06 - Monthly Planning and Zoning Report

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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION An effective Comprehensive Plan is not just a guide but an implementation tool. The actions of the Planning Department are driven largely by the policies and implementation strategies adopted in the Plan. It is important that an annual review of the Comprehensive Plan be done to ensure that the City is on track implementing the plan. We will seek to accomplish the following tasks in 2008 in conjunction with the Planning Commission: ❑ Identify areas in the rural/urban transition zone suitable for the expansion of utilities and high-density housing. ❑ Encourage businesses in the professional /service sector to locate on the perimeter of the downtown in order to facilitate more space for retail directly in downtown. ❑ To protect groundwater and the City's water supply, limit development in areas with shallow depth to the water table and sand over sand geological features. ❑ Restrict development along slopes that have high erosion potential, requiring minimum setbacks from slope edges. ❑ Retain and manage native vegetation cover in areas with high erosion potential. ❑ Regulate boat canopies, boat lifts, and docks for the purpose of maintaining the natural appearance of the shoreline. ❑ Encourage design standards to ensure that new building fit in with and do not `-- detract from the character of the natural landscape and existing neighborhoods. ❑ Enact a `night sky' ordinance to limit the amount and character of signs and lighting for rural and urban areas within Pequot Lakes. ❑ Require design of storm water retention facilities with all new roadways. ❑ Develop an ordinance that requires clustering of sewage treatment systems in order to obtain desired residential density. ❑ Require an adequate reforestation plan from MN/DOT as part of the Highway 371 improvement project in order to retain the forested gateway. ❑ Discourage the use of fertilizers and insecticides where risk of groundwater and surface water contamination are high. Identify these high risk areas and create an overlay district for promoting Best Management Practices for watershed health. ❑ Makes changes to the official road map that reflects the Alternative Alignment and reinforces the City's zoning strategy. We intend to accomplish the following tasks in 2008 in conjunction with the Park Committee: ❑ Partner with the school district to coordinate activities and explore indoor recreational opportunities. ❑ Work with community groups to start a Heritage Days festival to celebrate local culture and history ❑ Host community clean-up and tree-planting events. ❑ Provide more bicycle parking along the Paul Bunyan Trail in downtown to make it easier for recreational users to stop. ❑ Develop a Comprehensive Park plan, including trails system. CITY OF PEQUOT LAKES PLANNING AND ZONING 2007 REPORT 12