Memorandum - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

store and pharmacy — the proposal weakens and not strengthens the downtown commercial area.) ➢ Maintain the downtown area as the center for economic activity in Pequot Lakes. As many cities struggle to keep their downtown areas strong and vital, Pequot Lakes has an advantage in that its downtown has a mix of retail, professional, transient, and industrial businesses clustered together. The City must keep the agglomeration of its businesses and seek to infill and redevelop commercial properties as they become available. (page 40) (The proposed development moves a large percentage of the commercial activity out of the downtown, which forfeits much of the strengths and advantages that Pequot Lakes has to compete as a regional destination.) ➢ Promote businesses that enhance Pequot Lakes' unique community character. Pequot Lakes needs to continue to celebrate its community character. Many rural areas have a rich history that is often lost in the name of economic development. As a result, many towns become indistinguishable from each other as they grow. Defining the rural culture and small-town heritage can act to benefit Pequot Lakes' local economy. Maintaining a sense of place to keep Pequot Lakes a great place to live and work is also critical for attracting employees, employers and customers. Many employers may make the decision to locate in Pequot Lakes based initially on the impression they get of the city from the street — aesthetics can be a huge factor in instilling confidence in the long-term viability of the town. (page 40) (The proposed development does not add to the sense-of-place, which is referenced in the Comprehensive Plan as "critical".) ➢ Ensure a highly-connected road network. Most developers prefer to develop on a cul-de-sac for a number of reasons that benefit their development in the short-term. Limiting the number of cul-de-sacs and promoting interconnecting roads creates redundancy that improves safety, provides alternative routes, and ensures a more efficient transportation network. It also reduces maintenance costs and facilitates future growth and development. (page 72) (The new development proposal fails to connect to the downtown of the community or any of the surrounding residential neighborhoods.) ➢ Provide a multi-modal transportation system. Alternative modes of transportation are becoming increasingly important, especially for protecting air quality, providing affordable transportation, and preserving the recreational lifestyle of the community. Easements and right-of-way for trails are not difficult to obtain if they are planned as part of a development. Additionally, downtown streets and streets in residential developments should include interconnected sidewalks and trails to facilitate pedestrian access, especially as the city tries to encourage redevelopment and increased density in the existing urban areas. (page 73) (While the new development plan would include a trail, it is not done at a scale or in a context that will allow for neighborhood use. The layout forces an inefficient transportation network where everything is forced onto the highway, even trips that should be short.) ➢ Utilities are a major factor in shaping land use characteristics, and so their placement should be used to implement this plan.When public utilities are available and the cost of those utilities is not subsidized by the government, market factors will cause development density to increase. Utilities should only be extended into those areas where high development density is desired. For areas that are to remain rural (those beyond the transition area), lot sizes must be large to reduce the overall pressure on the groundwater. (page 80) (While some have argued that the 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 1 Baxter, Minnesota 56425 1218.828.3064 Iwww.communitygrowth.com