for further review:
1. The proposed amendment advances the council’s vision of the city;
2. The proposed amendment advances goals and policies of the comprehensive plan;
3. The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals and regulations of the Growth Management Act;
4. The relationship of the proposed amendment to other city codes and regulations; and
5. The cumulative effect(s) of the proposed plan amendment(s).
C. Schedule. When selecting the proposed amendments to be considered, the city council will adopt a schedule for completion, including any input from the public and the planning commission.
D. Modification. The city council may modify a proposed amendment during the selection process. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))
22.74.040 Review of selected amendments.
A. Written Analysis. For each proposed amendment that the council selects for consideration, the planning and permitting division will prepare a written analysis.
B. Environmental Review. In conjunction with the written analysis the city’s SEPA responsible official shall issue a threshold determination no later than the fourth Thursday of October.
C. Following completion of the analysis prepared by the planning and permitting division, the planning commission shall conduct one or more public hearings. The planning commission may also solicit comments regarding the proposed amendment from the public and government agencies in any other manner it determines necessary and appropriate to the nature of the proposed amendment and consistent with RCW 36.70A.140. The planning commission shall develop language for definitions, policies and goals, and provide recommendations for proposed amendments. All input of the planning commission requested by the city council shall be submitted according to the schedule established in Table 22.74.010: Schedule for Comprehensive Plan Amendment Review.
D. Criteria for Recommendation of Approval. The planning commission shall use the following criteria in considering whether or not to recommend approval or approval with modification of the proposed plan amendment:
1. Each amendment:
a. Shall not adversely affect public health, safety, or welfare in any significant way.;
b. Shall be consistent with the overall goals and intent of the comprehensive plan as amended by the proposals;
c. Shall comply with the Growth Management Act and other state and federal laws; and
d. Must be weighed in light of cumulative effects of other amendments being considered.
2. In addition to the above mandatory requirements, any proposed amendment must meet the following criteria unless compelling reasons justify its adoption without meeting them:
a. Addresses needs or changing circumstances of the city as a whole or resolves inconsistencies between the Monroe comprehensive plan and other city plans or ordinances;
b. Environmental impacts have been disclosed and/or measures have been included that reduce possible adverse impacts;
c. Is consistent with the land uses and growth projections that were the basis of the comprehensive plan and/or subsequent updates to growth allocations;
d. Is compatible with neighboring land uses and surrounding neighborhoods, if applicable; and
e. Is consistent with other plan elements as amended by the proposals.
3. Any compelling reasons relied upon to justify adopting an amendment without meeting the above criteria must be specified in the ordinance adopting the amendment. When an amendment to the comprehensive plan also requires a subsequent rezone or amendment to the development regulations both may be considered concurrently.
E. Public Hearing and Notice. The city council will review the recommendation of the planning commission and may hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment regarding the merits of proposed amendment(s). Notice of the hearing will be given pursuant to Chapter 22.84 MMC, Permit Processing. Written comments may be given by anyone to the city council regarding proposed plan amendments prior to the end of the public hearing(s).
F. Council Action. Upon receipt of a recommendation from the planning commission, the city council shall adopt, adopt as modified, deny, or remand the application(s) to the planning commission for further consideration.
G. Map Revisions. If the city council approves a change to the comprehensive plan that changes the land use designation of parcels within the urban growth area, the city council shall adopt an ordinance that amends the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map and authorizes the mayor to sign the revised map.
H. Revocation. The comprehensive plan amendment may be reversed by the city council outside of the regular amendment period, upon finding of any of the following:
1. The approval was obtained by fraud or other intentional or misleading representation;
2. The amendment is being implemented contrary to the intended purpose of the amendment or other provisions of the comprehensive plan and city ordinances; or
3. The amendment is being implemented in a manner that is detrimental to the public health or safety.
I. Appeals. State law governs the appeal process of a city council decision on a comprehensive plan amendment(s).
J. Transmittal to State. The planning and permitting division will transmit a copy of each proposed amendment of the plan to the State of Washington Department of Commerce at least sixty days prior to the expected date of final council action on proposed amendments. The planning and permitting division will then transmit a copy of all adopted amendments to Department of Commerce within ten days after the adoption by the council. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))