Infrastructure & Highway 65

The Issue

Transportation improvements and existing public infrastructure will influence where East Bethel grows and what kinds of development become possible. Highway 65 is not simply a road project; it is a long-term economic and land-use issue for the city.

My Position

Infrastructure should be used intentionally. Areas served by major transportation and utility investments should carry a larger share of the city’s commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and appropriate higher-density growth. Rural areas should not be urbanized simply because growth pressure exists elsewhere.

What I Would Do as Mayor

• Coordinate the comprehensive plan with Highway 65 and utility planning.
• Focus economic-development efforts where infrastructure can support higher-value uses.
• Evaluate infrastructure extensions against their long-term tax-base return and operating cost.
• Avoid using public infrastructure as an excuse for citywide suburbanization.
• Plan early for the business and development opportunities created by improved regional access.

What Success Looks Like

Infrastructure investments that produce a stronger tax base and better local services while helping preserve the rural areas residents chose East Bethel for.