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CHEVALLE 17TH ADDITION

BRINGING 43 NEW HOMES TO VICTORIA

Council voted 4-1 on June 10th to approve the preliminary plat for Chevalle 17th Addition which consists of 43 new single family lots. The Addition is located in Victoria on a corner acreage along the south side of 86th Street and the east side of County Road 11. The other 16 Additions of the Chevalle development lie within the city limits of Chaska.

Those in favor of the plat as proposed: Mayor Tom O'Connor and Councilmembers Jim Crowley, Tom Strigel, and Lani Basa. Against: Joe Pavelko, because of the 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks. Minimum sideyard setback in Victoria is 10 feet.

Stated Holly Kreft, Community Development Director, "The Planning Commission saw a sketch plat about a year ago. It's a continuation of the Chevalle development. The proposed access is to 86th Street. Since that time there have been numerous meetings. The applicant has now received approval for the 16th Addition from Chaska."

Holly said sewer and water service for the 17th Addition will come from the City of Victoria. Two lots will be annexed from Chaska into Victoria to accommodate lot lines and development.

Chaska is requiring that the trail being constructed along County Road 11 be extended south to Shady Oak Road. Said Holly, "The city has always been supportive of that trail."

In this regard, said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "The developer is doing what we'd like with the trail and is required by the City of Chaska, requiring the developer to construct it."

Continued Holly, "The sideyard setback is proposed to be 7.5 feet. There was quite a bit of discussion back and forth about that at the Planning Commission. There are no natural amenities on the site. It's flat pasture land. Increased density would be acceptable. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval as proposed."

Reported Mayor Tom O'Connor, who had attended the Planning Commission meeting, "There was considerable anguish about moving forward with 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks. That is not the norm for Victoria but it fits in with Chaska next door."

Holly said that Chevalle already has 5 and 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks in the Chaska additions. Directly north of 86th Street and the 17th Addition is Wintergreen, a residential development in Victoria with 10-foot sideyard setbacks.

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "I've got a huge problem with 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks. Once we approve one, it'll be the norm. I'll be voting against it because of the sideyards ... I think we're going down a slippery slope. I want people driving through Victoria to know they're in Victoria."

Stated Councilmember Basa, "We are going to have to offer more variety in the city. We need to look at diversity and that includes housing."

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "That would be a disservice to Victoria. If people don't want to live in half million dollar homes, they don't have to live here."

"Victoria doesn't have to be half million dollar homes exclusively," said Mayor Tom O'Connor. "Building 43 new homes won't be doing harm to the rest of the city. This is almost a test case. The circumstances are unique."

"I don't want to change the standard going forward," said Councilmember Crowley, "and our Planning Commission are sticklers for this."

REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND

TO HELP COVER POSSIBLE REVENUE SHORTFALLS

Council voted 4-0 on June 24th to adopt a Revenue Stabilization Fund Policy. As City Finance Director Kelli Grinell said, "The fund was established in 2009. The Finance Committee debated what the maximum fund balance should be and came up with four years. It is sufficient since it corresponds roughly to the length of time of the last recession." The maximum is $1 million.

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I think this is a good step forward."

"Where is our long term strategy?" asked Councilmember Joe Pavelko.

"Every year it adjusts," said Kelli. "This helps in drafting a long term plan if our projections don't hold true."

This fund sets aside dollars for future revenue shortfalls or significant unexpected expenses. Funding come from the difference between building permit fees received versus dollars budgeted each year.

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