EDA Packet 09.20.22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 7 7 the islands and promenade central gathering area. There is a row of shrubs that are lined along Highway 61 that provides a nice buffer between the sidewalk and parking lot. There is also an evenly spaced row of trees proposed for the area along Highway 61. The remaining greenspace on the property will be sod. The downtown design guidelines state where parking is located along the street, it should be landscaped and screened with a combination of fencing or wall plantings along the street edge. The applicant has done a good job of creating a wall edge of shrubs and trees along the road, it also created a landscaped edge between the sidewalk and the parking lot. The applicant is also proposing decorative lighting along within the development. Sidewalks and Trials The downtown design guidelines promote a pedestrian friendly downtown area. The plan does create a pedestrian friendly atmosphere by connecting the sidewalk along Highway 61 to a proposed promenade and boardwalk along the lake. Although the boardwalk and decking areas will be privately owned and used in connection with restaurants and other buildings within the development, the applicant does want portions of the waterfront to be accessible to the public. The docks will need to be reviewed and approved by the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) and the MnDNR. The applicant is requesting PUD flexibility for the dock construction regulations for the shoreland overlay district, however, until the dock is reviewed and approved by the MnDNR staff is unsure what the dimensions will be approved. The applicant will be required to obtain a permit of MNDNR prior to installation. Lighting The applicant has submitted a full lighting plan that includes decorative lighting for the site and the building. The final lighting plans shall be submitted to the City for review and approval by staff. Architecture and Building Materials The downtown design guidelines encourage new buildings to be designed with elements of traditional main street design, Hugo’s French trading post roots, or prairie style architecture. Traditional main street style buildings usually have flat roofs with well-defined roof lines. The French trading post architectural elements include steeper or mansard roofs, open storefronts, and exterior plaster with stone and brick. Prairie style architecture usually has hipped roofs with low spreading deep overhangs. Prairie style architecture also has horizontal line design elements and uses materials that can blend in with the natural environment. The applicant has designed the buildings to be reflective of the traditional main street style. The applicant has provided plans that show examples of the architecture proposed for the project and general information on building material. The building architecture will be evaluate with the