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<br />Nisswa: Tourist 'magnet,' not a tourist 'trap'
<br />Commercial, business planning meeting focused on growth - while preserving town character
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<br />,U1S HOGLUND
<br />EdItor
<br />urist "trap"?
<br />tourist "magnet."
<br />The latter description has a beller
<br />ring to it. concluded many at the Nov.
<br />19 Nisswa Navigators meeting.
<br />
<br />Discussion was both informative
<br />and entertaining as nearly 70 people
<br />gathered in the St. Christopher's church
<br />basement.
<br />It was the largest turnout yet for the
<br />series of "Healthy Community" plan-
<br />ning sessions. Leading the session was
<br />
<br />Jay Blake, planner with Landecker and
<br />Associates.
<br />Commercial design was the subject
<br />for the event. which could explain the
<br />successfullumout. The crowd includ-
<br />ed numerous Nisswa business owners.
<br />C<<ItJnued on ~ 6
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<br />Nisswa: Tourist 'magnet,' nota tourist 'trap'
<br />1here's no turning back-Nisswa will grow, but planning group strives for orderly progress
<br />
<br />continued fnxn page 1
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<br />Though the thrust of the meeting was
<br />commercial development. the discussion
<br />was lively and entertaining---covering
<br />many aspects of the lake country.
<br />. Concerns were expressed several times
<br />that Nisswa not evolve into a communi-
<br />ty that resembled "Blaine...Maple
<br />Grove" or any other number of suburbs.
<br />. Reslricting or limiting "chain" stores
<br />and restaurants was mentioned several
<br />times, though nobody is quite sure how
<br />to legally accomplish that goal.
<br />. Jim Biersach commented that in
<br />Wisconsin, a community limited devel-
<br />opment by outsiders by requiring all new
<br />businesses to live in the area. Such a
<br />
<br />
<br />downtown." Many communities are tryjng
<br />to rebuild their downtowns, but Nisswa is
<br />fortunate that it still has a viable downtown,
<br />said Blake.
<br />"A little bit of a parking problem is good,"
<br />
<br />requirement seems to )'IJII contrary to
<br />constitutional law.
<br />. Ingrid Anderson, a Nisswa area retailer,
<br />said she hears comments that the down-
<br />town should not be changed. Some have
<br />commented that Nisswa is starting to
<br />look "too new" and that the "old town
<br />look" should be retained.
<br />. Shutting down Main Street to traffic is
<br />an idea that has surfaced, partly with the
<br />idea of reducing traffic congestion. But
<br />Gary Severson noted that this has
<br />"destroyed" downtowns in other cities.
<br />Further, such a move could actually
<br />increase parking shortages.
<br />. Concerns were voiced that Nisswa is Ios-
<br />
<br />Blake reminded the group. ''If you didn't
<br />have a parking problem, there would be no
<br />reason to stop."
<br />To have a viable business community,
<br />while preserving the beauty of the area.
<br />Blake discouraged "slrip mall mentality."
<br />
<br />ing what few trees remained in the
<br />downtown area.
<br />. Wisconsin Dells came up in the discus-
<br />sion several times, as the quintessential
<br />"tourist trap." Nisswa would prefer to
<br />be a "magnet" as. oJlP!lSed to a "trap."
<br />"Everybody goes to ~ Dells with their
<br />kids once or twice." said planner Jay
<br />Blake. "But nobody ever says they're
<br />from Wisconsin Dells."
<br />. Mary Dullum cautioned the group
<br />against. a negative altitude toward
<br />tourists. VISitors and .seasonal residents
<br />bring a vibrancy, new ideas and a broad-
<br />er view to the community.
<br />. Year-round industry, with higher paying
<br />
<br />To this end, Blake promotes "backage"
<br />roads as opposed to frontage roads. He also
<br />favon parking to the side or rear of build-
<br />ings. "Huge parking lots in front of build-
<br />ings are evil." said Blake. "It i:reates the
<br />wrong kind of character."
<br />"Conservation-based commercial design"
<br />takes creativity and work, but can improve
<br />the clwacter of the community by reducing
<br />the amount of visible blacktop and pave-
<br />ment.
<br />Commercial development should be in
<br />"blocks, not slrips." said Blake.
<br />Facility design on highways can be
<br />imProved through landscape design.
