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Home My WebLink AboutEDA PACKET 04.18.23If you need accommodations for the EDA meeting please contact Rachel Juba at (651) 762-6304 or rjuba@ci.hugo.mn.us, thank you. Agenda ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Hugo City Hall 5:30 PM 5:30 pm 1. Call to Order 5:31 pm 2. Roll Call (Arcand, Chrun, Denaway, Klein, Puleo, Roberts, Weidt) 5:32 pm 3. Approval of Minutes EDA Meeting of February 21, 2023 5:35 pm 4. Update from the Hugo Area Business Association Eric Heagle, HBA President 5:50 pm 5. Update on Highway 61 Visioning Study 6:05 pm 6. Update on Development 6:15 pm 7. Adjournment If you need accommodations for the EDA meeting please contact Rachel Juba at (651) 762-6304 or rjuba@ci.hugo.mn.us, thank you. Background memo for the EDA Meeting of Tuesday, April 18, 2023 3. Approval of Minutes Staff recommends approval of the minutes from the February 21, 2023 EDA Meeting as presented. 4. Update from the Hugo Area Business Association Eric Heagle, the new president of the Hugo Area Business Association (HBA), will present background to the EDA on the HBA, its mission, and events that it holds throughout the year. 5. Update on Highway 61 Visioning Study The City of Hugo is conducting a study with Washington County and MnDOT to determine the future of Highway 61 through the city. An open house was held on April 5, 2023 allowing residents and stakeholders to share initial feedback. Staff will provide an update to the EDA on the Highway 61 Visioning Study. 6. Update on Development Staff will update the EDA on the development within the city. MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2023 Vice-President Klein called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. PRESENT: Chrun, Denaway, Klein, Puleo, Roberts ABSENT: Arcand, Weidt STAFF: Bryan Bear, City Administrator Rachel Juba, Community Development Director Max Gort, Associate Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE EDA MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 2022 Commissioner Roberts made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chrun, to approve the December 20, 2022 EDA meeting minutes. Ayes: All. Nay: None. Motion carried. EDA ANNUAL REPORT OF 2022 Community Development Director Juba presented a draft of the 2022 EDA Annual Report, which the Community Development department creates every year to showcase econo mic development activity within the city of Hugo. Staff brought the draft report to the EDA for any changes or suggestions the commissioners may have before the report is published on the City website. Commissioner Roberts asked for clarification on the intended audience of the report. Juba responded that typically developers and construction analysts who are trying to gain a sense of the city’s economic profile view the report. A few suggestions were made for additions to the report such as a demographic p rofile of the city, information on the EDA’s initiative to expand broadband internet connections to rural areas of the city, and contact information for those wishing to learn more about any of the items presented in the report. The EDA commissioners agreed to publish the annual report with the noted changes. APPROVAL OF 2023 EDA GOALS Staff presented the graphic of the 2023 EDA Goals which were set at the December 20, 2022 meeting. Juba highlighted a few noteworthy items that had new implications going into 2023. The first of these was the Highway 61 Visioning Study with Washington County and MnDOT. The EDA is expecting to receive a presentation on the existing conditions of the study early this year. The second item highlighted was the six-month moratorium on the development of solar farms enacted by the City Council on February 6, 2023. Juba informed the EDA that workshops will be taking place with the City Council and Planning Commission within the coming months to determine how the City will address solar farm development. Commissioner Roberts made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Denaway, to approve the 2023 EDA Goals as presented. Ayes: All Nay: None Motion carried. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AND REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT The project slated for the city-owned property on Egg Lake to be known as “Downtown Hugo” has been facing delays due to the MnDNR enforcing a statewide shoreland statute requiring development to be set back a certain distance from certain public water bodies. The developer, Denny Trooien of Dennis Properties, LLC. has a purchase agreement to close Phase 1 of development on February 28, 2023 with the option to extend to July 31, 2023 with a $10,000 non-refundable earnest payment. Mr. Trooien is requesting to extend the closing date of Phase 1 of development to July 31, 2023 with the option to extend to December 31, 2023 with the same $10,000 non -refundable earnest payment. The closing date for Phase 2 of development slated for September 30, 2026 would remain unchanged with the extension. Juba stated that the requested extension would allow Mr. Trooien to adjust the plan and go through the development approval process with the City Council before closing, hoping to ensure that action from the DNR can be avoided. Juba stated that Mr. Trooien has adjusted the development plan that would push the buildings and decking 20 feet further from the ordinary high -water level of Egg Lake, but it is unclear at this time whether the DNR would be comfortable with said adjustments. Commissioner Puleo asked how many other development inquiries have been made for the property, and Juba stated that very few serious inquiries have been made other than Mr. Trooien’s proposal. Commissioner Roberts asked about the course of action of the City were to deny the request for an extension. City Administrator Bear explained that if the site is developed as per the approved plans, the DNR would sue the City and stop the construction. However, with the extension on closing, time is given for the City and Mr. Trooien to come to an agreement with the DNR so that legal action won’t need to be taken and construction with a potentially alternative plan could be completed. Commissioner Denaway made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chrun, to recommend extension of the purchase agreement to the City Cou ncil. Ayes: All Nay: None Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Denaway made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Roberts, to adjourn the meeting at 6:16 PM. Ayes: All Nay: None Motion carried. Respectfully submitted. Max Gort, Associate Planner 120th Street N 180th Street N J ROAD COUNTY 50 ROAD COUNTY202nd Street Headwaters Pwky 190th Street N 170th Street N 165th Street N O n e k a L a k e B lv d N Fre n c h m an Rd Egg Lake Rd N Highway 61 Visioning Study PROJECT OVERVIEW Washington County, MnDOT and the City of Hugo are partnering on a corridor visioning study of Hwy 61 through Hugo city limits. A traffic, land use and engineering analysis, along with community input will help identify the long-range vision for the corridor that will be used to define future improvements and guide a potential jurisdictional transfer of the roadway from MnDOT to Washington County. Maddie Dahlheimer Washington County Senior Planner 651-430-4338 |madeline.dahlheimer@co.washington.mn.us STUDY GOALS • Define a corridor vision that supports economic growth, community investment and long-term transportation goals while increasing safety for all users. • Evaluate access and intersection locations onto Hwy 61 and recommend future improvements at key locations. • Determine right-of-way needs for the corridor based on the needs of each travel mode (e.g., cars, trucks, transit, pedestrians, bicyclists). • Identify pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity improvements throughout the corridor. • Determine a financial plan and timeline for the Hwy 61 jurisdictional transfer through Hugo and Forest Lake. SCHEDULE Explore Winter/ Spring 2023 Evaluate Summer 2023 Define Fall/Winter 2023 Collect data and assess existing/forecasted conditions. Consider future development in Hugo and Forest Lake. Explore corridor issues and opportunities. Develop and evaluate corridor improvement alternatives with consideration to community priorities and traffic engineering solutions. Define a preferred corridor vision. Compile study report summarizing process and outcomes. Outline jurisdictional transfer plan including implementation, financial and timeline considerations. Rachel Juba Hugo Community Development Director 651-762-6304 |rjuba@ci.hugo.mn.us WANT MORE INFO? Visit the project webpage for more information, study updates and to sign up for email notifications! STUDY AREA www.co.washington.mn.us/Highway61