01-19-10 EDC Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Zoning Controls in Adjacent Cities ; Pequot Lakes has been,and will continue to be,impacted by the planning and zoning decisions of adjacent communities. Strip commercial zoning in Breezy Point provides low-cost raw land that allows for low-budget commercial development and a short-term economic advantage. The same is true to a lesser degree in the City ofJenlcins,which has experienced some highway-oriented commercial growth. Continued development and sustaining of time-share and resort destinations in Breezy Point,Nisswa and Lake Shore will provide tourists for Pequot's growing retail shopping areas. . z. As neighboring communities become more developed and urban in character,Pequot Lakes has the potential to maintain an advantage in attracting tourists seeking a more natural,north woods t experience. By creating strong connections to cities like Nisswa and Breezy Point and retaining its rural character and recreational value,Pequot Lakes can capitalize on neighboring resorts. t improvements Transportation im . p p a I ;, Proposed improvements to Trunk Highway 371 resulting in a high-speed,four-lane highway , 2, connecting to Minneapolis/St.Paul opens up many opportunities for Pequot Lakes. The increased accessibility will enhance industrial and manufacturing opportunities. It willpresent unique challenges and opportunities to retail and service areas,especially when the impacts of access management techniques are fully accounted for. The highway provides easy access to and through the City. - Enhancing Pequot's position as a neighborhood center and a destination will be critical to sustaining tti � �` l commercial development. Pequot Lakes has five dominant and distinct local economic sectors: 1)Industrial,2)Professional/Service, 3)Retail,4)Extractive Uses,and 5)Transient Merchants. Additionally,some agricultural use,resort-type ) ) ) Y gr ty t ; , development and a number ofhome-occupations are individually important,although they do not factor significantly into the overall local economy.All ofthese sectors co-exist in the downtown area of Pequot Lakes,which serves as the focal point for economic activity and provides a balanced mix of business, residential,and civic uses. Most industrial and retail businesses are located in close proximity to State 4:14.V .:7-1,:, Highway 371 while professional service businesses and the occasional transient merchant dot the downtown area. Extractive uses,which do not occur downtown,are scattered throughout the City's countryside.Each of 5` $ the major economic sectors has its own mix of businesses,customers,and reasons for locating in Pequot c 5, 2, In order to establish a stable economy,it is best achieve a good balance of these businesses that Lakes. I o d y, g I: 1, can be sustained long-term. industrial Industrial uses are located primarily in the industrial park,although there are a few that have located outside,including Hunt Technologies. Primarily these types of businesses locate in Pequot Lakes due to the availability of vacant land,especially land served by municipal utilities. There is an agglomeration effect that takes place when like industries cluster together,and that has served to enhance Pequot's industrial park as it has grown. Accessibility also plays a role. Despite the lack of ..a rail access,expansion of Highway 371,especially if direct access to the industrial park can be �� .� provided with the improvements,will increase the desirability of Pequot Lakes as an industrial and manufacturing location. 2003 Industrial and manufacturing development is some ofthe most coveted development in rural communities. These businesses export most of their products,so they are a source of outside revenue. They provide stable,often well-paying and year-round employment. Each industrial employee added in the City will have a multiplier effect as they spend their take-home pay,which is money coming primarily from outside the City,on local goods and services and thus multiply the benefit of each 34 imported dollar.This type of development is often hard to attract,however. Large investments in Comprehensive Plan