06.03 Comprehensive Plan Update - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ensure that local roads and streets enhance the public realm. Rural roads need to be physically and aesthetically designed to be rural.Excessively wide road widths and clear zones increase traffic speed and create a road that lacks character. Narrower road sections slow traffic speeds and maintain a rural character, especially where the roads are tree lined. Urban streets need to provide for mobility choices beyond automobiles.These streets need to be designed so that they add value to adjacent properties and induce higher levels of private-sector development throughout the City's traditional neighborhoods. Ensure a highly-connected road network. Most developers prefer to develop on a cul-de-sac for a number of reasons that benefit their development in the short-term. Limiting the number of cul-de-sacs and promoting inter- connecting roads creates redundancy that improves safety, provides alternative routes, and ensures a more efficient transportation network. It also reduces maintenance costs and facilitates future growth and development. Plan for the long-term financial viability of the current transportation system.The City has developed a Street Criteria Policy which provides for the evaluation and rehabilitation schedule of all of the City streets. This evaluation is reviewed annually. Maintenance of city streets and roads should be a primary objective allowing for safe and connected travel within the city. Maximization of use of turn-back funds should be analyzed to make sure sufficient funding is available for repairs and growth in our road system. Wise investment of the funds to insure that they are available at the time of need should be considered. In addition to capital fund projections,a cash flow analysis should be done and updated periodically on the cost to maintain our streets and roads. Direct new residentisl growth toward eristing roads and limit the amount of roads in new developments. Residential growth is rapidly occurring in Pequot Lakes and will continue to occur in the rural areas whether the City promotes it or not. Development in the remote areas of the City is more costly to maintain service than development closer to the downtown or along existing roadways.There is no need to subsidize development, either directly or indirectly, outside of the downtown area, especially when doing so increases City expenses more than a development of equal size that is more efficiently located. ACTIONS ITEMS TO SUPPORT POLICIES ABOVE Y Ensure that improvements to Government Drive and Patriot Avenue provide a platform for growth. �f' Create inviting Highway 371 accesses/gateways into the community. Y Frequently review signage plans. Y Provide for a traffic flow analysis as part of any decision process that invoives changing existing roads and corridors within our community. Decisions should be based on data. Y Designate a truck route from the Business Park to County Road 11 and State Highway 371 avoiding residential areas. Y Support bikers,rollerbladers,trail users and pedestrians by continuing to improve and add bike racks and rollerblade lockers. 7 Work with Crow Wing County to properly-scale the TH 371 and CSAH 11 corridors through the Grow Za�e area following the construction of the TH 371 Alternate Alignment.Ensure that these corridors maintain a character that encourages pedestrian activity throughout the Grow Zone. 3