3 - Comprehensive Plan Discussion (2)

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Proposed Strategies for Implementation: Partner with local economic development agencies to support and enhance businesses.The City should assist in energizing the local business spirit. An entrepreneurial spirit in a city is a contagious thing. If the City continues to show a dedication to business,our partners in the Chamber of Commerce and the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation will help promote it.City officials need to be active in business networks reinforcing the idea that local economic advances will come largely through local cooperation. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: • Create a local revolving loan fund. • The City's Economic Development Commission is currently working on a Small Business Subsidy Policy to enhance growth and expansion in the downtown. HOUSING POLICIES The following policies are proposed to guide future housing decisions in Pequot Lakes: Build neighborhoods that are interconnected to the rest of the community and serve to enhance the public realm.Traditional approaches to zoning are too inflexible, separating different styles of housing from each other and disconnecting neighborhoods in a way that is destructive to the character of the neighborhood. Placing large apartment buildings next to smaller-sized housing units detracts from each structure.The City's approach must be to provide many housing options—single-family,duplex, multi- family, studio apartment and more—but in a form that complements the existing character of the neighborhood. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: • Expand the Grow Zone building standards to the traditional neighborhoods of Pequot Lakes. Ensure that new housing is properly scaled to the neighborhood and designed in a way that enhances the public realm. If Pequot Lakes is to be able to afford to maintain the infrastructure in its historic neighborhoods,the value of the investments in these neighborhoods needs to increase.This will not happen if the scale and design of new investments is on a different model than the neighborhood is designed for. New housing must complement the historic development pattern in order to attract additional investment. Proposed Strategies for Implementation: