2023.03.06 Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for February 6, 2023 Page 7 of 11 for a six-acre piece of land for apartments and was not looking to do mixed use. The applicant considered the feedback and proposed a new sketch plan for Planning Commission review. At its January 12, 2023, meeting the Planning Commission reviewed the new concept plan that showed a mixed-use development with commercial uses along CSAH 8 and apartments behind that. The apartments would be the first phase of the development. The applicant had a purchase agreement for the whole site. There was no phasing plan at that time. Juba explained the property was mostly zoned C-1 where it was expected to have varying uses. The property was also guided for mixed use in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. She said it is a highly visible area of the City, and the Downtown Design Guidelines needed to be met that blends commercial and residential uses together. She showed renderings of the commercial building and apartments saying they would meet the intent of the Design Guidelines but comments from the Planning Commission indicated they did not like the large mass of the apartment building and suggested it be reduced by removing the middle and creating two buildings. They also wanted the underground parkingentrance to be moved to the back of the building instead of in the front. Juba showed on the plan where the trail would be located and the connection to the Hardwood Creek Trail. Park dedication would be considered on a small park area shown on the plan, but she said it didn’t look like much usable space and would need to be evaluated by staff. The landscaping plan showed the ditch to the south and area where trees would be removed. Juba said staff would like more buffering there. The main entrance would be off CSAH 8 and may eventually include a traffic signal. This would need to be evaluated, and the applicant would need to work with the County to do a traffic study. A portion of Victor Path would need to be built, and Fenway Avenue to the south would require easement acquisitions. A regional pond proposed to be constructed to the west would need to be evaluated, and the applicant had not indicated if storm water reuse would be used. Sewer and water were available to the property. Juba said the Planning Commission liked the walking loops, common spaces, and that it would meet the downtown plan guidelines. They felt architectural design covenants should be in place, and the building mass should be reduced. She said staff felt the applicant was on the right track, but details needed to be worked out, and phasing would be very important. Developer Peter Stalland said he had been working for a few months with staff and wanted to point out that he had the entire 23 acres tied up with the seller. He would have covenants in respect to the architecture so it would be cohesive. He said Washington County would not allow a right-in right-out on the County road so they needed to deal with one entrance and move the roundabout. He originally wanted to just do apartments at the street and it now it was 23 acres. He said there was a lot of risk with the project, and to put all the money upfront was difficult if you still have commercial to sell. He said if the City was interested, he would need help with the stoplight and roundabout, which doesn’t have to be built right away. He talked about the garages and said he could put up a nice landscaping barrier to prevent headlights on neighboring properties. Klein said he agreed with the Planning Commission’s comments; it would be nice to put in two buildings instead of one. He said the City normally has developers pay for infrastructure, and it should be his burden. He thought the project looked good, and he had no problem with the south