What does the Village of Monroe need?

MONROE — The Village of Monroe Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will hold its second of a series of meetings on Thursday, Sept. 13, to gather public comment on a plan for the village’s future.
The comprehensive plan is a document which guides growth in the community by establishing how land should be used throughout the Village, what building sizes and densities are appropriate, what roadway improvements should be made, what community facilities are required and other matters of public policy.

Focus on downtown

The committee hosted a well-attended meeting in April. The village’s planning consultant, Turner Miller Group, and committee incorporated public input from that meeting into a series of goals and objectives. Next week’s meeting is designed to solicit concrete ideas to effect those objectives.
The public and the committee identified the downtown as an area that requires particular attention as part of the effort. And the Sept. 13 meeting will entertain ways to improve the function and appearance of Monroe’s downtown.
The steering committee has retained an architect to prepare a number of sketches and designs for the meeting. Among the areas people will be asked to comment on are:

Acquiring land to expand existing downtown parking.
Relocating Village Hall.
Allowing taller buildings with second and third-story residential use.
Providing grant-writing and design assistance to building owners wishing to upgrade facades.
Improving the circulation system with transportation improvements including reopening Lakes Street to North Main Street, instituting a one-way traffic pattern, and/or incorporating traffic roundabouts.
Providing kiosks and signs linking downtown to the Millponds and the surrounding road system.

Although there is no deadline for the completion of the study, a draft of the comprehensive plan and zoning is expected by the end of the year, said Maximilian A. Stach, the principal planner for the Turner Miller Group.

If you go

Business owners and local residents are invited to attend the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Smith Clove Park Meeting Room.
Copies of the Village of Monroe Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee’s work to date can be found on the village’s Web site at www.villageofmonroe.org.