City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. It's now 6:30 and I call the regular meeting of the Victoria City Council to order. Please join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The first item on the agenda this evening is announcements. All meetings of the city council are open to the public and held in the council chambers at city hall unless otherwise noted. We encourage anyone wanting to attend or interested in speaking at a council meeting or workshop to contact our city clerk in advance for additional information. Our next city council workshop is set for Monday, February 23rd at 5:30 p.m. where we'll be conducting interviews for the park and recck committee. We are also looking for volunteers to fill open seats on both our planning commission and our park and recreation committee. If you're interested, applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on February 12th. You can apply online or contact the city clerk's office for more information. In other announcements, we're pleased to announce the return of Victoria Academy. Through this free program, academy participants get a firsthand look at how the city operates. To learn more and to register, please visit the city website or reach out directly to our communications and engagement director, Kendrick Gro. If you have any other questions, that concludes the announcements for this evening. The next order of business is to adopt the final agenda. Council, can I get a motion to adopt the agenda?

Motion to adopt the final agenda. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Next item on our agenda is the open forum. This is the opportunity for anyone to address the council on an item that is not on the agenda and not an application form that will be coming to the council at a future date. Two individuals have registered in advance to speak at the open forum. Um before I ask them to step up to the podium, I want to take a moment and share some housekeeping items for the open forum. Please do not expect any action from the council this evening on your comments. They may ask clarifying questions, but open forum is not intended to be a back and forth discussion. Any handouts provided will be referenced by council, but not retained. And each speaker will have three minutes to address the council. With that, I'd like to welcome Eric Hansen from Southwest Transit to the podium. Mr. Hansen, welcome.

Good evening, Mayor and members of city council. I am Eric Hansen, the CEO of Southwest Transit. This is my first opportunity to uh speak in front of you. Although we've worked with Dana and her staff, you know, for a few years now. Um, I just have kind of a few really quick slides. And since I don't have a ton of time given your rules, if you can give me maybe another minute or two, um beyond that, um I I want to give you a quick update about the activities of Southwest Transit and a little bit information about our partnership. Um we provide three services. I think you know that uh bus service, um special events service like to the state fair and Southwest Prime. We serve Victoria with Southwest Prime and you can go anywhere uh in Victoria within Victoria or to Chanhasken, Chaza, Eden Prairie and the city of Carver on Southwest Prime. Um and so uh that service is is uh available to Victoria. Um kind of four, you know, things just about us, you know, real quick. This is our 40th anniversary year. Although we technically operate under a joint powers agreement between Prairie, Channon, and Chaza. Um we very much think about Victoria as part of our service area. Um we are growing. We are the fastest growing transit agency in the state of Minnesota. Um and in fact, somebody gave me some data today um that said that um since COVID, I think we're 22nd in the country out of 522. So, um, we're actually doing a lot of really good things and I think people are our services is well, uh, supported. Uh, 614,000 patenters roughly. Um, our writer survey show a significant amount of customer satisfaction. I'll talk about the, uh, community survey in a second. Um, and this is kind of an important point. I mean because we exist because years ago um 40 years ago actually the folks decided that they

wanted to have this service independent of metroransit. Part of the deal is that we have to provide services that are just as efficient or better than metroransit, you know, and one of the things that we measure is how much money do we put into that taxpayers dollars. And for our commuter bus service specifically, as an example, we're about 22% less expensive than Metro Transit uh is for the similar service and we have lower overhead costs than Met Council as a whole. And so we think we're doing a pretty good job. Um we did a survey. This does in this is not all Victoria residents, but it included Victoria residents in the sample. And so we weighted it by population for all of the five cities that we serve. So this includes a proportion of your folks. Um we did surveys in 2019, 2023, and 2025. Um and as you can see, our positives have crept out quite a bit in the last couple of years. uh to the point where um you know we're significantly I think at like 61% positive overall and 14% negative for a transit agency that's super good. I'm going to guess your city surveys are probably a little better because people love living here but but for transit this these are superior numbers. Um another quick question that we ask on the phone survey that I wanted to let you know about is sometimes people ask well what you know what do people want? Um, and a lot of times I go to places like last year I spoke to the Victoria Alliance Club and I asked them a question. I said, "How many have you taken Southwest Transit?" Yeah. And how many of it was the fair? It was like the same hands, you know. Um, but people really love going to our state fair service. Um, and we added the Renaissance Festival in Jacape as a second service last year and those are really successful. Um, and and we're really spending a lot of time leaning into those kinds of things, too. Um and um here's a little bit of information about Victoria spec specifically. So last year about 2,000 people um took a

