Participant Responses April 19, 2017 Open House Meeting

Transcription

1 Hugo 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Participant Responses April 19, 2017 Open House Meeting Thank you for participating in Hugo s Comprehensive Plan Update. The Comprehensive Plan is the document that guides the vision for development in Hugo. Your responses to the questions below will help inform the policies and vision for the community in the Comprehensive Plan Update. Objective: To identify strengths and weaknesses in the current Hugo 2030 Comprehensive Plan. 1. What are Hugo s greatest strengths? What makes the City a great place to live? Please list at least 5 things you think make Hugo great. (Strengths can refer to the community, the people, public facilities, natural resources, character, governance, etc.) Comment / Theme # of People Great trails/ trail development 9 Generational history of community, community support, friendly people 8 Like Small town/country feel / not overly developed 8 Blend of Rural and City Living / diversity in neighborhoods 6 Local government functional and welcomes community input 6 Proximity to Freeway and Twin Cities 6 Great parks and park planning 4 Low crime rate 4 Low taxes (relative to surrounding areas) / Conservative government 4 spending Open spaces, wild life, natural resources 4 Resources available for residents (bank, restaurants, grocery, dining, 4 medical, hair care) Clean environment and community 3 Affordable place to live 2 Feed Mill is a resource 2 Population growth 2 Common areas have décor and detail put in 1 Ease of traffic flow 1 Elementary Schools 1 Good long range planning 1 Hugo Senior Club 1 Low population density 1 New areas are clean and have high curb appeal 1 Pedestrian connections (across 35 E) 1 School District April 19, 2017 Open House

2 2. What are Hugo s weaknesses? Where does Hugo fall short from your perspective? What is missing that could better reflect the community vision? Comment / Theme # of People Lack of restaurants, shopping and attractions, and amenities; diversify 13 options Need better trail system to rural areas and urban amenities, biking trails 5 Lack of public transportation 4 Loss of the Country feel and lifestyle / too much development 4 Need more job opportunities and businesses 3 Too many garbage pick-up companies 2 Lack of diverse population / not accepting of minorities 2 Dependence on Met Council 2 Need big box retail 1 More community events 1 Lack of churches 1 Access to 35E and 35W 1 Lack of community feeling not having a downtown 1 Stray dogs / animals in rural areas 1 Would like to see a more traditional downtown (like White Bear Lake 1 or Stillwater) Need more development on 61 1 Need to get away from the Help us Get Out attitude 1 Developing so/too fast 1 Lack of affordable single family housing 1 No destination venue to attract people or businesses 1 Too much multi-family housing 1 Beautify 61 1 Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 2

3 3. What are the greatest opportunities in the community? What things do we do well already, but could do better? What areas do we fall short in that we could be better at? Where are the greatest opportunities for the community? Comment / Theme # of People Support business development (including shopping, entertainment and 8 restaurants) and increase commercial tax base Developing public trails, sidewalks and parks (for pedestrians and 6 cyclists) Protect water supply 3 More development of downtown area 3 Mayor and Council really listen to the people, more meetings like this! 3 Need an outdoor pavilion / need more community events / farmers 3 market Protect natural resources / open space 2 Develop in a positive, well planned way / Still enough space in city to 2 make long-term comprehensive plans. Traffic speeding on residential streets that don t have enough patrols 1 More public transportation 1 Preserve Eastern Hugo as a rural sanctuary 1 Support rural feel within driving distance to Twin Cities 1 Work with Lino Lakes to develop land by 35E 1 Proximity of ground water flooding homes 1 Expand capabilities of compost site 1 Work with schools before development 1 No more townhomes need more single family 1 Too much housing being built 1 Keep small, close-knit community and not develop into urban 1 environment New residents + lack of information when first acclimating 1 Safety learn from other communities that have successful programs 1 Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 3

