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communities, such as Nisswa and Crosby. The Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of <br /> Commerce also has been expanding to include businesses throughout the region, now <br /> boasting more than 1,1oo business members. The Chamber of Commerce recently <br /> completed construction on a new Welcome Center just to the south of Brainerd to greet <br /> visitors as they enter the lakes region and to supplement the information already <br /> available at the other welcome centers located in Crosslake and Pequot Lakes. <br /> Over the last ten years, the Highway 371 corridor in the Baxter area has experienced <br /> significant change, with the addition of several convenience retail stores including <br /> Target,Menards,and Wal-Mart.The tourism industry also has not slackened,but rather <br /> is experiencing a metamorphosis from a foundation in small, family-run resorts and <br /> cabins to a larger, more complex resort industry. This change can be seen in the <br /> declining number of small resorts and the number of resort conversion projects as well <br /> as the burgeoning hotel and spa facilities becoming available in the region. <br /> Cities like Pequot Lakes and Nisswa have capitalized on the vacation-oriented growth by <br /> providing visitors with distinct retail destinations. Both cities have compact business <br /> districts with small boutiques, shops, and restaurants that cater to vacationers looking <br /> for a small town shopping experience. <br /> Pending State Highway 371 Improvements <br /> Downtown Pequot is bisected by a major transportation thoroughfare, State Highway <br /> 371. The increasing year-round and seasonal populations in the region have placed <br /> strain on the major route through the Central Lakes Region and public officials have <br /> responded with plans for increasing the traffic capacity of the road.North of downtown <br /> Nisswa,State Highway 371 narrows from a four-lane highway to a two-lane highway and <br /> travels as such through Downtown Pequot. <br /> Traffic on this highway is expected to dramatically increase over the next ten years.As a <br /> result, officials and engineers from Crow Wing County and the Minnesota Department Deleted`plans <br /> of Transportation have been working with local officials in planning the expansion of the Deleted: up <br /> highway.This will include the construction of an alternative alignment that will take the Deleted:Preliminary plans show the <br /> hi wa to the east of the existin downtown. Prelimina thematic§have been drawn, Highway increasing from two lanes to <br /> 11 X g rye------------------------------------ i four lanes through Downtown Pequot. <br /> but no plans have been officially finalized. Many local roads that currently have <br /> - - -- ------ direct access to the Highway would <br /> have those intersections with the <br /> - - - - <br /> Highway removed.The intersection <br /> with County State Aid Highway 11 <br /> (Main Street)would remain,as this <br /> road serves as a link to the resort <br /> community to the east in Breezy Point <br /> and beyond. <br /> Deleted:Recent debate and <br /> discussion amongst City Council <br /> members would have the City re- <br /> examine the decision on the highway <br /> 371 alignment.If an alternate route <br /> were chosen,it would create a bypass <br /> of the City to the east.The existing <br /> highway alignment would likely be <br /> turned over to Crow Wing County.In <br /> this scenario,the main entrance to <br /> the core downtown area would be <br /> from the east on CSAH u. <br /> Pequot Lakes Downtown Plan—Updated December 2007 5 <br />