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Provide appropriate housing options for the local workforce.The ability to live and work in the a same community is important.Local housing policy that provides for workforce housing options is , ,I,n, 4e,' critical to maintaining a viable work force. Housing that is enticing to all members ofthe workforce K from the top executives to the unskilled laborers must be made available. Pequot Lakes needs to be a desirable place to live for the entire work force,meaning recreational opportunities and diverse buying prospects need to be advanced. -1 Provide and maintain adequate infrastructure for businesses in Pequot Lakes.It is essential tt4 that the City maintain solid infrastructure. Having two telecommunications leaders in town provides the City with an opportunity to keep pace with advances in telecommunications and to plan and facilitate their continual upgrade locally. Roads and streets need to be maintained,and sidewalks ' and other walkways provided in areas where pedestrian access is critical. Adequate parking must t* F , ' be planned to support a downtown business environment.Water and sewer expansions should be c`2,. * , planned so that businesses can anticipate future availability.All new developments must have { , adequate right-of-way for telecommunications infrastructure.Storm water management is also an +>E , essential component of any downtown redevelopment strategy and is needed in Pequot Lakes. fit Y" Protect Pequot Lakes'natural,scenic,and recreational amenities.Pequot Lakes amenities- ,'- including its natural resources,scenic beauty,and recreational opportunities-need to be protected. ,`* Much of the economic growth Pequot Lakes has experienced is due to population growth,and the tilt! rest is at least partly due to increased tourism and recreational opportunities. Much of the tourism in Pequot Lakes can be attributed to the Paul Bunyan State Trail.The City needs to recognize the ; '; " t. primary reason why people are moving to the area and the importance ofthe environment as an ° " bsf .. Economic Impacts of the Paul Bunyan State Trail a`.Z , r Among the many reasons for building the Paul Bunyan State Trail,including the preservation of the environment,promoting physical exercise and a venue for safe,family activity,are economic benefits that .. , increased visitation to Pequot Lakes brings. Benefits related to business activity are seen in two ways: ' r` 1. Through direct increase in business activity from direct purchases by trail users;and, ,, V 'i 2. Indirectly by providing services and products to an increasing number of businesses that have sprung a up to sustain the operations of the trail and demands of its users. "Overall,trail users average about 48 years of age,are more likely to be male,have completed college,with annual household incomes between$35,000 and$75,000.1n Minnesota,trail users have median incomes $10,000 higher than average;good news for the communities along the trail." Since the trail travels directly through the center of downtown Pequot Lakes,users have the opportunity to hop off and enjoy a meal or a X, 'i• walk past the specialty stores. Since the trail directly Impacts local businesses,cold months reduce the r . number of visitors to Pequot Lakes via the Paul Bunyan Trail. l In general,trails also act to enhance property values of abutting parcels: „ • A 1998 study of property values along the Mountain Bay Trail in Brown County,Wisconsin shows that lots adjacent to the trail sold faster and for an average of nine percent more than similar property not located next to the trail.' • Realizing the selling power of greenways,developers of the Shepherd's Vineyard housing • development in Apex,North Carolina added$5,000 to the price of 40 homes adjacent to the regional greenway.Those homes were still the first to sell.2 2003 • In Minnesota,87%of home owners believe trails either increased property value or had no Impact.' 1 Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota. "The Economic and Social Benefit of Trails.” wWw.parksandtraits.org S Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. "Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways."http.//www trailsandgreenways orgrrAG_Documents/ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. "Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways."http/Avww trailsandgrecmra ys.org/TAGDocuments/ :" * $ 'Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota. "The Economic and Social Benefit of Trails." w w.parksandtrails.org 39 Pequot Lakes Vision 2025