Victoria MN Newspaper

Agreed Councilmember Lani Basa, "The original location planned for the future and included a Class 5 road, but we were told we must hit the budget which is why we moved the location." She also pointed out that more impervious surface will be required as a road would be built to the back of the property for a compost area." More impervious surface will result in the future as the salt storage shed is eventually moved from its current location at the old Public Works facility on Stieger Lake Lane.

Stated the engineer, "At some point you will be building a stormwater management feature. The question is, when. And I can't predict what the rules will be in the future." She estimated the cost of a bio-filtration system to be roughly $30,000.

Asked Mr. Gubbe, "Do the rules generally get more stringent or more lax?"

"More stringent," replied Cara.

City Manger Don Uram pointed out there is a value to the additional land that would be used for screening the building. He also acknowledged that activity at the new Public Works site is expected to grow. "It's certainly desirable to have all the equipment and operations from one center."

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A few more comments on locating the Public Works facility were made at the council meeting that followed the workshop.

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "To me, spending the extra money to move it back doesn't give us anything. But if I lived across the road, I'd want it as far away as possible. I'd be in favor of moving it back to the original location. Then we don't have to worry about bringing in the salt shed and other things [with impervious surfaces]. It will become a central hub so we don't have to go back and forth between the two locations."

Stated Councilmember Basa, "Two weeks ago you weren't going to spend any money to move it back."

Replied Councilmember Pavelko, "Yeah, I'm a flip-flopper. I'd table it until the new electrical bids come in."

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "This Public Works site is an investment for the future of the city. This gives us an opportunity for visual and landscaping improvements. I'd like to see the engineer and Public Works director work with the residents also for sound disturbances."

Councilmember Basa said she walked the building site. "The movement is pretty significant between the front and back locations. I want to thank Mr. Gubbe and the residents. I am in support of moving it back. Plenty of trees can then screen the building." Trees were purchased from the Hartman Tree Farm.

Said Mayor O'Connor after the 4-0 vote, "Thank you, Mr. Gubbe and neighbors, for bringing this to our attention. I trust you are pleased."

ELECTRICAL BIDS AWARDED FOR NEW CITY HALL

MUCH LESS THAN EARLIER BID REJECTED IN APRIL

Council accepted bids and awarded a contract on electrical work for the new City Hall on May 27th. Three bids came in. Laketown Electric Corporation out of Waconia had low bid of $283,900. The engineer's estimate on the electrical was $325,000. Amount of the lone bid that originally came in with the rest of the package bids, and was rejected, was $419,000.

HARVEST GLEN ON THE TABLE IN VICTORIA

COUNCIL ASKS DEVELOPER TO INCREASE DENSITY

The developer of the Lano-Burau property brought a sketch plat called Harvest Glen to councilmembers for their review and comment on May 12th. The 39 acres is bounded by Madelyn Creek on the east and Kochia Lane on the west, by Hwy 5 on the north and 78th Street on the south.

James Hill, development director with K. Hovnanian Homes, proposed 77 single family homes for the property, with 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks.

Community Development Director Holly Kreft said the property is guided in the Comprehensive Plan to be developed as medium density residential, which is defined as 6 to 11.9 units per acre. Said Holly, "The Planning Commission is concerned about changing it from medium density to low density. They felt the site lent itself to higher density [than 77 homes]."

Net buildable acreage of Harvest Glen is 24 acres. Six units per acre would translate to 145 units.

Said Mr. Hill, "K. Hovannian is the sixth largest builder in the country. We're also building in Chanhassen, Chaska, Apple Valley ..."

Click here to continue Harvest Glen.