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b. Grow Zone Expansion: <br /> It was the consensus of the Planning Commission to incorporate both the Grow Zone <br /> Expansion and the Walkability Study into one discussion and to also include as part of <br /> the Downtown Master Plan. <br /> c. Walkability Study: <br /> See Grow Zone Expansion. <br /> d. Recap of Comprehensive Plan as Presented to City Council <br /> Chairman Pederson informed the Planning Commission that the City Council had tabled <br /> the Comprehensive Plan approval. When asked for his reason for not supporting Mr. <br /> Ryan stated he had already given his concerns to the Planning Commission. Chairman <br /> Pederson will revisit the recording of the May Planning Commission meeting and make <br /> notes of what his objections were. Mr. Akerson stated he agreed with the introduction. <br /> He also stated that the Comprehensive Plan as presented was not his vision for the town <br /> and couldn't accept the Comprehensive Plan. The approval will rest until fall as Mr. <br /> Ryan was too busy to work on it. Chairman Pederson stated that we will need to gather <br /> information from them explaining exactly what is missing or what is in there that they <br /> don't like. Chairman Pederson plans to ask Mr. Akerson for his vision points in writing. <br /> Chairman Pederson asked Mr. Derksen to define his objections to the Comp Plan, either <br /> in writing so we can look at it or indicate where the verbiage can be found. Mr. Derksen <br /> stated the Economic Development part was developed on the Mom and Pop theory and <br /> that has been debunked. The City needs to attract manufacturing. Chairman Pederson <br /> stated he doesn't see where that is prohibited. Mr. Ryan pointed out Mann Lake but we <br /> have businesses that have done that too. <br /> Mr. Adams stated that Mr. Ryan was critical of the City not attracting businesses like <br /> Mann Lake that started out in a garage and expanded. He is unfair and incorrect in not <br /> acknowledging that we have Landis Gyr, Hunt Technologies,that started out in a garage, <br /> and has 187 fulltime employees,professional jobs, well paying jobs. We also have the <br /> School District which has 180 fulltime jobs that are largely professionally educated <br /> people. <br /> Mr. Derksen stated he is looking for companies that hire local people. He agrees with <br /> what Mr. Habein stated last month that the school has not educated people in the area for <br /> the jobs this area has. Mr. Habein stated that we cannot create $10 to $15 an hour jobs <br /> for people that don't have skills. Mr. Derksen stated we need to try to attract some <br /> companies. <br /> Mr. Adams stated that TDS is a company in town. Those are a lot of jobs that are not <br /> minimum pay. We have smaller employers such as medical services, excluding assisted <br /> living, with 34 fulltime and 16 part-time jobs, and financial services with 77 fulltime and <br /> 10 part-time jobs, including CPA's and insurance. We do have entry level jobs,but we <br /> do have good, well paying jobs in a town of 2,000. Mr. Ryan was totally wrong stating <br /> we don't have opportunities. <br /> MINUTES 3 <br /> Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br /> June 16, 2011 <br />