Pine Island, MN, After more than two years of project planning and negotiations with Tower Investment, LLC. the City of Pine Island is moving forward with installation of sewer and water services to the first phase of the Elk Run Development. Throughout its long term planning process that led to the adoption of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Pine Island addressed a number of important policy issues; dealing with public resources allocation, and development direction.
The policy statements adopted in the City’s 2005 Comprehensive Plan spoke to the need for suitable industrial/commercial land, the need for a transportation plan, and the need to minimize future land use conflict and public investment.
Based on area topography, traffic counts, historic development trends and direction of recent land annexations to the City the comprehensive plan pointed to a future that lies to the south and east of town along U.S. Highway 52.
The provision of sewer and water to the first phase of the Elk Run Bio-Business Park represents the fulfillment of “a manifest destiny’ for Pine Island. It represents the embodiment of what was clear to the casual observer that Pine Island will one day begin to grow along U.S. 52 towards Rochester.
While future land use may lie to the south and east with U.S. Highway 52 as its back bone, the community has a proud history and a unique character of its own. The City’s Historic Preservation Commission is involved in making decisions on structural and public element design for Elk Run. The HPC is involved here in the same way they were involved in the design of lighting and other features for the 2007 Main Street project. In fact, as development and permitting review begins on Elk Run, the City will ensure that common design elements, such as lighting and traditional Main Street architectural features are carried out throughout the new development.
The utilities project to Elk Run is completely financed by direct contribution from Tower Investment, LLC. and The State of Minnesota. No matter what the future brings the City of Pine Island with the direction of a fully involved leadership; has already accomplished the following strategic objectives:
- Shovel ready industrial and commercial land served by public utilities.
- Pine Island’s ability to exercise its land use planning guidelines over a vast prime development land.
- Opening of new frontier for continued future development without taking on additional local debt. (Zero long OR short term debt to the City as a result of this project).
- Have the unique opportunity to plan future land use as it relates to the rest of the community, and fixing the blue print of the community in accordance with the comprehensive plan. Better land use planning.
- Ensure minimum future land use conflict.
- Partner with State and national resources (private and public) to market Pine Island as a hub for future commercial and industrial activities and the emerging Bio-Science based businesses.
As students of history, both ancient and recent we were taught that if you do not practice your will in land use planning, others will plan it for you. What Pine Island already achieved as of today are a set of important objectives the community outlined in its long term planning process which began in 2001. What happens from here on out can be of great benefit to Pine Island and its citizens.
Abraham Algadi, City Administrator