4 4. What things stand in the way of achieving the opportunities or maintaining our strengths? What threatens the community or city from achieving their goals? Comment / Theme # of People Overpopulation / population growth rate / too much development 5 State Legislature / Met Council 3 Provincial thinking / resistance to change and progress 3 Middle School / High School Keep our kids in our community 3 Closing Withrow Grade School / Expansion of Washington County School 2 District Government makes it hard to start a business here 1 Infrastructure (parks, trails, city feel) hasn t caught up with development 1 (p37) Unwillingness to focus on community needs vs personal appropriation 1 [Not enough] property close to 35 E for development 1 Access to 35 E and 35W as community grows 1 Not sure of our identity as a town are we a rural small town or a 1 suburb of the Cities? (p37) Property taxes are too low 1 More trails on lakes 1 Need a main business district 1 Need more corporate business 1 Road maintenance 1 The City getting too hung up on their plan. Need to work with 1 residents, be creative Council against growth. The area west of Festival should have been 1 developed more. Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 4

5 1. Are there any changes you would like the City of Hugo to consider regarding your property? - Long term plan for Rice Lake as a fishing Lake and ordinary high water mark of 925 feet - I would like to see the land use for County Road 4/170th Street change to low density residential or mixed use rather than Business Park. Also, city sewer/water for the residents of these properties. - Waters Edge Town Home Association; More attention paid to condition of public sidewalks (breaking up, danger for tripping, etc) Sometimes also paths not plowed in winter. Overall, however, fairly pleased with Hugo s attention to property and other community needs. - Smaller lot size in the rural residential area. It s now 10 acres. Most of the surrounding developed areas are 5 acres or less. - Don t force current residents east of Greene Avenue and north of 147th Street (Oneka Lake Boulevard) to hook up to city water and sewer. As an employee of another City s public works department, I am abundantly aware of municipal problems that affect our homes. - It distresses me to see the proposed trail around Oneka Lake because that move would require use of eminent domain to take my wife s and my property despite the previous Mayor s promise that eminent domain would not be used in such a circumstance. - No- But I hope you will carefully consider what is done with the Withrow Elementary School. We only have a few things in our town. We hope it s something that the community can embrace. - Increase the housing density level of the former Sever property (now the Graves property. Possibility of sale of my land to the City of Hugo for a park. - No. We plan to continue to use our property for agricultural uses for next 25+ years. - Maybe. Wondering how my property got its mixed use designation. I think there needs to be more of a buffer between the highway and sunset Lake off of Greystone. Keeping the residential homes zoned rural residential may be better than allowing mixed use. Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 5

6 - I would like to know in advance when water and sewer will be installed-currently on a well & septic. Will need to know the expenses so we can budget ahead of time. - Want to know how the housing development that is coming up to our back fence (we are agricultural) is going to affect us. Like to see a big privacy fence put up by the developers to keep people off our property. - Setbacks - I have an interest along with adjacent owners to work towards getting sewer & water to the 165 th / TH 61 area for a suitable plan with the city & neighborhood interests. - Please expand MUSA along County Road 8 east to xx Ave and south to City limits. - Concerned about basements flooding in Heritage Ponds - We would like City water and sewer on 165 th Street South - Elmcrest north of development to 176 th dirt road used a lot for traffic to access Forest Lake 2. Is there anything in the existing City of Hugo 2030 Comprehensive Plan that you would like to see modified as part of this update? - The MSA district should extend east along County Road 8 corridor and south to City boundary line. The City should begin wetland banking botanical wetland parklands. City should support dividing Rice Creek Watershed District at Peltier Lake Dam and create a new district upstream of dam. The City should being study to understand Rice Lake Ordinary High Water Mark of feet. - Do not change CR 4/170th Street to Business Park-this doesn t make sense being so far away from the other businesses and the City. - I am concerned about the number of new wells and the ensuing dense housing. Reduce the number of wells from five to two. Only one house per acre. - No future city sewer & water unless it will be built in the next few years. Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 6

