4B - Ordinance Amendment for Industrial Park Subdivision Overlay District

Home Browse Search

SPOTTED SHOPPER SPECIAL SECTIONS `- pineandlakes.eom SEARCH Go THE LAKE COUNTRY ECHO AND PINE RIVER JOURNAL ' - v HOME NEWS SPORTS FEATURES OPINION CLASSIFIEDS PRINTING SUBSCRIBE CONTACT US ADVERTISE Strom, 3 !!S WEATHER Clear,730 forecast ii� Get to know me in my video and see Essentia Health if I'm the right OB for • Home>Local News T!FG Local News ll Print Wednesday,August 10,2011 4:06 PM on Wednesday,August 10,2011 Council debates whether proposal would help or hurt business - - • : PEQUOT LAKES CITY COUNCIL who's • • • By Nancy Vogt Lake Country Echo Editor Essentia Health Saying a proposal to make it easier and cheaper to subdivide lots in the city's business park showed favoritism to that industrial area only,two Pequot Lakes City Council members defeated the proposal by voting against it. That prompted different viewpoints on whether the city was helping businesses or not. Tom Ryan and Jerry Akerson voted against the proposed ordinance amendment for an industrial park subdivision overlay district Tuesday,Aug.2.An ordinance amendment requires a four-fifths vote of the council to pass,so it failed on a 3-2 vote. The proposal,recommended by both the city's Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission(EDC),would have reduced the time for a subdivision in the Sl1n..A11W14 business park to occur from three months or more to just hours.It also would have reduced costs for those wanting to subdivide lots. I + + 1 The goal was to allow the EDC and Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp.to then market the business park properties to potential Investors. "We're always hearing,'What are we doing for the business community?'I think this is a good thing for our business community.We're making it easier for them.It's costing them less,"said ,iWLCIMR council member Cathy Malecha,noting the cost would drop from$6,000 to$500. 616"014 However,Akerson asked whether the proposal would create a class system of the haves vs. 8/12 10 AM Crosslake Art club Shoe, the have-nots.He asked whether the proposal should apply to the whole city.Ryan agreed Crosslake Community Center,Crosslake the rules should apply citywide and to other Industrial land not in the business park. 8112 7 PM ao;TPCNED!Geo,ge Kinston, LIVe'_. Mayor Nancy Adams noted the city already approved such an overlay district for the downtown Tornstrom Auditorium, Brainerd business area to make It easier forthose businesses to expand and improve their businesses. 8/13 8 AM Dru S;odm Purple E!eaha-rt ion jP 5k Trailside Park,Pequot Lakes Mark Jurchen,EDC member,said the city has a huge asset and a huge Investment in 8/13 10 AM 25Th Annual CaT,Knutson Qu l�. infrastructure in the industrial park.The larger lots were created for manufacturing companies; Camp Knutson,Crosslake however,in the current economy those types of companies are not locating here. 8/14 4 PM Sunday Nicht Speoa'. To maximize the city's investment In the Industrial park,It must attract smaller businesses, Bar Harbor Supper Club,Nisswa ]urchen said. ❑�❑❑❑e 11 12 13 14 15 All "It's a benefit to those who want to start a business;it's a benefit to those who have a Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon event business In the industrial park;and It's a benefit to the city,"he said ofthe proposed Powered by zvents ordinance amendment. Ryan asked if any business owners were proposing lot splits,or if any current Industrial park tenants had a personal interest In the proposal. City planner Chuck Marohn of Community Growth Institute In Baxter said no property owners were requesting this.The idea was to market the lots after the city adopted the proposal. "The only time you would want to split a lot is in a down cycle,"Ryan said,adding that marketing the lots should be an ongoing process."What appears on the surface to be a prudent business decision is counter intuitive." T_..........v...:.♦L_•...L.....16-..................:-.-.._ •L__..:_....____-......-♦4-_.........-