05-19-2015 EDC Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

in Pope County will be very small(MN County Population Projections by Age&Gender, 2015-2045, MN State Demographic Center, March 2014). Although researchers are not in full agreement about the trade-offs, some have identified positive and negative impacts associated with rapid population growth in recreation counties in the United States(Deller et al, 2001;Johnson&Beale, 2002; Johnson, 1999 and 2012; Page, 2001; Reeder and Brown, 2005; Onge et al, 2006; Hunter et al, 2005). Potential impacts include the following: Potential negative impacts of rapid population growth in recreation counties: • The creation of a generation of low-wage, service-sector jobs for local residents. • An increase in the cost of living, especially housing costs. Long-term residents,in particular, may be affected by higher living costs and economic change. • An increase in property taxes and how that affects low- and medium-income property owners. • A range of environmental impacts affecting air, water, and soil,which is a key concern of in- migrating second homeowners. Population growth could also result in loss of open space and natural areas, as well as the fragmentation of wildlife habitat. • An increase in crime. • An increase in demand for schools, police and fire protection, healthcare facilities, and a range of other community services. • An increase of traffic and related congestion, as well as the cost of maintaining roads and streets. `-' Potential positive impacts of rapid population growth in recreation counties: • Creation of entry-level jobs for low-skilled workers, the unemployed, or the underemployed. This result will also encourage current residents to stay and new workers to migrate in. Additionally, new, younger workers who take these jobs may help promote economic transformation as goods and services diversify. • Diversification of the community and workforce as a result of high-amenity counties. • Possibility that long-term residents may benefit from higher income growth.This,in turn, may ameliorate higher costs of living. (Longtime residents in fast growing recreation areas achieve higher incomes than their counterparts in areas that are not growing.) • Opportunity for higher property sales as a result of higher housing costs. • Increase in demand for construction services as new residents enter the community. Construction suppliers, such as hardware stores and lumber yards,may also experience additional demand. • Opportunity for retail and service jobs to grow. The development of tourism- and recreation- centered activities, and its subsequent effects on income and profits,may also help offset the decline in traditional industries such as agriculture, mining, timber, and manufacturing. NNW III Second Homeowners of Central and West Central MN 13