08-20-2009 Planning Commission Minutes

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k looking if the property were a grocery store,just the Downtown Mixed Use zone. Based L.• on surrounding zoning classifications everything seems to fit the Downtown Mixed Use classification. Churches are located in the Downtown Mixed Use zone. Mr. Hallan stated that if this were rezoned Downtown Mixed Use it would border on Industrial zoning which is there due to past City decisions. Mr. Marohn explained that this area is not shown as Industrial on the Future Land Use Map. Mr. Hallan further stated that the Downtown Mixed Use on the east side of the highway is separated by the trail and is not highway oriented. The subject property is highway oriented. The Church property topography is a major drainage area that does not lend itself to Downtown Mixed Use. It is a natural infiltration area. It is not prime for Downtown Mixed Use due to topography. Mr. Adams concurred with Mr. Hallan's and Mr. Pederson's comments. He has been on the Commission for 5 years and has seen some pretty interesting things happening within the City even though some people have said negative comments about Pequot Lakes and people have suffered dire circumstances nationwide. Angela Sandelin opened a senior care facility. Boardwalk Scoops has been purchased and reopened. The Call Center reopened with additional jobs. The Jack Pine Center has attracted two businesses adding life to that facility and a new orthodontist building is going up next to the school. These are important things that are healthy for our City. We have open storefronts and need to support businesses in town. We are presented with a very interesting opportunity which may be the most significant opportunity for the City to look at. What will this do for the City 25 years from now? This proposal is a 6 million dollar upfront investment for the City, it establishes an anchor store for the City creating 52 to 67 jobs and acts as a magnet for other businesses to come into the City. If we redefine Downtown Mixed Use zone to the southern edge on the east we need to look at what the City may look like in the future. The Oasis property is 570 feet from the property. This business also creates competition for the existing grocery in the area. Competition is not a bad thing; it is a hard thing and it serves the community well. Mr. Adams thinks the Planning Commission would be remiss to not find a way to make this happen and to not convince the Council to make this happen. Mr. Williams stated that a Zoning Map should be set in stone and changing it should not be done lightly. Even the subject property should not be done lightly. Mr. Williams pointed out that these parcels may have been zoned Downtown Mixed Use if they were originally part of the City prior to the merger with Sibley Township. He reiterated Mr. Pederson's comments regarding density in the area. There doesn't seem to be many spots in the existing Downtown Mixed Use zone that could handle a development of this size. We may need to expand the Downtown Mixed Use zone. The question is where to expand it. The residential development on Old 371 north(County Road 112), Trailside, blocks that area. Expansion to the northwest runs into the lake and wetland, southeast runs into the Industrial Park,the southwest area. This proposed project is in the southwest area. The apartment complex and density is closer in walking distance than other areas. Connecting the school through Olson Street really connects this to the Minutes 8 Pequot Lakes Planning Commission August 20, 2009