3 - Comprehensive Plan Discussion

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1 clean,trash-free forests or watching the stars at night.Anything that disrupts these experiences poses a threat to 2 the future quality of life. 3 POLICIES 4 The following policies are proposed to guide future preservation and management of natural resources in Pequot 5 Lakes: 6 Protect and enhance natural resources and open space contributing to the character and vitality of Pequot 7 Lakes.While it may seem that Pequot Lakes has an abundance of natural resources and open spaces, unmanaged 8 growth and development could degrade the City's natural resources.The City must actively protect existing natural 9 resources and enhance those that contribute to Pequot Lakes'rural character. 10 Direct future development away from significant and/or sensitive natural resources and toward suitable areas 11 with existing infrastructure and proper soil and slope characteristics. 12 Benton MacKaye, a legendary land-use planner, compared urban growth to flood waters that must be controlled 13 through a series of barriers that he referred to as "levees" . Levees include significant topographic and vegetative 14 features such as hills and bluffs, forested areas, lakeshores and other sensitive natural features. Pequot Lakes 15 should limit development around these features and encourage development in more suitable areas. 16 Promote development and construction practices that retain and improve existing natural features and systems 17 on and around building sites. Not all development is equal with respect to its impact on natural resources. 18 Development practices that identify and preserve significant natural resources - such as clustering, open space 19 dedications, restrictive covenants, or conservation easements — should be promoted by the City whenever 20 possible. Furthermore, construction practices in all new developments should not negatively impact resources by 21 causing erosion,tree damage,or the disruption of significant ecological features. 22 Support more environmentally sound alternatives to transportation, power, storm water management, 23 landscaping,and sewer treatment. One of the City's strengths is its progressive thinking.The City should take the 24 lead in promoting the use of new,sustainable technologies for its infrastructure. 25 Foster environmental stewardship. Pequot lakes must educate residents and visitors about the value and 26 importance of preserving natural resources for sustaining the environment,local economy and quality of life. 27 ACTIONS 28 SHORT-TERM ACTIONS WITHIN 1 YEAR): 29 ❑ Discourage the use of fertilizers and insecticides where risk of groundwater and surface water 30 contamination are high. Identify these high risk areas and create an overlay district for promoting Best 31 Management Practices for watershed health. 32 ❑ Host community clean-up and tree-planting events. 33 ❑ To protect groundwater and the City's water supply,limit development in areas with shallow depth to the 34 water table and sand over sand geological features. 35 ❑ Retain and manage native vegetation cover in areas with high erosion potential. 14IPage