Monrovia's architectural heritage is an important part of the character of our community that appeals to residents and visitors alike. Indeed, the impressive collection of historic homes here in Monrovia is an integral component of what makes our City unique. Yet, to keep Monrovia financially strong and to keep our businesses vibrant, it is important to encourage growth and development as well. Preserving the old - while embracing the new - requires a careful balancing act.

 At the start of 2015, the City began the comprehensive Monrovia Neighborhood Study to look at the issues impacting our neighborhoods. Over the following 18 months, the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, city staff and most importantly a significant number of Monrovians participated in this process that ultimately resulted in the recent adoption of two sets of regulations to address concerns related to compatibility and preservation. More information about that process is available here.

The Neighborhood Compatibility Ordinance established new guidelines regulating the size and placement of new residential construction in our established neighborhoods. The new regulations also implemented a new Neighborhood Compatibility Design Review process that looks at how new construction fits in with established neighborhood patterns.

The other piece is the Demolition Review Ordinance. These regulations will help enhance the City's historic preservation practices that will govern significant alterations or demolition of any main residential building that is 50 years or older. The purpose of the review is not to prohibit all demolition; however its intent is to ensure that Monrovia's significant structures that have historic or architectural value are reviewed.

Since the adoption of these regulations, City staff has developed a process and guidelines to implement the Neighborhood Compatibility Review process. In most cases staff works in an advisory capacity, a formal training module was developed for the reviewing bodies that conduct the Neighborhood Compatibility Review process. The presentation as well as other documents, forms and applications are available below.

Supporting Documents & Links

• Neighborhood Compatibility Ordinance (2016-08)
• Neighborhood Compatibility Training Presentation
• Neighborhood Compatibility Worksheet Monrovia
• Neighborhood Compatibility Submittal Requirements

• Demolition Review Ordinance (2016-10)
• Requirements For Requests For Exemptions To Historical Resources Assessment
• Requirements For Historical Resources Assessment Checklist

• Res Dev Guidelines (RF)
• Res Dev Guidelines (RE-RL)
• Res Dev Guidelines (RM-RH)