City Council Minutes 03-31-2025 Joint WorkshopMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION AND EDA JOINT HOUSING
WORKSHOP MINUTES
Monday, March 31, 2025 — 5 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Kip Christianson, Charlotte Gabler, Tracy Hinz, and Lee Martie,
Andrew Tapper, Terri Lehner, Rick Kothenbeutel, Melissa Robeck, Steve Johnson,
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Matt Leonard, Angela Schumann, Sarah Rathlisberger, Tom
Pawelk, Tyler Bevier, Jim Thares, Jennifer Schreiber
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5 p.m.
2. Housing Discussion
Angela Schumann, Community Development Director, led discussion on confirming
housing priorities. In addition, she noted that staff wanted direction on the
characteristic and locations for single-family neighborhood development.
Neighborhood character and location items were discussed by all. A list of items was
obtained.
Neighborhood Character items noted were:
• Residential development in support of the 2040 vision, retaining small-town
character and reinforcing a sense of community and belonging.
• Plan for measured and incremental residential growth in well -designed
neighborhoods which retain value into the future.
• As a community with existing commercial, industrial, residential and recreational
land uses of character and quality, new residential development in Monticello
must meet this same standard.
• Encourage residential home sites that are consistent with R-1 zoning standards
so that residents have room to grow and build equity.
• Support homes with a high-level of front fagade detail, including a combination
of brick or stone and other architectural elements which build neighborhood
character and support the retention of individual unit value.
• Require homes that will face their community using porches, patios, landscaping
and de-emphasizing garages.
• Develop neighborhoods that include a sense of community and continuity and
avoid monotony and sameness.
City Council, Planning Commission, EDA Workshop — March 31, 2025
• Smaller lots including detached or attached units may be accommodated when
integrated into the overall neighborhood and exhibiting the same quality and
level of building and landscaping design amenities; these areas will be in small
clusters.
• Accommodate infill housing in the core of the community to create naturally
occurring affordable housing, building on the character already in place with
homes that include architectural detail and amenities.
• Develop opportunities for reinvestment in existing neighborhoods and homes.
• Residential neighborhoods should connect to the natural amenities around
them, to their adjacent neighborhoods, and to the variety of community assets
surrounding them.
• Consider solutions, opportunities, and incentives which support housing goals as
described.
Neighborhood Location items discussed, and comments provided were:
Where should new housing meeting the desired goals be located and why?
• West, south and east into the MOAA as these are areas of natural amenities — including
trees and water.
• Natural amenities often result in the ability to have larger, higher value and move -up
homes.
• The presence of natural amenities offers more variety of landscape features which add
character to neighborhoods.
What are the challenges in supporting the housing development described?
• Costs in the marketplace.
• Cost for utility and street extensions.
• Need consistency with stated goals in future decision -making.
There were other comments provided by Council and commission members. They were
regarding future opportunities for large lot development in collaboration with Monticello
Township.
• Think strategically about where utilities would be located/extended in the future (and
those of other jurisdictions who may serve them).
• Would not be feasible directly outside the City limits as it would create barriers to
infrastructure development and future growth.
• May be an opportunity to balance desired housing and lot development annexed to the
City (directly adjacent) with the opportunity for larger acreage lots in the outer tier of
the township.
City Council, Planning Commission, EDA Workshop — March 31, 2025
• Be thoughtful about strategic areas for this type of growth given the other goals of the
City for those areas — such as the Northwest Area where commercial and industrial
growth are also planned and included the desired transportation corridors and
improvements.
Ms. Schumann noted that the next steps are to Review the 2040 Plan and zoning ordinance for
potential amendments in support of the items discussed.
3. Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreib r
IV A Wh IV -
Attest:
ity dmini' rator
City Council, Planning Commission, EDA Workshop — March 31, 2025