05.01 Planning and Zoning Administrator's Report

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Page 1 of 2 Pequot Lakes City Hall From: "Charles Marohn" <marohn @communitygrowth.com> To: "City of Pequot Lakes" <cityhall @uslink.net> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 11:19 AM Subject: 030304 Memo to Council MEMO Date: March 3, 2004 To: Mayor and City Council City of Pequot Lakes From: Charles Marohn, PE City Planner Re: Draft Comprehensive Plan/Upcoming Chamber Meeting At the end of an effective comprehensive planning process, there are always difficult issues to deal with. A good plan crystallizes the vision of the community, clearly defines the issues at hand and maps out strategies for moving ahead into the future. A poor plan does none of those things, leaving a community without a common vision or direction. I've found that, the closer a good plan gets to being adopted, the more vocal and involved people become. Individuals who may not agree with one aspect of the plan or another mobilize other individuals and things can quickly get fairly intense. There are two cures for this: First, read the plan. Second, give specifics. Despite the comments being relayed to me about the draft plan, the plan is: • Pro business, especially in regards to the downtown retail section of town. • Pro growth and development, especially in those areas where it benefits existing businesses. • Divided(or even ambivalent) on the proposed alignment of Highway 371. The draft plan takes these positions because they reflect the positions of the community. To address any misperceptions or points of contention, I have asked to be a guest speaker at the March 11 Chamber of Commerce meeting of the general membership. It is my hope to provide a broad overview of the plan, a brief history of the last two years in the P&Z office and to allow ample time for questions and answers in relationship to the plan or P&Z in general. The Chamber has accepted my request. The Planning Commission is on the verge of approving the draft plan and forwarding it to you. In doing so, they are saying, "This is the community's vision. We support the plan and its contents." For you to approve the plan, you need to be able to say the same thing. If you can not, we need to identify what in the plan is the obstacle. It is the same as with the Commission; Read the plan. Give specifics. The Planning Commission is meeting on March 18 and will continue their review of the draft plan. If 03/03/2004