3 - Comprehensive Plan Discussion

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Direct future development away from significant and/or sensitive natural resources and toward suitable areas with existing infrastructure and proper soil and slope characteristics. Benton MacKaye, a legendary land-use planner, compared urban growth to flood waters that must be controlled through a series of barriers that he referred to as"levees". Levees include significant topographic and vegetative features such as hills and bluffs,forested areas, lakeshores and other sensitive natural features. Pequot Lakes should limit development around these features and encourage development in more suitable areas. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: • Promote development and construction practices that retain and improve existing natural features and systems on and around building sites. Not all development is equal with respect to its impact on natural resources. Development practices that identify and preserve significant natural resources-such as clustering, open space dedications, restrictive covenants, or conservation easements—should be promoted by the City whenever possible. Furthermore, construction practices in all new developments should not negatively impact resources by causing erosion,tree damage, or the disruption of significant ecological features. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: \,,,, • Conservation easements are a great way to preserve and enhance natural features...but education is needed so the public understands the benefits. Support environmentally sound alternatives to transportation, power,storm water management, landscaping,and sewer treatment. One of the City's strengths is its progressive thinking.The City should take the lead in promoting the use of new, sustainable technologies for its infrastructure. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: • Foster environmental stewardship. Pequot Lakes must educate residents and visitors about the value and importance of preserving natural resources for sustaining the environment, local economy and quality of life. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: • Develop program to recognize Lake Associations that create programs to enhance and protect shorelines. • Create a brochure for lake property owners outlining the benefits (both environmental and financial) of protecting the health of lakes, lakeshore and wetlands. Send to all current property owners and whenever a property is sold.