Residents: multi-family housing would affect neighborhood

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The Monett City Council kicked off the new year in a new space, as it held its first council meeting at the newly renovated City Annex Building on Jan 8. 

The building has had many faces since its construction in the 1970s, formerly used as the Monett Community Center and then Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District base, among other uses.

The annex is located at 100 South Maple St. Mayor Randy Burke announced that this facility will now be the official meeting space for city council. Meetings have previously been held at the  Monett school district Central Office at 900 E Scott St. 

The city held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially introduce the space to the public on Jan. 29.

During the meeting, the council saw the most civic engagement displayed since opening up a public comment portion of the meetings several month ago. 

At least four city residents stood up to speak about one issue in particular. Residents of West Hazel St. gathered to express concerns about a proposed rezoning issue that would place multi-family housing on the street. 

“The rezoning of a single family lot to a multi-family lot is not appropriate for our neighborhood,” said resident Sallie Pryor who stated she has lived on the street for over 20 years. “This is a single-family street with a majority of the population being older residents who depend on a stable, predictable environment. It’s home to young families.

“Introducing a multi-family structure in the middle of this block would significantly increase traffic, noise and parking pressure in a way that directly undermines the safety and livability of the people who currently live there.” 

Three other residents of the street also stood and echoed Pryor’s concerns. All speakers noted that they moved to the area for the calm and  quiet nature of the street. The residents also supplied the council with a signed petition opposing the rezoning.

The rezoning project was first brought before the city in 2021. Planning and Zoning had recommended the rezoning to the council, but it was never officially approved. 

City officials discussed, due to multiple questions about the validity of the re-zoning proposal, the action of  voting the issue down. 

This would require the requesting parties to present the project to Planning and Zoning again and re-start the process.  

Council members ultimately decided that since they were holding only the first reading of the issue to make no motion at this time. A second reading of the proposal will be held at the Feb. 12 meeting.

Council members said they hope to be better informed by the next meeting so an educated decision can be made on the matter.

Council also held first readings for city improvement projects including an ordinance to establish an Airport Commission for the City of Monett with service to the Monett Regional Airport. 

This would expand the current five-member commission to a seven-member advisory commission to include representatives from Barry County. 

Council also discussed in a first reading an ordinance approving the Historic Downtown Monett Redevelopment Plan. A second reading on this matter will allow the city to move forward with the establishment of a five-member corporation to manage funding for the operation. 

Second reading for all projects will be held at the next regular city council meeting on Feb. 12. 

Regular City Council Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Monett City Annex located at 100 South Maple St., with video available on the city’s website the following day.