Victoria MN Newspaper

AMENDING VICTORIA’S SHORELAND RULES

REDUCING REQUIREMENTS OF NONRIPARIAN LOTS

Council voted 3-0 on October 13th (Jim Crowley and Lani Basa absent) to adopt an ordinance that amends the shoreland district regulations and adjusts Victoria's minimum nonriparian lot size standards. This was the second reading and public hearing.

Ben Gozola, Victoria's Interim City Planner, said the city's current nonriparian lot sizes are unreasonable. He spoke of three levels of lakes and their minimum Minnesota Shoreland District rules compared to the City of Victoria's requirements.

*Natural Environment Lakes require a state minimum of 20,000 square foot nonriparian lots. That is also Victoria's requirement.

*Recreational Lakes require a state minimum of 15,000 square foot nonriparian lots. Victoria requires a 20,000 square foot minimum.

*General Development Lakes (the least protected lakes) require a state minimum of 10,000 square foot nonriparian lots. Victoria's requirement is 40,0000 square feet, four times that required by MN Shoreland District rules.

"Lake Minnetonka is the only General Development Lake in Victoria," said Mr. Gozola, who pointed out that the recent Hawkes Pointe development on Lake Minnetonka brought this to his attention. The new ordinance amendment brings the requirement for nonriparian lots on General Development Lakes down to 21,780 sq. ft.

Hawkes Points is proposed to be a development of 14 single family lots on property located between Bayview and Thornberry. There is also a protected creek on the property that connects Schutz Lake to Lake Minnetonka.

A nonriparian lot means a lot which does not abut (separated by a distance of 100 feet or greater from the ordinary high water level) a natural environment lake, recreational development lake or pond, or a general development lake, but which is located within 1,000 feet of such lake or pond, or such lesser distance, and is within the shoreland district.

A riparian lot means a lot which abuts a natural environment lake, recreational development lake or pond, or a general development lake. When any portion of a lot is located within 100 feet of the ordinary high water level, the entire lot is considered a riparian lot.

"Four sections of your ordinance need work," said Mr. Gozola.

Asked Councilmember Tom Strigel, "How do you propose which ones to address first?"

"The ones giving you difficulty," replied Mr. Gozola.

Council put the Shoreland Ordinance and Planning and Development Code at the top of the list, and asked that the Planning Commission prioritize the Stormwater Management Ordinance and Subdivision Code.

WACONIA SCHOOLS NEED $75 MILLION

AFFECTING LARGE PART OF VICTORIA POPULATION

Patrick Devine, Superintendent of Waconia Schools since July 1st, spoke to city councilmembers on October 13th about the November 4th school referendum.

Many Victoria residents on the west side of Victoria are located in Waconia School District 110. Some Victoria residents north of Highway 7 reside in the Minnetonka School District. A majority of Victoria residents are in the Eastern Carver County School District 112.

"We are pleased to have Victoria in our school district," said Mr. Devine. "District 110 has been known for excellence for a long time. We have high performing activities, academics, fine arts, youth programming, and community education. We have a sound and solid school district. But we do have a problem. We're overcrowded."

Continued Mr. Devine, "Each year we grow. We grow by 120 to 130 new students every year. In the last ten years, we've grown by 1,256 new students. Every building we have is over capacity." There are currently 3,681 students in the District for 2013 to 2014. K-12 enrollment is expected to increase to over 4,000 students by 2016-2017.

He explained how the high school and middle schools will switch buildings, the 5th grade will move to the three elementary buildings, and early childhood programs will be relocated to a new building. The $75 million bond referendum will also pay for a new access road to the middle school and high school sites, a new elementary school, and also several new sports fields,

"The property tax will remain level," said Mr. Devine. "We're extending the bond from 20 to 24 years. It's like refinancing your house and you stretch it out to keep your payments the same. The annual tax increase will be zero. I hope you all help to get the message out."

Stated Mayor Tom O'Connor, "What you do is important. It affects a fairly significant part of our population."

Click here for more City Scoop.