ride from Victoria to somewhere about 60 within the city and about 1,700 people took a ride back. And so we serve, you know, roughly 4,000, you know, folks last year with the service in the city of Victoria. Um a little bit of information about this. You may have heard that the Carver County Commissioners and and us, we have been working on a countywide mobility study. Um, and it's looking at opportunities for connections and transit. And so that there's a tax, you might recall, 3/4 cent sales tax that was passed three years ago at the state legislature. Um, and we're working with them to um utilize some of that money to help pay for some of these services, specifically in the city of Carver. Um, so I know you budget a certain amount of money for this service. Our hope is in the next couple of months that the Carver County Commissioners will support using some of that 3/4 cent sales tax money that they receive for services in Victoria so that you don't have to. Um, in addition to that, that study also contemplates some connections to Prime to Wakonia as well, which is, I know, a destination that a lot of folks from Victoria go to. Um, and so you could see we could see some expanded service in Victoria um, at no cost to you um, in the in the next few years. Um, the last thing I want to mention uh, real quick, and I'm not going to go over every single bullet here, but last fall you already passed a resolution which we really appreciate of support for Southwest Transit. Um, there are a few people in the state legislature that think we should be part of Metro Transit. Again, it's been 40 years, but you know, they have a difference of opinion. You know, it's always about money, right? Because they see, you know, what we're doing here and think that money could be spent somewhere else. Um, and ultimately, we've also been advocating for some additional sales tax. And so we appreciate your support and as a city

council for our efforts to continue to maintain our our existence, I suppose you could say, and provide service as well as to get a fair share of sales tax monies um that we all pay into uh at this point. Um and with that, I think I'm a little over three minutes, but I sped through it as fast as I could. Mayor, thank you. But I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any. Perfect. Thank you so much for that presentation. Any questions from council? One for me, there mayor. All right. Very good. Keep Thank you so much, Mayor Council. Thank you. You bet. All right. Next, I'd like to welcome Carl Runk and the team to the podium. Mr. Runk and team

member. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. Thank you. Carl Runk and Council. Um, I'm with Josh Ortmeer who is a VP of construction at our construction partner on Downtown West SW group. And as you know, you passed and we executed an early start agreement. Thank you for that two months ago. And we wanted to give you a really brief update on progress. Despite the cold weather, but there were some warm stretches, we got some uh things done. Josh, thank you. Welcome, Josh. Please state your full name for the record.

Hello, Josh Ort SW Group. So, yes, thank you, Carl. Uh thank you, council. Um so, yeah, we started uh the development site about uh eight weeks ago. um started removing the trees as most of you have seen. It's about a 12 and a half acre site just to the west of town here. Um we started uh early December started removing the trees, started moving off dirt. Uh we have moved a total if you want to go to the next slide. This is what the property had looked like when we uh took it over. Um so the trees have been removed. we started um doing our mass grading because we had to take out about two feet of top soil off the entire site. We're about 75% done with that right now, which is incredible for the winter conditions that we've had to work through. Um we next slide will kind of show you a little bit more. So this is about halfway through after the trees were grubbed out and we started working on our first uh retail pad. That's the brown spot of soil that you guys see in the in that slide. And then if you go one more. So this is progress. This is with pretty much uh half of the top soil removed. Uh we did have a lot of fill that we had to move in. We've moved about 35,000 cubic yards so far and have about a search charge of 20 ft uh down towards the Highway 5 uh corridor. U if you go one more, you can see where we're at as of yesterday. Um, so we're, like I mentioned, threequarters of the way through the site. Um, very excited about the progress that we've made here. Um, we feel it's going to be a a great addition to the community and we're excited to be a part of it.

Great. Thank you so much for the update. We appreciate that. Any questions, comments from council on that? All right. Very good. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to address the council this evening on an item that is not on the agenda and not an application form that's coming to the council at a future date? Seeing no one, we'll now move on to our next agenda item, which is the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda [clears throat] are routine administrative and do not require deliberation or housekeeping items that are required by law. Consent agenda items are approved with one vote unless someone requests an item to be considered separately. Miss Hardy, does staff wish to pull any consent items for separate discussion in vote this evening?

Thank you, mayor, mayor, members of the council. Yes. Staff would like to pull number 5.6, the approval of downtown west purchase agreement, options agreement, and downtown west third edition development agreement. Uh council, any items that council would like to see pulled for separate discussion and vote? Is there anyone in the audience that is looking to pull something from the consent agenda for separate discussion and vote this evening? All right, clerk, please let the record reflect that item 5.6 has been fold pulled for further discussion. Council, uh, can I get a motion for the balance of the consent agenda, please? Motion for the balance of the consent agenda. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Now on to item 5.6- which was removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion and vote. I understand our community and economic development director, Jen Brewington, would like to speak about this item. Miss Brewington, the floor is yours.

Yes. Thank you, mayor, members of the council. For transparency purposes and because of the project's scale and the long-term benefits that it provides the community, we just wanted to pull some um information together to highlight the city's financial participation in this project. So just some quick background here. The site has been identified since the early 2000s as a key opportunity for downtown expansion. In 2016, the city council adopted a downtown master plan establishing a mixeduse vision for the 13 and a half acre property. Over the years, the city conducted extensive public engagement including workshops, surveys, outreach at community events and imple implementation began in 2022 with phase one uh which included the approval of the 145 unit Olivine apartment building along with supporting public infrastructure. Later on, Brian will go through a little bit more project details. After consulting with the city's financial adviser and legal counsel, staff determined that the city's participation does not qualify as a business subsidy under Minnesota statutes listed on the screen. While the city is providing participation in the project, such support does not cons does not require a business subsidy under the applicable law. However, I do want to note that this development is creating jobs, public places, and public infrastructure, which a subsidy usually would require. The development the developer has proposed a multi-phase development and within phase one delivering all public infrastructure necessary to serve the entire project ensuring the site is fully supported from the beginning. In addition to the core infrastructure improvements, phase one includes construction of four commercial buildings for retail, restaurant, and civic uses along with the central public plaza designed to serve as a community gathering space and anchor for the development. As part of the agreement, base rents for the commercial spaces are capped at $25 per square foot for restaurant space and $30 per square per square foot for retail space. These rates are locked in

for 10 years um for the start of each lease with the annual adjustments permitted based on the consumer price index. The purpose of this run structure is to ensure that these small spaces are accessible to our small businesses and local operators during the early years of the project. It helps activate the district, supports occupancy, and protects the city's broader investment in downtown West. Phase one includes construction of all core public infrastructure necessary to support the full buildout of the project. These improvements include grading and erosion control, sanitary sewer and water service, storm water management systems, public streets and parking, underground utilities and light lighting, and boulevard landscape and sidewalks. I just want to note that all project improvements shall be installed in accordance with the plans, the city approvals, the city engineer design and construction standard manuals for development. The city also has some built-in protections with agreements to safeguard its investment and long-term vision. These include the right to acquire property if the project is not developed as intended. The city retains an option to repurchase the property if the developer does not complete the project as agreed. As conditions of the city's financial involvement, the developer has agreed to cap commercial rents for a defined period to support small businesses and public infrastructure constructed in phase one is designed to support the entire project as a full buildout, reducing the need for future disruption or reinvestment. The project is construction in phases allowing for growth, financial feasibility, and the ability to respond to market conditions. And with that, staff can stand for any questions, and I have sample motions on the screen for you. Very good. Thank you, Miss Brewington. Before the council discusses and takes action on this item, I'd like to invite anyone in the public to comment on this item. Is there anyone in the audience this evening who'd like to comment on this item? All right, seeing no one, we'll now open

the floor for council discussion. Council, any questions, comments on this item? I don't think so. Mayor, I think that we've done an excellent job of crafting this, designing it, and really providing positive benefit for Victoria as a whole and for a community that will be able to create jobs, expand downtown, and um this. We've talked about it almost ad nauseium, but it's just a win-win. I think the Victoria residents should be proud of what staff and council has put together along with our development partners. Very good. Any other comments, questions?

