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Police City of Pequot City Hall 218-568-8111 Lakes 218-568-5222 Fax 218-568-5647 Fax 218-568-5860 plpd @pequotlakes-mn.gov - 4638 County Road 11 cityhall @pequotlakes-mn.gov �. Pequot Lakes,MN 56472 www.pequotlakes-mn.gov October 5,2006 Mr. Tim Houle Widseth Smith Nolting P. O. Box 2720 Baxter,MN 56425-2720 Re: Future Road Plan Dear Mr. Houle: The Planning Commission was asked to look at the proposed Road Plan. They offer the following comments in reference to the Comprehensive Plan: Land Use/Transportation Relationship: It is important to understand the relationship between transportation improvements and land use development. When roads are constructed or improved, it inevitably impacts how the surrounding area is developed (note the arguments on both sides of the TH 371 alignment debate). When the government builds roads in areas where there is no natural demand for them, it will prematurely induce development in those areas. This is particularly problematic because the induced development will typically be less efficient and most costly in the long-term than development that is market driven. Integrated Growth Plan: The Integrated Growth Plan (Future Land Use map) adopted with the Comprehensive Plan established a growth pattern that is designed to strengthen the community by building on the community's assets, protecting sensitive resource and making efficient use of taxpayer's dollars. The City's development pattern strengthens the downtown urban areas and preserves many of the more sensitive rural areas. It is critical that future public road improvements be consistent with this vision. Segment#3: The western segment of this road, depending on the alignment, would either create double frontage on some residential lots (they would.have road on both their north and south sides) or would run a major road segment through an established residential neighborhood. Either of these results would likely outweigh the value of the western part of this segment. We recommend removing the western segment of Section#3.