PEQUOT LAKES – A developer has applied for and received assistance from the Pequot Lakes City Council to convert the Landis + Gyr property near the Breezy Point city line on County State Aid Highway 11 into workforce housing.
At a special meeting on Monday, August 19, the council agreed to support the plan, which calls for about 40 rental units.
Stuart Swenson of SUNCOM Real Estate said he prefers renovating to building new, so he’s looking forward to the challenge. He plans to talk to Breezy Point officials about accessing the city’s sewer system from the property.
City staff had met with Swenson and Breezy Point City Manager David Chanski to discuss the plan’s potential.
Chanski said via email on Wednesday, Aug. 21, that if the Breezy Point City Council supports the project, a feasibility study would be required to determine the project’s impact on the city’s sewer system, the best route for the sewer from its current location in front of Eagle View Elementary School to the property, and the projected cost.
Since the site is currently used for light industry, only apartments with a conditional building permit would be permitted.
In the long term, the property is planned to be built with multi-family houses.
In the city’s future land use plan, the property is listed as an urban-rural transition area where, with appropriate approval, multi-family homes could be built.
Swenson sought support from the council before moving forward.
The council discussed the 2025 budget, capital projects and tax rate. The city’s preliminary tax assessment must be filed with Crow Wing County by September 30.
After discussion, the council agreed to consider a provisional property tax of $2,530,488, an increase of 1%, or $180,000, over this year’s tax of $2,350,000.
This would leave the tax rate at 46.5.
The Council plans to adopt a preliminary levy at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 3, and understands that this preliminary amount will be included in the preliminary property tax returns.
The Council will adopt a final budget and levy in December.
On other matters before the Council on Monday:
- Agreed to have city engineer Widseth informs residents about easements related to the penstock project. There are no plans to dig up the old penstock, but to seal it and abandon it.
- Heard a presentation by Jason Murray, the City’s financial advisor at David Drown Associates, about the capital improvement plan and how tax rates, bonds and grants affect capital improvements.
