6A - Industrial Zone Ordinance Amendments

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MMUNITYGROWTH Goof I N S T I T U T E Nam Eyjwris in Small Town Planrrir{iz es 6(a)Industrial Zone Ordinance Amendments The Pequot Lakes EDC has been considering both expansion of the existing industrial park and ways to make better use of the existing park. One of the ideas that has been discussed is the notion of providing for more intense use of the existing infrastructure. In a May 19,208 memo to the EDC,we stated the following: "Given the existing uses in the park, which are predominantly low-intensity, some of the bulk restrictions may be able to be modified to increase the use of the properties...... "If these changes are made, there would be a natural incentive for property owners to subdivide the lots. Subdivision would be done by metes and bounds, a relatively simple process, and we could create a number of incentives in that process, such as eliminating the requirement for two-foot contour mapping (the topography in the park facilitates commercial/industrial development and further analysis would not be necessary)that would make such subdivisions even easier. The City Engineer has raised concerns with the potential subdivision of parcels within the park. Each existing parcel has a sewer and water service. It is the City's policy, and proper engineering practice, that each parcel would retain its own service. Subdivision of industrial park lots would necessitate a variance to this policy or the costly excavation of the water and sewer pipes to provide new service connections. This is a policy decision that we have no recommendation on. Additionally, it may be possible to provide incentives for subdivision beyond simply making the process easier and less burdensome. Those might include: - City purchase and"redevelopment"of specific lots, - City reimbursement for survey costs if development happens within a certain period of time,and - Waiving of fees. - There are likely others. These are also policy decisions and we do not have a recommendation. What we do recommend is that the City seriously considers changing the restrictions and limitation on parcels within the Industrial Park. Such modifications would provide additional flexibility to current users,allow for more efficient use of vacant space in the park, provide incentives for additional redevelopment and protect the character of the existing park." Based on discussions with the Pequot Lakes EDC, we have developed some ordinance changes for your consideration. Pequot Lakes Staff Report 6(a)-1 June i9,20o8