[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5992604,"mediaKeyId","5899572-b11a3787ab270644fbb9ec3663ea24b9","parentId",5899572,"title","Monroe staff report steady development activity; Wendy’s construction, Monroe West subdivision in review","audioSeconds",605,"startMs",1063000,"endMs",1668000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899572-b11a3787ab270644fbb9ec3663ea24b9&start=1063&end=1668","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899572-b11a3787ab270644fbb9ec3663ea24b9/thumbnail_1063000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5992604/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Monroe-staff-report-steady-development-activity-Wendys-construction-Monroe-West-subdivision-in-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992604-3806aace60d3fe53f7445a13b75896d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770825662&Signature=eaeyHofa7wDdfDyV~Eyy5oUQ5ZZQYp4K3MI1FMCAs8KFGLV60cbrEKHbtV0ReFjQBGT9JfBHPUQCaUKSCjLRT9EHcATd7AzcY4SkA5FIVZm2HqNUZQ2Y6cs3nAP1Tq5eoju4jX35vOCSROGLwUa6Dy5mCm25bIu-5-IZKMxY~9prBPyqbK-CSeA8Po-BH0LEWgHzpwywngPb83i0oHYcenyUfN2CQeRz1neRS49D8cFSKxdoiQhbbgCjtCM93KPUouLNuJMZOHmX4c8O8oez-6nRrPkWSeIz0xLWbMoS9IJTWv0XL6NY-eMl2ufoLoXRw3GW2jXeqluVna43yeq3Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe City, WA","date","2025-09-10T00:00:00Z","article","City planning staff told the Monroe Planning Commission on Aug. 11 that building and planning activity in May and June 2025 included a mix of commercial and residential work, pre-application meetings, and several ongoing land-use projects.

The department reported 29 residential permits, seven commercial tenant improvements, seven single-family permits and 174 inspections combined for May and June. Staff highlighted ongoing construction at the Wendy’s site, which followed a binding site-plan process and moved from permit review into building construction; deferred submittals for mechanical and sign work were under review.

Staff summarized several pre-application meetings: a metal workshop on Taddy Avenue; a Chick-fil-A proposal to demolish and replace the former Red Robin with a drive-through restaurant; a naturopathic clinic remodeling on East Main Street; and a proposed coffee shop using the former Matthew House building near 170th Avenue and Main Street. A June pre-application was noted for a subdivision and commercial condominiums on 1609 Drive SE; staff said they did not have details on proposed lot counts for that submittal.

Planning staff also reported project-tracking updates: the Monroe West preliminary plat (a 39-lot subdivision on 1304 Street SE in an R-7 zone) was in review; Wendy’s had advanced to active building construction. The department said it had filled a vacant plans examiner position and continued to work on the new permit system to reduce backlog.

On code projects and annexations, staff said the unit-lot subdivision effort was paused after legal review raised concerns, and that the department received a public-initiated comprehensive-plan amendment from the public utility district regarding the First Airfield property. The Connor annexation remained with the Boundary Review Board owing to concerns over multiple legal descriptions in the application; staff said Snohomish County and state agencies had coordinated on right-of-way inclusions and that the annexation appears to meet an exemption criterion for the Boundary Review Board. Staff also described the Davis property annexation proposal near Chain Lake Road, noting that a development agreement was expected to address council priorities such as multimodal trail connections and mixed-use development.

Staff said they met required deadlines for earlier required updates and that additional code cleanup and “phase 2” work (including middle-housing and comprehensive-plan updates for downtown/US-2 areas) were scheduled later in the year; timing would depend on staff capacity and other applicants with finite timelines. Kate and other staff described forthcoming work on critical-area regulations following meetings with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a planned review trip to Stanwood to examine their recently adopted code.

Commissioners asked about vacant downtown storefronts and potential new businesses; staff said there were inquiries about Sky River Bakery and other spaces. Code enforcement activity was summarized: May opened two cases and closed 18; June opened five and closed 25. The staff report also noted temporary-sign outreach to campaign managers given the political season and routine enforcement of sign permit rules.

