2026.02.02 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

7 “Frenchman Village” Sketch Plan the City and, consequently, development in these areas will be expected to provide a higher level of site design and architectural design than other areas of the City. Typically, mixed-use development includes a combination of retail, office, cultural, or entertainment uses with the ability to integrate higher density residential uses as part of an overall master planned development. Downtown Design Guidelines are required to be met by the development. The intent of the guidelines is to provide a baseline for quality in order to revitalize and expand the downtown business district. The downtown plan shows a mixed-use development blending commercial/office and multi-family housing uses in a master plan development. Some of the guidelines for downtown Hugo include: • Blending of commercial and residential development as a master planned mixed-use development. • Creating a sense of arrival in downtown by placement of gateway elements. • Enhancement of the public realm to maintain a pedestrian-oriented downtown. • High quality architecture, with specific emphases on French architectural elements, traditional downtown design and/or relating to existing buildings in the downtown. The proposed sketch plan is trying to create a mixed-use development that blends the uses together. There is an effort to integrate the residential uses and commercial uses together with common spaces and amenities, such as walking loops, landscaping, and gathering areas. The main entrances and focal point at the southwest corner of Highway 61 and CSAH 8/Frenchman Road should be planned and designed with gateway elements with landscaping and building architectural features. The plan shows pedestrian oriented elements with access to public features, such as Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. The applicant has not provided details for the commercial building or for the mixed-use area. The plan should be cohesive from a site design and architecture standpoint. This would need to be demonstrated with a request for development approval. There are several details to work out with a formal development request, however what the applicant is showing is a good start, and staff will continue to ensure the area meets the downtown plan and design guidelines as a project moves forward. The mix of residential and commercial meet the intent of the Mixed-Use land use. One item to note, is that the area allows more density than what is shown in the sketch plan, such as an apartment. Architecture and Building Orientation The applicant has indicated that the design of the buildings in this area would be consistent with the Multi-Family and Downtown Design Guidelines. The applicant did not provide a narrative on how the buildings would meet the design guidelines or what materials would be used on the buildings. The project is proposed to be a master planned development. The buildings shall be designed to be cohesive, the developer shall provide a design palette, including elevations, colors, and materials for the buildings, to ensure they are compatible and meet the guidelines.