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MINUTES <br />PEQUOT LAKES PLANNING COMMISSION <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />MARCH 18, 2010 <br />PRESENT: Tom Adams, Deb Brown, John Derksen, Bill Habein, Mark Hallan, Scott <br />Pederson and Dean Williams. ABSENT: Tommy Woog. <br />CITY PLANNER: Charles L. Marohn, PE, AICP <br />ZONING ADMINISTRATOR: Dawn Bittner <br />COUNCIL LIAISON: Nancy Adams <br />The meeting was called to order by Vice -Chair Tom Adams at 5:35 p.m. <br />Comprehensive Plan Discussion: <br />Economic Development Section — <br />Mr. Marohn apologized for not getting this section out in the packets. This is a very <br />sensitive and complex issue and he wanted to be sure everything was framed so it could <br />be digested and debated on merits that were even handed. He stated that we had been <br />`► challenged to analyze whether or not the Industrial Park made money and if so, to what <br />degree. The new material included in the Business Park section was discussed. It is <br />fairly clear that the Industrial Park did not pay for itself, it did not generate excess <br />revenue. <br />Policy ramifications: <br />1. Growing industrial tax base — it is an assumption that we need to ponder with <br />each investment we make. That assumption is not being met, growing tax base. <br />2. Jobs — slightly less than 200 jobs in 2008. What is the most effective way to <br />grow jobs? <br />• If the goal is to generate tax base on the premise that it will lower <br />everyone's taxes, the way we have done it does not do that. <br />• If the goal of Industrial Park expansion is to grow jobs, the conclusion is it <br />happened but at what cost and is there a more effective way to grow jobs. <br />Mayor Adams stated the analysis is good, but it may be better to make a general <br />statement about a synopsis and put this at the end of the document. The other sections <br />are more general. Mr. Marohn agreed that we need to summarize our view and it should <br />be somewhere else. Mr. Adams stated that if this approach wasn't successful in building <br />tax base and jobs, what are the things we can do to generate those things and have a more <br />positive impact? <br />Minutes <br />Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br />March 18, 2010 <br />