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issues within the commercial areas of the city. An emphasis needs to be placed <br /> on providing housing alternatives for working families. <br /> Although there are many affordable housing opportunities in the city, those <br /> opportunities are primarily rental. Rental housing can create a transient <br /> population that is less tied to the community,both economically and socially. <br /> The community would be strengthened by having more affordable opportunities <br /> for home ownership. <br /> The rental housing stock in Pequot Lakes is geared towards today's seniors. <br /> Tomorrow's seniors will have different demands and expectations. If Pequot <br /> Lakes is to remain competitive, housing stock in the city should be modernized <br /> to service the upcoming elderly demographic. <br /> Substandard housing poses a health and safety threat to those who occupy it <br /> which are often poor families who are renting. Substandard housing also <br /> undermines overall property values throughout the city and can cause pockets of <br /> blight where the market will not reinvest New homes should be of quality <br /> construction and existing substandard homes should be brought up to code or <br /> removed. <br /> Policies <br /> Short Term (within the next 12 months) <br /> ❑ Create a designated transition zone between the urban and rural areas of <br /> the city where utilities can reasonably be provided. These areas should <br /> require higher density construction. This will help to accommodate <br /> growth and it will also curb sprawl into areas with natural resources. <br /> ❑ Re-institute building codes and develop a building inspection program to <br /> carry them out This will help to alleviate substandard housing as well as <br /> ensure that new housing will be built to last <br /> ❑ In the transition areas,zone for affordable starter homes including <br /> duplexes and other multi-family dwelling units. <br /> Mid Term (within the next 1 to 3 years) <br /> ❑ Work with the Pequot Lakes HRA to provide home ownership education <br /> to residents in order to encourage ownership for all income levels. <br /> ❑ Encourage government agencies to be the catalyst for the acquisition of <br /> property to be used for affordable housing. Also encourage <br /> public/private partnerships for development and management of <br /> affordable housing. <br /> ❑ On certain large acreage parcels within the designated transition zone, <br /> neighborhood development should be used to accommodate permanent <br /> PEQUOT LAKES DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4 <br />