8Ai - Comprehensive Plan Discussion - Community Character

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�-' I SENSE-OF-PLACE 2 The components that give parts of the historic downtown in Pequot Lakes a strong sense-of-place have been 3 studied by the Planning Commission.They are simple to identify and understand.Where they are absent,it is quite 4 easy to see how the public realm is diminished. 5 The two key components are: 6 1. Lining up the buildings. Where the buildings are lined up, they have the effect of creating a wall. This 7 boundary condition makes the space feel comfortable to people within it.Where the wall effect is absent, 8 the sense-of-place is lost and the experience of walking past will be unsettling to a pedestrian. 9 2. Maintaining the correct width to height ratio.Once the buildings are lined up to form walls,they need to 10 be correctly spaced or the sense-of-place effect is lost. Maintaining a width to height ratio of between 3:1 11 and 6:1 is necessary,with 3:1 being optimal. If the buildings are too close,the space will feel cramped. If 12 they are too far away,the public realm feels barren and the sense-of-place is lost. 13 This applies to areas that are commercial as well as residential.Wherever attention is paid to these two elements, 14 the public realm is enhanced, a sense-of-place can be achieved and the properties become memorable in a way 15 that translates directly into higher valuations. 16 Coding for these simple attributes does not require the heavy hand of government that is often apparent in zoning 17 codes. To capture the sense-of-place and create a memorable human environment, the city is not called on to 18 regulate such things as siding type or building color. Instead, some simple physical guidelines are all that is 19 necessary, giving the property owner the freedom to develop their own property once the essential elements are 20 satisfied. 21 SMALL TOWN FEEL 22 The downtown area—with its unique landmarks,quaint shops,and diverse services–is one of Pequot Lakes'most 23 valued assets. Downtown landmarks such as "The Bobber", public art, the Cole building and the trail center and 24 park define the Pequot Lakes community. Many historic sites offer a reminder of Pequot's rich heritage.The City 25 features traditional neighborhoods surrounding the downtown, as well as small farms and country homes dotting 26 the area that was once Sibley Township. Public land and uninterrupted forests further accentuate the rural,small 27 town feel indicative of Pequot Lakes. 28 A Downtown Plan proposed in 2006 outlines design strategies for enhancing the small town feel of the historic 29 downtown.The plan also contains strategies designed to strengthen the economy of the downtown by providing 30 increased opportunity for mixed-use development. Adding a built-in "customer" base by promoting new 31 residences in the downtown while designing the public realm to have a strong pedestrian-orientation will allow a 32 mix of businesses to be viable on a year-round basis.This approach will also make more-efficient use of existing 33 infrastructure investments,which is essential if those systems are to be affordable over the long run. 34 NATURAL FEATURES 35 Pequot Lakes is a gateway to the Central Lakes Region. Long-time residents, newcomers, and visitors feel strongly 36 connected to this north-woods landscape.Although rapid population growth and improvements in transportation 37 have the potential to boost Pequot Lakes' local economy, citizens and visitors alike don't want economic 38 development and expansion to occur at the expense of their natural features. 21 Page