06.02 - Comprehensive Plan Update

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development scenario. It is not equitable for current businesses to be taxed to pay for a utility extension to the edge of town. If the Council wishes to plan for strip commercial development along the corridor, guidance should be given to the Planning Commission. 2. Park plan does not address a ball park "Ball fields" are mentioned on page 13 as a community asset and "baseball" is listed as an "opportunity" in Appendix A. The Comprehensive Plan does not mention the need for additional ballfields. In all of the public meetings that were held on the Comprehensive Plan and all of the public input that was received, nobody mentioned a need for an additional ball park. There was a discussion on potentially coordinating with the school district on additional ballparks, but no language was added to the document. It is relatively easy to add a strategy that would have the City Parks Committee make this a priority. If this will resolve Councilor Ryan's concern, the Planning Commission will make this amendment. 3. Same action items in multiple locations Various action items were intentionally included in multiple sections of the Comprehensive Plan because many of the strategies being adopted are meant to address multiple goals and objectives. Maximizing the value of the City's actions is one of the primary functions of a good Comprehensive Plan. For example, coordinating park initiatives throughout the downtown is a strategy that meets Community Character goals, Economic Development goals and Recreational goals at the same time. 4. Americans love autos -we can't change that mentality, social engineering The automobile is currently the most popular mode of transportation in Pequot Lakes, as it is in many cities throughout the country. The Comprehensive Plan, as currently written, does not call for less automobile travel. The plan does call for a recalibration of the city's efforts within the downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods. It is important to understand that slower moving traffic does not reduce the ability to drive but enhances the ability of people to walk. Narrowing the streets within the City would reduce the speed of traffic and increase the safety of pedestrians. The city has a desperate need to improve the value and quality of these places, as well as their overall economic health. Looking at the situation dispassionately, these areas have the greatest level of public commitment for maintaining infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, curb and gutter, sanitary sewer, water) and some of the most significant private sector investment in commercial properties, yet the tax base is minimal, especially in the surrounding neighborhoods. This is not financially viable over the long run. As part of the planning process, the Planning Commission identified a need to do two — somewhat contradictory -- things simultaneously. First, there is a need to lower the long -term costs associated with WWW.COMMUNITYGROWTH.COM WWW.STRONGTOWNS.ORG