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C Of Gr w� Pe u o INSTITUTE ``, PRE-MEETING DISCUSSION Background Information: The "Pequot Lakes Downtown Plan" has been a work in progress since 2007. The plan has not officially been adopted. It was last updated in 2011. The City Council has directed to Planning Commission to review/update the plan since revitalization of the downtown area is a critical to the long-term financial health to the City. The updating of the plan will be the primary focus of the "Pre-meeting Discussion" time before Planning Commission Meetings in first half of 2014. In the spring/summer it will also involve outdoor demonstration projects and walking tours of the downtown before our meetings. Questions to Consider: • What are the most important assets of Downtown Pequot Lakes? • What is working there and why? • What are the greatest threats or obstacles to success facing Downtown Pequot Lakes? • What can be improved upon to make things work better? The plan currently has five"Downtown Keys to Success." These principals were established when the plan was first drafted.: Key#1: Maintain the character of the downtown while also preserving the individuality and variety of the buildings located there. Continue quality while resisting uniformity. Key#2 Continually strengthen the"destination"of downtown,ensuring that it is a place that will naturally draw people year round. Key#3: Look to compete regionally where the downtown can offer a specialized and unique experience. Look to compete locally where the downtown can offer a convenient and satisfying experience. Key#4: Reduce the seasonality of the downtown by increasing the number of residents living within the city's traditional neighborhoods with convenient access to downtown. Key#5: Understand that the highest return investment for the City over the long-term is to improve the use of existing infrastructure, not the expansion of horizontal growth on the periphery of town The following improvements are listed in the plan as strategies to revitalize the downtown: Gateway Enhancements The intersection of Highway 371 and County Road 11 will be the principle entrance to the Downtown. There will be an enticement, despite the setback imposed by Mn/DOT for a future overpass,to simply provide for standard commercial development at this intersection. While that may be appropriate,great care should be taken to ensure that this intersection,and of equal importance the boulevard into the downtown, is a unique gateway to the City. Pequot Lakes Staff Report February 20,2014 1