Laserfiche WebLink
Hugo Downtown Planning Framework <br /> Incorporated in 1906, Hugo is a rural small town with a family-oriented feel. As Hugo grew, <br /> the intersection of Forest Boulevard (now Highway 61) and Frenchman Road (now 145th <br /> Street) became the center of town. With a train depot and an active feed mill, this was the <br /> ideal location for local, small businesses. A downtown neighborhood began to grow into a <br /> comfortable, rural village. It is this small village familiarity that the residents of Hugo wish to <br /> preserve. <br /> Aerial Photograph of Hugo in 1974 <br /> Minnesota Historical Society <br /> The Hugo Downtown Framework Plan and Design Guidelines are intended to provide <br /> direction to new development in downtown Hugo and, where needed, to shape plans for <br /> redevelopment. The Plan illustrates the type of commercial and residential development, civic <br /> and community facilities, and amenities envisioned by the citizens of Hugo. The Plan extends <br /> beyond the central commercial business district (CBD)to illustrate the entire downtown <br /> commercial area of Hugo, both existing and envisioned in the future. This vision of future <br /> development in Hugo encourages commercial growth, while seeking to concentrate that <br /> growth, around the downtown area. <br /> The Planning Process <br /> The Hugo downtown plan and preliminary design guidelines were originally developed in 1998 <br /> to address redevelopment of the downtown commercial "Main Street' on Forest Boulevard <br /> (Highway 61). But the County Road 8 improvements and rerouting required that the original <br /> plan be revisited. The new plan was needed to address the developable area along County <br /> Road 8 and to consider the impact of the new County Road 8 and Highway 61 intersection. <br /> This planning process began in the fall of 2003 and included workshops with the City Council <br /> and downtown business and property owners. A community-wide open house was held in <br /> May 2004 to encourage public input on the final plan. In August 2004, the City was awarded <br /> an Opportunity Grant from the Livable Communities Demonstration Account to develop design <br /> guidelines for the downtown area to assist in implementation of the downtown plan. <br /> Page 2 of 23 <br />