Laserfiche WebLink
to.The City needs to educate everyone impacted by the Comprehensive Plan so that it is the driving <br /> vision behind all local decisions. <br /> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> POLICIES <br /> The following policies are proposed to guide future economic growth and development in Pequot Lakes: <br /> Strive to maintain long-term stability in the City's rate of taxation. Business growth and creation in <br /> Pequot is going to depend on the City's long-term competitiveness. It is enticing to spend money today <br /> to induce near-term growth. However,when that growth does not create long-term revenues to handle <br /> ongoing maintenance expenses,the subsequent rising tax rate hurts business. Pequot Lakes must take a <br /> long-term look at its tax and expense structure and ensure businesses a solid and stable investment <br /> environment. <br /> Maintain the downtown area as the center for economic activity in Pequot Lakes.As many cities <br /> struggle to keep their downtown areas strong and vital, Pequot Lakes has an advantage in that its <br /> downtown already has a healthy mix of retail and professional businesses clustered together.The City <br /> must keep the agglomeration of its businesses and seek to infill and redevelop commercial properties as <br /> they become available.The City also needs to work to systematically reconnect and rehabilitate the <br /> neighborhoods surrounding the core downtown so as to further strengthen the businesses there. <br /> Make the area's natural,scenic,and recreational amenities the Pequot Lakes brand.The primary <br /> reason that people choose to live,work and visit the Pequot Lakes area is the natural, scenic beauty and <br /> the many recreational opportunities. Pequot is in a unique position to retain that powerful brand and <br /> use it to not only enhance the quality of life for residents but provide long-term business opportunities <br /> for compatible enterprises. <br /> Streamline the regulatory process to provide business owners with flexibility while ensure new <br /> enterprises build on the community's assets and enhance its brand.The City's regulatory framework j <br /> needs to protect existing investments while at the same time encouraging the expansion and <br /> redevelopment of key commercial areas.The City's ordinances need to be continually re-evaluated to <br /> ensure that they clearly and aggressively promote the vision of this plan while eliminating needless and <br /> counterproductive regulation. Regulations must be clear to understand and approval processes should <br /> be as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. <br /> Strive to have the business park fully utilized.The long-term maintenance costs of the industrial park <br /> need to be met by increased development—and more intensive development—within the business <br /> park.Storm sewer systems are designed to handle an overall impervious coverage amount of 95%and <br /> the sanitary sewer and water systems also have excess capacity. It is critical,for the long-term economic <br />