Plans to expand Monterey’s urban growth boundary are one step closer to completion.
Monterey Mayor Alex Garcia said the redrawing will update the current borders which are more than 20 years old. Two public meetings with Putnam County’s Joint Economic Community Development Board are required to move forward with the proposal.
“So, we kind of want to re-define those boundaries a little bit, because, obviously, as, as the years go by, things change.” Garcia said. “So, we want to re-define those boundary plans, and the only way to do that is to re-open the urban growth boundary.”
Garcia said the proposed expansion of the urban boundary is the result of city growth. Garcia said one homeowner asked for the boundary expansion because the property owned is split between the city and the county, and that can affect services such as police and fire response.
The proposed expansion of the urban growth boundary has been in the works for awhile. Public meetings regarding the issue were held this past spring, and Garcia said this proposal is an extension of those meetings.
“We’re hoping that by, by December, everything gets approved, and we can move forward with it,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the proposed boundary expansion will only affect homeowners if they want to be annexed into the city.
“We’re not annexing anybody in,” Garcia said. “You have to ask to be annexed into the city. The city cannot automatically annex you in the city. It just makes it easier for the residents if they do want to annex.”
Garcia said he understands this can be a difficult concept for the average person to understand as it shows area in which Monterey could expand.
The next public meeting regarding the proposed changes to Monterey’s urban growth boundary is set for October 30th at the Leslie Town Centre.