The commission received the report with no formal action requested and moved on to other business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Monroe, WA Planning Commission - August 11, 2025 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City planning staff updated the Monroe Planning Commission on May–June building permits, pre-application meetings, active projects including a Wendy’s under construction and a 39-lot Monroe West subdivision in preliminary review, and pending annexation and critical-area work.","taxTitle","Monroe City, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",71110,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5992609,"Monroe planning commission backs code amendments implementing Washington’s SB 5290 on permitting timelines",937,91000,1028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899572-b11a3787ab270644fbb9ec3663ea24b9&start=91&end=1028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899572-b11a3787ab270644fbb9ec3663ea24b9/thumbnail_91000.jpg","/articles/5992609/Monroe-City/Snohomish-County/Washington/Monroe-planning-commission-backs-code-amendments-implementing-Washingtons-SB-5290-on-permitting-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5992609-f086203b92b66bbd7dc1c0e9e52f9707/orig.mp4?Expires=1770825662&Signature=Zy1dTtBiU6Gm0MC~38PMP5e-L-vri7PRm4l-lxZ~Tuo81OE-vQOjm0Ij2wRBzjDBvwpk3zGpl5-0tLvuxUYBfhBtRreX1BV26PzzbKO6-p-6SCZiJeOMvn36hKqS2I4Z00ErMuDu0SLIt0WQ77FOTT3L5LOoevxLxn2j4qmDWmMbZ1NBCtcDpplbNn2FG-VDPpaNL~6ddBtYWky4zny5TkxSC8BTZfArghrPKQ-FUZ0y8r80IlHBQSeHQr7KqaHhnQztKzppohYv7ynYc1g0X4EdO1LKJKVfNPSnDrSJ22ICa9IqOOzIiyRP2rzPNpFDw5qjZ8MlK91hw6Vn~Uye8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe Planning Commission unanimously directed staff on Aug. 11 to draft findings recommending that Monroe City Council approve proposed amendments to the city’s permitting rules to implement Washington Senate Bill 5,290 and related code clarifications.

The vote follows a staff presentation explaining changes to Monroe Municipal Code chapters that update permit types, statutory timelines and appeals processes to reflect the 2023 state law. Kate, a city staff member, told commissioners the package is intended to “increase housing capacity” by improving review efficiencies and aligning local procedures with state requirements.

The commission’s decision matters because the amended rules set new review clocks for different permit categories and add a partial-fee refund requirement when the city fails to meet statutory timelines. Kate said the new time clocks replace the older, generic 120-day standard with tiers tied to the level of public participation: administrative decisions (no public comment) are subject to a 65-day clock; administrative decisions with public comment are subject to a 100-day clock; and matters requiring a public hearing have a 170-day clock. She also said the state requires jurisdictions to report permit counts, timelines and stop-starts to the Washington Department of Commerce.

Staff walked the commission through chapter-by-chapter changes included in the packet. Amendments touched unified development regulations (definitions and permit-type tables), sign code departures, site plan tracks for projects with environmental or critical-area review, subdivisions (clarifying preliminary, civil and final steps and removing outdated council references), development agreements, and the permit-processing chapter (chapter 22.84). The code now distinguishes six permit types (administrative to legislative) and clarifies which matters go to the hearing examiner, city council or Growth Management Hearings Board on appeal.

Kate said the city had already been following the new timelines informally and had secured an expedited review from the Department of Commerce with no comments. She explained the statute includes a partial-fee refund requirement when a jurisdiction exceeds the allotted time and said the 20% refund applies when the city exceeds the time frame by more than 20%; she told commissioners she would confirm the statute’s lower-tier refund language.

Commissioners asked procedural questions; Commissioner Kazi confirmed there had been no substantive changes since the packet was last shared. No members of the public provided testimony; the commission opened and closed the public testimony portion and then voted on the motion. Commissioner Danny made the motion directing staff to draft findings of fact and conclusions recommending council approval; Commissioner Tony seconded. The motion carried unanimously with the chair joining the ayes.

The planning commission’s action sends the amendments to staff for formal findings and then on to city council for final decision; the ordinance and exact refund tiers will hinge on the council’s adoption and any further legal review. The packet included strike-through/underline drafts of the affected MCA chapters, a copy of Senate Bill 5,290, the public hearing notice and the Department of Commerce email documenting expedited review.","The Monroe Planning Commission unanimously directed staff to draft findings recommending that city council approve code amendments to align local permitting processes with Washington Senate Bill 5290 and clarify Monroe Municipal Code chapters affecting permit types, timelines and appeals.","actionData","errors"]

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Monroe staff report steady development activity; Wendy’s construction, Monroe West subdivision in review

Monroe planning commission backs code amendments implementing Washington’s SB 5290 on permitting timelines