Page Title

On Stieger Lake * Victoria

952-443-1331

Island View Dining

Waconia. 952-442-2956

Chaska School of Dance

Mary Pieper 952-873-6781

Fahey’s Window Cleaning

952-467-2447

Fairview Jonathan Clinic

Chaska * 952-448-3500

Country Life Therapeutic Massage

Jan Sutton, M.A. * 952-474-0999

MVT Excavating

No job is too small. 952-446-9341

Weinzierl

Jewelers

Waconia 952-442-2885

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

1915 Arboretum Blvd * Victoria

952-443-2808

VICTORIA TIPTOES THROUGH THE TULIPS

TO 2030 WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

Victoria City Councilmembers held a workshop at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 23rd, with members of city staff and Planning Commission to review comments received on the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Comments had been invited from other cities in Carver County, townships, schools, Three Rivers Park, the Arboretum, and the Metropolitan Council.

City Planner Holly Kreft reported that, based on Met Council calculations, the City of Victoria has been developing at 1.9 units per net acre, not including the condominiums at Shores of Stieger Lake in the downtown district. Based on city records from 1999, Victoria has developed at a density of 2.6 units per acre. The Met Council has a policy that the overall density must meet 3 units per net acre. The city’s 2030 Plan does meet an overall density of 3 units per acre when the higher density within the Central Business District is included.

Holly’s report indicated that the Met Council requested that Victoria demonstrate sufficient land to be guided for 6 units per net acre, or more, to meet their recommendation for affordable housing. They only consider those areas guided at this higher density to allow affordable housing. Based on the household projections and areas designated for this density, “we will not have sufficient land guided to meet their recommendations,” said Holly.

“Staff’s recommendation is that the City of Victoria continue to provide opportunities for affordable housing at all density levels where appropriate and we don’t feel it should be limited to apartment or townhome projects,” said Holly. “We do not recommend that any changes to the land use designations (like adding more high density areas) should be made.”

Councilmember Kim Roden pointed out that Victoria will never have another Watermark development if the Met Council’s Plan were followed.

Said Councilmember Tom O’Connor, “To say we’re not going to have another Watermark is a difficult thing to accept. If that’s forced upon us by an outside source, that would be difficult to live with. If it happens through market forces, so be it.”

Commented Administrator Don Uram, “We may not see another Watermark because of the economics, not because of their Plan.”

Asked Councilmember Tim Amundsen, “Where does it say in the Plan that without an adequate public facility [an improved Highway 5], that we can’t meet their requirements? Everyone tiptoes around, not pushing back at those clowns. When you ask them for the simple support they could give a municipality, where is it?”

Added Councilmember Amundsen, “The challenge is not putting it in yellow on a map, but getting the arterial to do what they want.”

Stated Dick Thompson, retired consultant with TKDA, Victoria’s engineering firm, “They [the Met Council] will generally step up to the plate on sewer capacity. They’re wishy-washy on transportation.”

Mr. Thompson commented on his efforts to arrive in Victoria for council workshops. “It’s a challenge to get to Victoria by 5 p.m. I leave at 3 o’clock. But they [the Met Council] probably won’t budge on their numbers.”

Jim Dinadio, a member of the Victoria Planning Commission, suggested that the city stage higher density down the road, informing the Met Council that the city can increase its density at a pace that meets its transportation needs.

Gordy Simanton, also a member of the Planning Commission, posed a question about not meeting the higher densities. “What’s the worst thing that could happen to us?”

Planner Holly replied that Victoria would probably keep getting letters, adding, “They could shut off the sewer.”

Mr. Thompson added that the city might be cut off from receiving grants from them in the future.

Stated City Attorney Mike Norton, “This [2030 Comp Plan] is not a legal document, but it would not hurt to carefully craft the language and identify the issues to document you could reach their density goals down the road. You could point out, for example, that you’d rely on LRT to meet their goals.”

Mr. Thompson said, “To some extent, they could use your statement to get funds from the Legislature. They could inform the State that we can’t meet the guidelines because of the infrastructure.”

According to Holly Kreft, regional plans do not currently include any commuter rail in Victoria prior to 2030.

Marsh Lake Hunt Club

Also Part of 2030 Plan

Click here to continue with Marsh Lake discussion.