EDA Packet 09.19.17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

The City will locate new commercial businesses where municipal utilities are available. Urban services will be made available to the areas guided for business development in accordance with the City's sewer and water plans. The City will strive to ensure that telecommunications needs are met for new or existing businesses. The City will evaluate how fiber optic lines or other telecommunication technology can be extended and used in areas where businesses are located or plan to locate. Downtown Redevelooment The City has adopted a redevelopment plan for downtown Hugo (Chapter 4). The downtown plan strives to maintain the City's business core in downtown with a traditional downtown urban format. For this to become possible, redevelopment of structures in the downtown area must occur. The City has purchased a number of properties in downtown along the east side of Highway 61. As additional properties become available by willing sellers in this area, the City will pursue purchases of those properties. The existing structures will be removed, and the properties will be redeveloped by the City as retail and office space. Multiple other property owners in the downtown area have expressed interest in redeveloping their properties in a manner consistent with the downtown plan. In order to facilitate that development, the City has approved a Tax Increment Financing District to help ensure that development is feasible in the downtown area. Gateways The new development along County Road 8 has established a quality atmosphere at the major western entrance to the City. The attractive development there helps create a good first impression and serves to define the image of City. The City will expend extra effort to establish gateways that exude a similar image of quality at all major entrances to the City, including the northern and southern limits of Highway 61, and the western limit of County Road 4. Promote Quality among New Businesses The City will establish and implement development standards for new business development, including architectural guidelines for retail development, standards requiring quality building materials, and guidance for the preparation of site plans that promote good land planning principles. Proper use of guidelines will ensure that the desired businesses locate in the appropriate areas. Retain Existing Businesses The City will continue to partner with the HBA to identify the needs of existing businesses. The EDA and the HBA should strive to maintain a sound local business climate that encourages businesses to remain. The City will establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between business owners, members of the HBA and EDA by