Victoria MN Newspaper

COUNCIL VOTES 5-0 TO APPROVE PLAN

FOR NEW HARTMAN COMMERCIAL BUILDING

IMPROVING FACE & FACILITIES ON STIEGER LAKE LANE

Council voted 5-0 on November 12th to approve a conditional use permit for parking, a site plan, and building materials for construction of a commercial building as submitted by Hartman Brothers LLC.

The building will be located at 1700 Stieger Lake Lane, between the Bayfront Plaza and the new Victoria City Hall. The new Hartman building will, physically, be across from the intersection at Vic's Bar and Grill.

It was back in 2008 that Terry Hartman proposed two multi-use buildings on that property for a project called Bayfront. The site work was done to city standards in 2009, but a nationwide downturn in the economy put the project on hold. Sanitary sewer and water were extended into the property and are available for connection.

Today, two buildings are again being proposed for the property, but one of them this time is the new Victoria City Hall and Library proposed to be constructed on the east end.

Said Holly Kreft, Community Development Director, "The applicant [Hartman Brothers] is proposing to build a 4,600 square foot building on the site. It will require eight parking places."

However, said Holly, the Planning Commission is recommending approval of the elevation and building materials that meet the current 2010 city ordinance. The city was in the midst, that evening, of adopting a 2013 ordinance amendment that transfers maintenance free shakes (lap siding) from an accent material to a primary material.

A first reading of the new ordinance amendment was held that Tuesday evening, November 12th. After the second reading on November 25th, the ordinance amendment was in fact adopted 5-0 with no comment from the public. This placed lap siding onto the list of 2013 primary materials.

Jeff Loeschen, a member of the Planning Commission, spoke to city councilmembers, promoting the use of building materials per the 2010 code.

"The 2030 Comprehensive Plan is to guide the development of the city," he stated. "It's a long term plan. It talks about quality materials that will stand the test of time. Our fear, with a relaxing of standards, is that it's a short-sighted solution because of a shortage of funds. It's going to be a key part of the development of downtown."

"By relaxing the standards, it reduces the cost of City Hall," said Councilmember Joe Pavelko. "If the city wasn't involved here [anticipating to build a new City Hall], would we be considering this? That's what I'm wrestling with."

Replied Mayor Tom O'Connor, "This is a unique site and a unique town. It's on the lake. A developer has to justify costs. At the end of the day, we'll have a building appropriate for the periphery [of downtown Victoria]. Is it appropriate for a lakeside community? It's a building that will end up paying taxes. We did it for Vic's Bar and Grill."

"But Vic's was a remodel," said Councilmember Pavelko. "And it's the standards for three buildings that we're talking about." In addition to the two buildings proposed for the Lakeside property, Hartman is expected to build a commercial building on Victoria Drive, site of the Old Cafe lot and the Johnson home.

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