The Monroe City Council approved a resolution authorizing a development agreement for the Monroe 30 annexation area and subsequently adopted the annexation ordinance for the same property on June 10, voting 4-1 on both measures and authorizing the mayor to sign the development agreement.

Senior Planner Anita Marrero told the council the annexation area comprises about 29.89 acres, is pre‑zoned R7 (seven dwelling units per acre), and the development agreement includes a four‑acre park dedication and a requirement that “20% of the gross number of total housing units within the future development” be middle‑housing townhome units. Marrero and City Attorney Zach Loehl reminded council that the development‑agreement review is a quasi‑judicial land‑use action governed by Monroe Municipal Code chapter 22.70 and the state development agreement statutes at RCW 36.70B.170–.210.

Why it matters: annexation places the property inside the city so future development will be subject to city development standards, impact fees and permitting; the development agreement vests certain development regulations for a stated term and secures the four‑acre park dedication as a community benefit.

City staff outlined the annexation timeline: the application for the Monroe 30 annexation development agreement was submitted July 12, 2024; the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board did not invoke jurisdiction and the county approval was recorded on Jan. 14, 2025; a final draft of the agreement attached to the council packet was dated June 30, 2025. David Toyer of Toyer Strategic Advisors, the consultants for the developer and property owners, told council the agreement was a mechanism to formalize commitments the city asked for, saying the team “have the 4 acre, park dedication, which was the request of the city.” Toyer also asked council to consider approving the annexation reading that evening so the project team could proceed with the subsequent land‑use application process.

Public comment included Brandy Blair, who said she supported the development agreement and the city’s push for a housing mix: “I think that you guys have been very thoughtful for the community's needs by asking for the development agreement…so I'm really, really glad that you guys, are pushing for that and for pushing for the mix of housing.”

Council deliberations focused on three substantive concerns: traffic and pedestrian safety on existing county roads adjacent to the site, environmental review and wildlife, and timing. Councilmember Walker said she had driven the area and wanted more time to review traffic infrastructure and sidewalks, and asked staff to check whether Snohomish County has plans to improve the county‑owned road segments; Walker said she would likely vote no if council moved forward that night because she wanted “at least another week to dig into this a little bit more.” Councilmember Beaumont asked staff to summarize responses to a resident's emailed questions about wildlife; Marrero said environmental issues will be addressed during the preliminary plat application and the SEPA/environmental review process. Staff reiterated that required frontage, sidewalk and road improvements for development inside city limits would be built to city standards and that county segments would not automatically be upgraded by this project.

Action taken: Councilmember Gamble moved to adopt the resolution approving the Monroe 30 annexation development agreement and authorize the mayor to sign; the motion passed 4‑1, with Councilmember Walker opposed. Councilmember Beaumont moved to accept first reading of the annexation ordinance (Ordinance No. 013/2025) annexing the property and designating it R7 on the city zoning map; that motion also passed 4‑1 with Walker opposed. The council record shows the annexation will be designated R7 and the future land‑use map will list the area as Residential 1.

Next steps: Marrero told council that a development agreement must be recorded within 30 days of council approval. Staff said detailed project permits, environmental review (SEPA), and public hearings on the subdivision and site permit will follow; Marrero and the developer estimated that construction of housing would likely not begin until the following year, pending the application and permit process.