All right. See no further discussion. We've got um three separate motions to be taken this evening. So, I will consider uh the first motion. Motion to approve downtown west purchase agreement. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Um, can I get a second? Motion, please. Council member Roberts. Uh, motion to approve Downtown West options agreement. Very good. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. And the third motion, please. Council member Patterson. I was just gonna start. I'd like to approve the downtown west third development agreement. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Now moving on to our regular agenda. We have a full agenda this evening. And our first item for discussion is item 6.1, which is to consider a minor subdivision reszoning and comprehensive plan amendment for a property located at 8675 County Road 43. Presenting on this item this evening is our city planner, Brian McCann. Mr. McCann, welcome.

Thank you, mayor and council members. Tonight, we are looking at a proposed residential subdivision at 8675 County Road 43. With that, they are also requesting a resoning and a comprehensive plan amendment. So, starting out with the location and existing conditions. As I mentioned, the address is 8675 County Road 43. It's a 23 acre property with significant wetland coverage as you can see in the image on the left uh with the various colored areas. There are also significant pockets of tree coverage and steep elevations. It's also within close proximity of Wasserman Lake to the south as well as some residential developments to the north, east, and across County Road 43 to the west. Uh currently the site consists of a single home with an existing driveway access from County Road 43. Our municipal code section 107-184 uh guides minor subdivisions and the process for doing that. So, they're typically used in an area of small size or minor importance to create four or fewer lots. And then those lots have to conform with our zoning code requirements and that no more than four new lots from a parcel can be created within a three-year period. So, looking at the proposed minor subdivision by the applicant, they have um the first parcel here up near County Road 43. That's a roughly 2 and a half acre parcel. Then this parcel two that's shown here would consist of the wetland areas which would then be deed to the city for preservation. And then we have two new parcels down here, parcels three and four which are proposed to have a

private access from Ridgewood Drive. And then parcel five is the existing home which would remain on an approximately 2acre piece down here. Then that's just a closer look at those two new parcels and the existing home area for these. Can you back up? I just have a quick question on that. The um existing home, the access will still continue to be from County Road 43 or are we going to add access off of the other road? Mayor, that's a great question. They will continue to use the driveway access connecting to County Road 43. Okay. And then the Can you tell me the approximate sizes of parcel three and four?

Yes, those are each two acre parcels as well. Very good. Thank you.

For the zoning and comprehensive plan, it's currently zoned agricultural. So to subdivide like they're proposing, they need to reszone to our R1 low density district. Um and it is also guided in our comprehensive plan for low density as well. So, they would need a comprehensive plan amendment for a lower density. Uh, right now they're proposing three units on about 3.75 acres of disturbed area. So, that comes out to about8 units per acre. Uh, so they are requesting that comprehensive plan amendment which I'll discuss in the future, but that area is only relative to the properties that will be utilizing city sewer and water. Looking at the lots themselves though, the proposed bulk standards are vastly exceeding our minimum requirements. So staff doesn't have any concerns about complying with the minimum requirements of our R1 low density district. But going back to that comprehensive plan amendment, as I mentioned, this is the approximate area of disturbance. Um, these three homes would utilize city services in some fashion, which is what the metropolitan council looks at when they're looking at the sewer extension. So, these three areas need to meet the minimum density requirement. In this case, they don't. So, they're proposing to use the conservation residential that has been utilized in the past for environmentally sensitive areas. Um, so that is subject to your review and approval tonight. And then just a note that's not on the slide here, this does require a super majority. So we would need at least a four fifth approval for that this evening. So the reason for the conservation residential is because they're within

1,000 ft of Werman Lake. Uh they are proposing lots that meet all the minimum requirements for the Shoreland Overlay district, including that 20,000 square foot minimum lot size, the 125 ft minimum lot width, and the maximum 25% impervious. They also aren't proposing any impacts to steep slopes or blufflands, and these will be custom graded lots to try to do as minimal tree clearing or grading activities as possible. So looking at the tree preservation, the areas outlined in red on the image on the left are the proposed uh grading areas for the construction of the new homes as well as an area for an an emergency access for our fire department. With this image, they are proposing less than 20% of tree removal. So they're preserving a lot of the existing significant and heritage trees on the site. and they also do not have to provide any additional tree mitigation. Uh, speaking of that emergency access, Bridge Ponds Drive in the image on the top here, you can see consists of over 4,000 ft of run without a secondary access. So, the fire department in their review for this proposed subdivision has commented on the necessity of an emergency access. and Ridgewood Drive was always ex intended to extend out to County Road 43 in the future. So, as part of that proposal, the applicant has provided an emergency access which would be gated and only used in the event of emergencies. With this, they're also requesting some slight reorientation of that emergency access. This 90 degree curve is just too much for our fire apparatus to handle. And then also uh

