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The second is that the applicant, Oppidan, and the property owner, Don Babinski, have indicated that they are now not willing and/or able to consummate an agreement for the land configuration as negotiated and agreed to with the City.Oppidan/Babinski have now indicated that: ➢ The City's impervious coverage standards are unreasonable. They indicate that other communities they work in have more lenient standards that easily facilitate the style of development they are proposing. ➢ A road connection to the north can't happen. One or the other or both do not desire the connection. ➢ The spacing of buildings and green space along the highway corridor brought about by the coverage standards is a waste of valuable real estate. While many cities assemble their ordinances by simply copying someone else's, Pequot Lakes has not. The ordinances relating to the highway corridor are intentional, have been strictly adhered to in other applications and are designed to bring about a development pattern desired by the entire community. From the Comprehensive Plan: ➢ The City of Pequot Lakes wants its community character—including the small town feel, natural features, social gathering places and events, and recreational opportunities - to serve as the foundation for economic vitality and quality of life. An increasingly large number of studies support this philosophy, with findings indicating that communities taking steps to actively protect their distinct community assets clearly enhance their economic potential, putting them at an advantage over other communities that don't identify and preserve the components contributing to their community character. (page 16) (The proposed development of this site is consistent with suburban development patterns seen south of Pequot Lakes along the TH 371 corridor. It does not enhance the small-town feel of the community and, economically, is likely displace two or three destination-type businesses in the downtown). ➢ Preserve and maintain forested gateways leading into Pequot Lakes. Planning participants expressed concern that forested gateways into the City could be lost. Residents need to work hard to preserve their community's natural and scenic areas. (page 16) (While the Planning Commission has negotiated screening for the development, that screening is not consistent with the concept of a forested gateway and is not consistent with what has been required for other commercial properties similarly zoned.) ➢ Ensure that all new development complements and does not detract from the natural, scenic, and cultural amenities unique to Pequot Lakes. Many new developments follow suburban land use patterns and design guidelines, resulting in look-alike cities. All new developments — including commercial, industrial, residential, mixed use, recreational, or civic — should incorporate Pequot Lakes' small town feel and cultural heritage in their layout and design. (page 16) (As stated, the pattern of development proposed will look like other big-box retail outlets along the TH 371 corridor and does not incorporate Pequot Lakes' small town feel into the layout, which is standard suburban design.) ➢ Monitor commercial development along roadways by adopting a zoning strategy that strengthens the downtown commercial area, permits sensible development, and retains forested gateways leading into Pequot Lakes. (page 17) (By drawing destination traffic out of the downtown and potentially dislocating two or three destination businesses—grocery store, liquor 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 1 Baxter, Minnesota 56425 1218.828.3064 1www.communitygrowth.com