06 - 06.04 - Planning and Zoning Items

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N - - I believe this parcel of property should be zoned Urban Residential,in order to allow the property to be developed in the same fashion contemplated for development prior to the zoning change last year. If the property remains Transition Residential,the property will be severely down-zoned, as the density allowed in the Transition Residential zone is much lower than that which was previously allowed in the multi-family zone. The Pequot Lakes Comprehensive Plan supports the Urban Residential classification for this parcel of property, and rezoning this property Urban Residential would conform to the overriding goal of providing additional housing areas very close to the core of the City of Pequot Lakes. The Pequot Lakes comprehensive plan,identifies as a policy the expansion of high density housing options close to downtown. As you know,municipal sewer and water services are available very close to this property, in fact at the southwestern edge of the Pequot Terrace. The plan which has been put together by Mr. and Mrs. Smith envisions the creation of additional infrastructure to provide sewer and water services to the proposed housing development. The Comprehensive Plan provides that the land surrounding downtown is appropriate for location of townhomes, condos, duplexes,multi-family apartments, and other high density housing options. The Comprehensive Plan further provides as a goal the elimination of substandard housing and encourages new homes of quality construction and affordability. The Comprehensive Plan states that a goal is to provide affordable housing options for young families wishing to join the Pequot Lakes workforce. In addition,the Comprehensive Plan encourages off lake residential development in areas which do not excessively add to the service burden of the City,and encourages new development on or near existing roadways. This property is serviced by County Road 112, and is located in very close proximity to, and in fact walking distance from,the centralized downtown area of Pequot Lakes, and is bordered on the west by the Paul Bunyan Trail. Allowing this property to remain zoned Transition Residential will seriously and detrimentally impact the value of the property. The property, if rezoned to a classification similar to that prior to the rezoing,with an ability to accept densities which are allowed in the Urban Transition zone,will allow the property to remain as valuable as the property was prior to the recent zoning change. In addition, allowing the property to be zoned Urban Transition will allow for an acceptable and economically viable residential development in an area of the City which can be served by municipal sewer and water services and is located in very close proximity to the downtown core businesses of Pequot Lakes. gizAid)