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Councilmember Tom Strigel pointed out, "Even with the relaxed standard, it's a step up from what was in the original [pre-2010] standard." Building design standards were changed, upgraded, and approved in 2010 when wood siding was shifted to an accent material rather than a primary material, and lap siding was a primary material rather than an accent material. Councilmember Pavelko asked why have a Planning Commission if the City Council is not going to listen to them? Replied Mayor O'Connor, "Jeff said he recognizes the different roles we play. I was very impressed with the discussion at the Planning Commission meeting. In my mind we're not compromising the quality of the building." Agreed Councilmember Jim Crowley, "We [the Council] are responsible for setting policy that will spur appropriate development in our community." *** There was also discussion earlier that evening, at the 5 p.m. workshop on November 12th, about relaxing building standards. Said City Manager Don Uram, "The rationale is that Victoria downtown is more of a neighborhood than, say, 50th and France. The question is, Does it fit in with the theme of downtown? With the Vic's Bar and Grill remodel, Council thought that what they were proposing was a better fit." Mayor O'Connor had said, "The Planning Commission had a more elevated sense of what should be employed here. We've had no development for a while, maybe because of the cost of our standards and the rent that needs to be charged in order to pay for it. The Clocktower building wouldn't be approved today with our current standards." "We're looking for an appropriate building," continued the mayor. "This is not downtown Minneapolis or downtown Manhattan. Would you rather have an empty site or a relaxed standard and occupied and paying taxes?" With the Planning Commission recommending something different, Mayor O'Connor stated, "Reasonable people can have a disagreement here." Agreed Councilmember Crowley, "There are things we can do to facilitate development." A motion later in the evening of November 12th to approve new design material per upcoming 2013 ordinance amendment passed unanimously. The amendment adds the sentence "other materials recommended by the Planning and approved by the Council" along with brick, natural stone, precast concrete units and block, stucco, and transparent glass. This sentence allows flexibility to use, for example, horizontal lap siding with maintenance-free painted surface as a primary building material versus an accent material.
RECOGNIZING ALL DEBT IS NOT EQUAL VICTORIA APPROVES SELF-IMPOSED DEBT LIMIT Councilmember Tom Strigel pointed out, "Even with the relaxed standard, it's a step up from what was in the original [pre-2010] standard." Building design standards were changed, upgraded, and approved in 2010 when wood siding was shifted to an accent material rather than a primary material, and lap siding was a primary material rather than an accent material. Councilmember Pavelko asked why have a Planning Commission if the City Council is not going to listen to them? Replied Mayor O'Connor, "Jeff said he recognizes the different roles we play. I was very impressed with the discussion at the Planning Commission meeting. In my mind we're not compromising the quality of the building." Agreed Councilmember Jim Crowley, "We [the Council] are responsible for setting policy that will spur appropriate development in our community." *** There was also discussion earlier that evening, at the 5 p.m. workshop on November 12th, about relaxing building standards. Said City Manager Don Uram, "The rationale is that Victoria downtown is more of a neighborhood than, say, 50th and France. The question is, Does it fit in with the theme of downtown? With the Vic's Bar and Grill remodel, Council thought that what they were proposing was a better fit." Mayor O'Connor had said, "The Planning Commission had a more elevated sense of what should be employed here. We've had no development for a while, maybe because of the cost of our standards and the rent that needs to be charged in order to pay for it. The Clocktower building wouldn't be approved today with our current standards." "We're looking for an appropriate building," continued the mayor. "This is not downtown Minneapolis or downtown Manhattan. Would you rather have an empty site or a relaxed standard and occupied and paying taxes?"
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December 2013 |