increasing the dimensions of the private hammerhead turnaround as well. Ask a quick question there. Sure. We'd be using their essentially existing driveway for emergency access to this other neighborhood. Correct. Thank you.

Moving on. Uh looking at their proposed private hammerhead that I mentioned. You might be able to see it here. It's kind of shaded very lightly. Uh, but that would only service the two new homes coming off of Ridgewood Drive. Parcel one would also utilize that existing driveway going down to 8675 County Road 43. Um, and then there were some comments being passed around at our group discussion last week about the potential of a public culdeac here instead of a private hammerhead. So, we are still exploring that option. we've got some time with the comprehensive plan amendment process to figure out some of those details. So, that's something that might come back in the future. And then with this, we would still require parkland dedication. This does result in um three new single family homes and one existing single family home that has not provided parkland dedication in the future because they're not platted lots. So uh our code would require less than a fifth of an acre for that. It's likely that a cash fee in lie of land would be provided for that. Uh and then just as I mentioned, they are not exempt. They would still have to provide parkland dedication because they're providing additional impacts on our parklands. So for the wetlands and storm water management, they are subject to the MCWD's rules and regulations. We do anticipate some impacts to wetlands based on the topography of the area out here. So, the applicant will need to continue working with the MCWD on this. And then, as I mentioned earlier, that parcel to the large one that would be dedicated to the city for preservation of those wetlands. And then looking at the sites utilities, I'm going to break this down parcel by parcel because it kind of gets

confusing. um parcel one, the one closest to the county road, they are proposing septic and well for that lot. The reason being is because utilities are available to the north, but the engineering doesn't work to get them to serve a property here. There's too steep of an incline to make it work. So, they are proposing septic and well for this parcel one. Then looking at parcels three and four, the two new ones with the private hammerhead, those would both utilize sewer and water services. The sewer currently sits further south um kind of near the existing home at 8675. So the sewer would have to be brought up to service those two new properties, but water is available on Ridgewood Drive for them to utilize. And then the fifth parcel, the existing home, they would connect to sewer, but they would not extend water as the current plans are showing. We're still discussing with the applicant to confirm that is their intention. Uh, but they will be connecting to sewer per our requirements and ordinance. So, we also did pass this to Carver County for review. They have not provided any official comments yet, but they did state that due to the number of lots being proposed, they don't anticipate a large impact on their current county road 43 infrastructure. Um, and then just to kind of highlight what could an alternative for this property look like if it were to develop at a higher density than they're proposing, you'd likely see a public culde-sac with maybe seven, eight residential lots out there. Um, if they had to do that, they would have to get a residential shoreland planned unit development um, review from the DNR. This would also result in additional

tree loss, grading activities, environmental impacts, additional costs for the property owner and the developer. Um, they would still have to go through the resoning process. They would not need a comprehensive plan amendment. And I believe that's everything. We did host um a public hearing with the planning commission meeting last week. It was properly advertised, mailed to residents. We did receive one comment stating opposition to the proposed subdivision. They spoke about perceived reduced property values, deforestation, and potential danger to existing residents within the Deer Run neighborhood. But we also received another comment stating general support for the project and asking that that driveway easement be retained. Excuse [clears throat] me. Um the plane commission did hold that public hearing that I mentioned. One resident spoke up. It was the same individual who provided written comments stating the same concerns. But the plane commission did discuss aspects of this project including the alternatives for additional single family homes that higher density that I talked about a couple slides ago. Um potential wetland impacts also the potential of utilities for parcel one that septic and well lot. Uh they also talked about the emergency access and the benefits of a public culdeac versus the private hammerhead. But the plan commission did end up recommending approval for zero. [clears throat] And then with the minor subdivision review, these aren't conditions. Uh they are not applying for a conditional use permit or a formal preliminary plat. So these are guidelines of uh steps that city staff expect the applicant to work

