New Monett Comprehensive Plans unveiled

The Monett City Council held an open house on May 5 at the Monett City Park Casino to unveil the city’s new proposed comprehensive plan. 
The 147-page document was unveiled for the first time at the city council’s April 23 meeting. A 14-person planning committee has worked on the document since March 20, 2025, in conjunction with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG). Meetings have not been public and no information has been available on the evolution of the plan. A community survey provided input on what the public, both residents and non-resident workers for Monett employers and shoppers, considered priorities for the plan. According to Mayor Randy Burke, between 400 and 500 responses contributed to the survey. 
 
First plan since 1996
Monett’s last full comprehensive plan dated from 1996. Other plans, such as a transportation strategy, came in subsequent years. The new comprehensive plan covers land use for the next 20 years. 
Mayor Burke, commenting at the first public discussion, said, “I think what’s important here this does not mean we’re going to try to take your land. This means, based on the current infrastructure and expected growth, this is the best way to go, for right now. This is for 20 years and let me tell you, a lot of things can change. We need to revisit this plan, because things are going to change. We’re going to have hurdles we don’t expect. Additionally, we’ll have opportunities we didn’t expect. As to actually to spend money, I see that kind of within that five-year timeframe.” 
According to Doug Potts, community development coordinator, the draft plan will be open to revision following public input. He anticipated a final document approved in ordinance form in June or July. 
Potts agreed that future land use plans and comprehensive plans are living documents, subject to change upon review in two or five years. Burke said he considered five years the longest time to let the document stand without review. 
 
Growth expected
City Administrator Mickey Ary observed SMCOG envisioned more growth in the city to the west. The committee disagreed, seeing more growth eastward. City engineer Kevin Sprenkle was asked to contact specific landowners showing up within the city limits in the new map about the proposal, giving them a direct invitation to attend the open house on May 5. Burke added he does not believe in eminent domain and doesn’t believe the city should engage in its use. 
“It’s not worth the effort, Burke said. 
Burke added he believed the strategy for creating the new comprehensive plan worked, providing insight from the committee members. 
Potts added in his review, he expected to propose several fine tuning points to the committee on April 30. Commissioner Ken Gaspar said he would submit suggestions as well. 
The preliminary version of the plan included a general description of Monett and its resources, as well as a description of how the plan was formed. Population trends and projections placed the city with between 10,816 and 12,702 residents by 2050. The report noted nearly 30 percent of Monett’s workforce has jobs in manufacturing, with almost 14 percent in educational services, almost 12 percent in professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management jobs, leaving a little over 11 percent in retail trade and almost 10 percent in construction. 
 
Land use goals
A list of land use goals included allowing for growth in and around Monett, encouraging development and redevelopment, along with promoting and conserving a sustainable environment through land use policy. Full chapters are dedicated to housing, transportation and related goals, and economic development. The full plan will not be on display at the open house. Ary felt more details would likely get viewers “lost in the weeds.”
The authors concluded, “The success of this plan relies on the continued efforts of city staff, elected officials, citizens, and partners to implement its measures. Through the planning process, goals, objectives, and action items were outlined. These goals can be successful only through the collaboration of all stakeholders. The City of Monett and those who seek to improve it must proactively take steps to secure funding and implement the initiatives detailed within this plan.”