<br />The Nov. 19 meeting on commercial
<br />design was one of several "focus group
<br />meetings" by the Nisswa Navigators. The
<br />group met in October on the subject of parks
<br />and open space.
<br />Upcomi~i"Nisswa Navigator sessions
<br />include a residential development discussion
<br />Dee. IS, and' illand use plan session on Jan.
<br />12.
<br />The Healthy Community Planning series
<br />is made possible through a grant from the
<br />Central Minnesota Initiative Fund.
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<br />Any discussion of business in Nisswa
<br />starts with tourism.
<br />While the description "totlrist trap" has
<br />negative connotations, the groUp in general
<br />accepted the fact that tourism is Nisswa's
<br />destiny.
<br />"I don't think we can stop it." said Blake.
<br />"There's no turning back."
<br />While tourists and seasonal residents cre-
<br />ate traffic congestion and consume parking
<br />spaces, there is little doubt that Nisswa is a
<br />town built by vacationers.
<br />The challenge, said Blake. is to preserve
<br />small town character in the face of rapid
<br />growth.
<br />"Don't let tourism control the city," said
<br />Blake. "Try to recognize changes. try to pre-
<br />dict the future...and try to protect and capi-
<br />talize on the historic character of the town."
<br />Though. difficult to define on paper,
<br />"small town character" might include these
<br />factors: Friendly people; small. inobtrusive
<br />signs; lOCally owned businesses, not chain
<br />operations; slower pace of life; active
<br />churches and community organizations.
<br />. A defining feature in small town America.
<br />d Jay Blake, is a "pedeslrian oriented
<br />
<br />
<br />Citizens joined in lively discussion of Nisswa's future appearance
<br />
<br />jobs, would allow more young people to
<br />stay in the community. More incentives
<br />for industry were suggested.
<br />. But. more industry means more housing.
<br />Marie UIm suggested that Nisswa accept
<br />its history as a tourism-hospitality com-
<br />munity-and not seek out larger employ-
<br />ers, which will tend to drive up housing
<br />needs and iDCJease population.
<br />. While most tourism sector jobs do not
<br />pay well enough to support a family,
<br />many businesses are paying more for
<br />good help. Betsy Hollister, of
<br />Adirondack, said her hourly wage has
<br />risen well beyond minimum wage just to
<br />keep good help.
<br />
<br />Lake Shore to take part in
<br />CMIF Healthy Communities
<br />program set for March
<br />~fnxn page 1
<br />Lakes and Emily; Pequot Lakes; Baxter and Brainerd; and Pine
<br />River. Samp said that Wadena also may join the group.
<br />Funding for the training will come from the McKnight
<br />Foundation.
<br />'"This is an excellent opportunity to revise your comprehen-
<br />E-:pIan." Samp said "It also is a way to bring convnunities
<br />and cooperate."
<br />He added. "Growth needs to be managed. We don't plan to
<br />fail, but we fail to plan."
<br />The council unanimously approved applying for the pro-
<br />pam.
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<br />Community group seeking support partners
<br />for Healthy Communities Program.
<br />
<br />A local group of concerned citizens have formed to
<br />explore the needs for improving communication
<br />between existing and newly. formed community groups.
<br />The committee includes over 30 community leaders.
<br />Recreation, Religion, Housing, Business, Technology,
<br />Social Organizations, Government, Youth and
<br />Education are supporting the concept of creating an
<br />attainable vision for the greater Pequot Lakes Area.
<br />The Healthy Communities Partnership Program is
<br />offered to local communities by the Central Minnesota
<br />Initiative Fund to train local leaders and to facilitate full
<br />community participation in fasbioning a better future
<br />for communities through developing a common vision
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<br />and more effectively using existing community
<br />resources. The grant also includes S I 0,000 to be used
<br />for a community project.
<br />Organizations are being contacted for letters of sup-
<br />port of this concept. We ~ also looking f?r mo~ ind!-
<br />viduals who would like to be partners Wtth us ID this
<br />process. Training will start in late February or early
<br />March if our grant is approved.
<br />If you have an. interest and have not heard from us
<br />please contact Dan Frank at Community Education,
<br />568-9200, or Jay Blake at Landeckers and Associates at
<br />568-4940.
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