7 - Keep the small town feel. - I am a big fan of parks & trails but their development should not negatively impact private property owners. There should not be any use of eminent domain. - I live in the City Hall / Lions Park neighborhood and I plan on sending our son to Hugo Elementary. We would like to see a walk bridge over 61 to both connect the neighborhoods through downtown and create a safe walkway for our children to cross 61. This would also bring more foot traffic to lions Park because parents would feel safer with their kids crossing the Hwy. We are also in support of revitalizing Lions Park and including a splash pad. Thanks! - Curious about the medium density residential area off of 170 th, west of Concerned about the proposed city trail on Hwy 8/137 th taking some of the right of way in front of my house. - We live in an area slated medium density, so obviously would be against the change in rural character and semi-privacy that country living provides. Hoping to retire in that spot. No changes to 180 th St N. Nice semi-rural road. All the neighbors on 180 th like the way it is! 3-5 acres per household. - Please remove the planned City trail from the east side of Rice Lake. Wild life that formerly lived on the west side of Rice Lake has been crowded out by development and needs the remaining space. - We are not wanting to hook up to sewer if development occurs beyond us and line extends to Cty Rd 8. - Have the trails extend from 140 th to WBL Currently an entire neighborhood is isolated unless we walk/ ride on There are a lot of new home starts north of Frenchman Rd off Elmcrest. Currently, when you exit off Hwy 35 and go east on Frenchman Rd, you cannot turn left to go north on Elmcrest. A lot of people are taking U-turns at the next light (at the Kwik Trip corner) so they can get back to Elmcrest quickly and take a right to go north. I have a lot of near accidents at the light due to so many people pulling a U-turn. I highly recommend cutting into the median and providing a left-hand turn land for all of the residents traveling on Elmcrest every day. The current comprehensive plan offers a long-term fix to this but is dependent on planning and funds coming from Centerville because it is a shared road. I hope Hugo can address this soon and not leave it to time and chance. A lot of people are walking and biking up and down Elmcrest. There are no sidewalks on Elmcrest and with the increased vehicle traffic, it is dangerous. Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 7

8 Map Responses and Comments WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT? - Slowing traffic on Old Frenchman Road - Schools as we grow Middle school - Middle school and High school - Family restaurant 3 comments - Pharmacy/Walgreens - Compose Monday like 1000 to 200 for seniors - How about a Fleet Farm men & women store - Highway 61 Caribou Coffee - New watershed district Upper Rice Creek, Hardwood Creek, Clearwater Creek beings at Peltier Damn and upstream - Stop all the parks that the City will have to maintain. I am sick of paying for people to recreate at my expense. - Bike path along Elmcrest Ave. Lots of bikes/joggers with no path or shoulder. - Fix Hwy 61 to 4 lanes soon. Traffic everywhere. Frenchman Road plant in native plants so don t have to irrigate it or use chemicals down the storm sewer. - Add city sewer and water on 165th St. - Irish Avenue Park it s a nice space with lots of potential for trails, snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, etc. My family enjoys the quiet country feeling there. - Reading the meeting notes from the 2/27/17 Comp Plan initial meeting, I got the impression that some people want Hugo to be everything. I ask why? Businesses, etc. in Forest Lake and White Bear Lake and other places have all that stuff. We don t need more restaurants, fast food, hardware stores, big box stores, etc., etc. Let s keep Hugo more rural a sanctuary of relative calm more of a bedroom community where people live, not go to shop, etc. SIDEWALK & TRAILS MAP COMMENTS Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 8

9 - Talk to Lino Lakes about Hugo building trail on Elmcrest westside. - Short-term link from Everton to Elm (see map for location) - Extend bike trail/sidewalk from Co. Rd. 8 to Geneva for safety of children - Don t want a trail going through my back yard (near Rice Lake). - I absolutely oppose the taking of our lakeshore property for a proposed trails around Oneka Lake! - Mountain Bike Trails on old gravel pit. - Continuing trail or sidewalk down residential side of South 61 between 140th and 130th and beyond - Unless it s a privately owned lake, area, etc., the walking trails are great for providing access and nature trails. The NIMBY Sayers will always want to hog beauty for themselves. NIMBY Not In My Back Yard FUNCTIONAL ROAD CLASSIFICATION MAP COMMENTS - Hwy 61 Future 4 lanes - CR 8 (just east of west city limit boundary) U-turns - CR 8 (just north of 165th St N) upgrade gravel Hugo Open House, April 19, Page 9