Council works to fix effects of East Monroe controversy

The Monroe City Council took action last week that the city hopes will remedy its inability to qualify for certain state grants; a repercussion of being out of compliance with the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) in the matter of the east Monroe rezone.

The ordinances rezoning the 43 acres known as East Monroe from Limited Open Space (LOS) to General Commercial (GC) were remanded back to the city with a determination of invalidity by the GMHB on April 1. The decision cited noncompliance with the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and other concerns. Per the GMHB process, the city was given until Sept. 28 to come into compliance with its order. The city still has not indicated how it might seek compliance.

The council passed a motion at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 23, authorizing the city attorney to request an extension of the GMHB's Sept. 28 compliance deadline for a period of up to 12 months.

Along with the extension request, the city will ask that the GMHB rescind its order of invalidity, noting the city's interim ordinance passed in May, which reaffirms the city's intent to continue the property's LOS designation during the compliance period.

It was discovered in April that because of the GMHB decision, the city was not in compliance with the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), which rendered it ineligible for a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

The 5-2 vote took place after a lengthy executive session, with Councilmembers Patsy Cudaback and Kirk Scarboro dissenting.-á -á

Property owner Heritage Baptist Church, which filed a summons for judicial review in Snohomish County Superior Court in April, is currently challenging the GMHB decision. Additionally, the church filed an application for direct review before the state court of appeals, which was granted on Aug. 8. This means the matter will bypass superior court, and move directly to the state court of appeals.

Cudaback said that while she understood the need for the extension, she would not vote in favor of the motion.

"It's time to give the public closure,GÇ¥ Cudaback said.-á -á