3(a) Comprehensive Plan Update - Community Character Section

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SENSE-OF-PLACE The components that give parts of the historic downtown in Pequot Lakes a strong sense-of-place have been studied by the Planning Commission.They are simple to identify and understand.Where they are absent, it is quite easy to see how the public realm is diminished. The two key components are: 1. Lining up the buildings. Where the buildings are lined up, they have the effect of creating a wall. This boundary condition makes the space feel comfortable to people within it.Where the wall effect is absent, the sense-of-place is lost and the experience of walking past will be unsettling to a pedestrian. 2. Maintaining the correct width to height ratio. Once the buildings are lined up to form walis,they need to be correctly spaced or the sense-of-place effect is lost. Maintaining a width to height ratio of between 3:1 and 6:1 is necessary, with 3:1 being optimal. If the buildings are too close, the space will feel cramped. If they are too far away,the public realm feels barren and the sense-of-place is lost. This applies to areas that are commercial as well as residential. Wherever attention is paid to these two elements, the public realm is enhanced,a sense-of-place can be achieved and the properties become memorable in a way that translates directly into higher valuations. Coding for these simple attributes does not require the heavy hand of government that is often apparent in zoning codes. To capture the sense-of-place and create a memorable human environment, the City is not called on to regulate such things as siding type or building color.Instead,some simple physical guidelines are all that is necessary, giving the property owner the freedom to develop their own property once the essential elements are satisfied. $MAILTOWN FEEL I�iclude Heart ��f the Gr�od lifel The downtown area—with its unique landmarks, quaint shops, and diverse services–is one of Pequot Lakes' most valued assets. Downtown landmarks such as"The Bobber",public art,the Cole building and the trail center and park define the Pequot Lakes community. Many historic sites offer a reminder of Pequot's rich heritage.The City features traditional neighborhoods surrounding the downtown, as well as small farms and country homes dotting the area that was once Sibley Township. Public land and uninterrupted forests further accentuate the rural, small town feel indicative of Pequot Lakes. ,4 Downtown Plan �+ri:�E.�r��i in 2U i a�e�esed-�-�9AF,outlines design strategies for enhancing the small town feel of the historic downtown.The plan also contains strategies designed to strengthen the economy of the downtown by providing increased opportunity for mixed-use development.Adding a built-in "customer" base by promoting new residences in the downtown while designing the public realm to have a strong pedestrian-orientation will allow a mix of businesses to be viable on a year-round basis. This approach will also make more-efficient use of existing infrastructure investments,which is essential if those systems are to be affordable over the long run. NATURALFEATURES Pequot Lakes is a gateway to the Central Lakes Region. Long-time residents, newcomers, and visitors feel strongly connected to this north-woods landscape.Although rapid population growth and improvements in transportation