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<br />Planning: <br /> <br /> Downtown Hugo and city-owned property. With the developer cancelling plans for <br />this project, the EDA will determine what the next steps are with the project. <br /> <br /> Local Affordable Housing Aid. The City will now be receiving funds from the State <br />that must be spent to support affordable housing. Staff will either need to develop its own <br />program for use of these funds or contract with Washington County CDA. Staff will prepare <br />information for a workshop to discuss this program with Council. <br /> <br />City’s Shoreland Ordinance. Will need to be evaluated following DNR resistance to <br />the City’s downtown planning efforts. Elsewhere in the City, the shoreland rules do not make <br />sense in the context of development applications, and the rules are inconsistent with conservation <br />goals. <br /> <br /> Highway 61. Connected to the Highway 61 visioning study, changes to this corridor <br />may trigger the need to update other sections of the City’s Comprehensive Plan <br /> <br /> Apartments. Reacting to recent development approvals and new concept plans showing <br />apartments, the Planning Commission adopted a goal to evaluate whether higher density <br />residential development should be encouraged in more areas of the City. This is a significant <br />question that could impact sections of the City’s zoning ordinances and Comprehensive Plans. <br />Discussion of High-Density Residential projects has involved land guided for commercial or <br />mixed-use. In those circumstances, it would be prudent to also review the mixed-use areas, and <br />commercial zoning districts. City staff may seek help from consultants for this significant task. <br /> <br /> Single-Family regulations. With the market trending toward higher housing prices, and <br />requests for smaller lots, the Planning Commission would like to consider whether the standards <br />for single-family zoning should be changed. <br /> <br /> Commercial and Industrial Design Guidelines. The City approved construction of 3 <br />buildings near 130th and Fenway with architectural metal as an exterior finish. The approval <br />required a variance, since metal is prohibited as a primary building material. The Planning <br />Commission is expected to evaluate and recommend whether to allow alternatives such as this in <br />our allowed construction standards. <br /> <br /> Cannabis. Use of Cannabis is now legal, and sale of it will be legal in early 2025. <br />Before then, the City will need to update its zoning rules and must decide how and where and to <br />what extent cannabis will be sold and/or manufactured in the City of Hugo. <br /> <br />Development Review. While there are multiple development projects that have been <br />approved or are proceeding through the review process, staff is anticipating a slower year in <br />construction and permitting activity in 2024 due to prevailing economic conditions. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />