EDA Packet 10.17.17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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rF CITY pF HU I:ST. Retain Existing Businesses The City will continue to partner with the HBA, White Bear Chamber of Commerce, and Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA), to identify the needs of existing businesses. This partnership should strive to maintain a sound local business climate that encourages businesses to locate and expand in Hugo. The City will establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between business owners and members of the organizations by facilitating open communication and regularly checking in with existing businesses. Through this effort these groups will understand the successes and barriers businesses encounter, and better understand the opportunities and constraints to doing business in Hugo. By making site visits initiating conversation, and providing connections to resources such as Washington County's Open to Business Program, the City will be able to recognize common issues, and assist businesses in overcoming barriers to their success. Technical or financial assistance, when warranted, in the interest of maintaining jobs and creating new jobs will be provided. The City will identify successful business retention efforts within other communities and interview any businesses who decide to leave the City to understand their rationale for departing. Community Feedback The City of Hugo is developing alongside evolving economic markets which are reshaping traditional development models. In its current state, Hugo's growing population and partially developed commercial corridors position the City excellently to welcome new forms of development, which are placing more focus on consumer experience, and creating an attractive business atmosphere. Continuous residential development is increasing demand for services such as restaurants and entertainment venues, align the City's market demands with emerging patterns of development. Adhering to community feedback and staying up to date on market trends will help the City provide more opportunities to its residents and businesses. Hugo residents have told the City they appreciate the diverse and quality development that has occurred over the last decade, but they would like to see more entertainment venues in the City. With this feedback, Hugo should seek quality development that provides entertainment and restaurant services to the community, in addition to retail, commercial and professional office space. The community has also noticed an abundance of medical services but a lack of pharmaceutical businesses. This is another untapped market the City should encourage. The community has a strong desire to see redevelopment in the downtown district, as this was once the commercial hub in the City. Urban Land Institute Feedback The Urban Land Institute (ULI) are cross disciplinary retail and land use experts. Their most recent workshop of the City of Hugo provides insightful feedback regarding future development, including: • Economic development is less about what a community has rather than what it lacks • Hugo has done a great job of not forcing development before the market is ready • Data centers may be an economic development opportunity for the City • Mixed use development, with housing as an integral part, may be a desirable use in the downtown area • Successful communities develop with a clear vision, react appropriately to opportunities, create innovative financial tools and leverage their key assets • It is important to involve the next generation in decision making • Not all communities should look the same, work to preserve Hugo's character • Capitalize on Hugo's assets — "an urban environment in a rural setting." • Hugo should continue to manage its growth in a disciplined way. All good retail is grown "organically" and not forced prematurely. DRAFT 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update — Economic Development HUG16015 - September 15, 2017