through with the city before the city would sign off on their minor subdivision request. since that is an administrative approval. So, it would be approval of the reasonzoning, approval of the comp plan amendment, um compliance with the fire department's comments with the hammerhead turnaround dimensions, the emergency access also including that utilities are placed within drainage and or yeah, utilities are placed within drainage and utility easements. uh verification that septic and well would actually work on parcel one as well as further review from uh other jurisdictions such as Carver County and MCWD. They also would have to go through a development agreement with the city because they are providing public utilities. We need to protect that infrastructure and then providing the standard development fees for water sewer connection, park dedication, siren fees, all of that.

[clears throat] So looking at next steps, if the applicant does receive approval this evening from the city council, we would submit the metropolitan council a uh comprehensive plan amendment for that reuiding from low density to conservation residential. If they are receiving denial this evening from the city council, say staff will meet with them and it's likely they would pursue a higher density option. So with that, I have two sample motions for you on the screen this evening. Staff can stand for questions and representatives of the application are in the audience.

Very good. Thank you. Um council questions, comments on this proposal. [clears throat] Um I have one just from the well I have a couple actually. From the planning commission meeting, there was discussion about bringing utilities from the east under 43 to that top um parcel. Is that a possibility or is that just financially and physically not going to happen?

Um, mayor and council member, that is a good question. We did look that up afterwards. I'm just pulling up our map here. Um, so there is a storm water pond in between the existing neighborhood to the west here. So, it would have to be brought over under the pond through this neighborhood and existing properties there. or it could be brought over and up from Duck Trail. Either way, it's an extensive cost that would really only service one home. I don't think the applicant is willing to do that just for a single parcel.

Fair enough. I mean, that's I just thought it was an option that was brought up. Um, so the two southern parcel homes will be accessed by the private driveway or will they be accessed by the existing city street or both? Uh, mayor and council member, that's a good question. They will be accessed by the public street, Ridgewood Drive, through a private hammerhead. Um, so let me Yeah, I've seen it like three times and I'm still not sure.

Yeah. Um, so this might be the best slide. Imagine right here where my cursor is, this is Ridgewood Drive. This is the property line. They would have just a private street connection to that public road. Okay. Then the emergency access is everything that looks like a railroad track. Correct. So the existing home, where's the driveway for that? The existing home's driveway is this gray area in the image on the left. Gotcha. Thank you,

Mayor. If [clears throat] I may, just just a point since we're talking about uh that. Um, so I see that the uh the intention here is that the staff uh has discretion on approving this minor subdivision. There are a couple of actions that require council approval, but staff is is ultimately to approve the minor subdivision. You've laid out, Brian, the various things that you're thinking about as conditions to having that happen. One of your conditions is that the existing access to the newly created parcel five, which is the existing home, there will have to be an easement uh over parcel two, which the city will ultimately own. And I guess I hadn't noted it until Mayor, you asked the question about access from 43 down to that existing home. Uh that that access will also pass over parcel one and parcel 4. So that access easement and I guess emergency access rights as well. correct

uh will have to be recorded over those parcels as well. And I'm not it doesn't matter for purposes of tonight, but you refer to an agreement between the city as owner of parcel 2 and the owner of parcel 5. I think probably given that developer will own all the land. Developer will just dedicate as owner of all the land. Well, it owns all the land dedicate the easement over parcel one, two, four, and five for those purposes. So, it's a highly technical point, but just you had raised it. Mayor, it's a good point. So, for staff's edification, correct? Okay. Thank you. Anything else? Mr. Bose, that's it. Mayor, thank you.

All right. Council member Ivansky, you had a question. just from the the the view that you had of the existing road. Um the driveway access to the existing home is is part of that driveway also on the adjacent pro property to the west of it. Mayor and council member, that is correct. I believe they have um an agreement with the property owner just to the west for that driveway location.

Okay. So, if we're going to be potentially running emergency vehicles down that what we'll call gravel road, are we are we would it be prudent for us to get an easement from that property owner so that when we run emergency vehicles that need to be a certain width down there that we know we'll always have that width to accommodate that? Mayor and council member, that's a good question. I would assume that the property owner to the west I'm looking at attorney vos to see if he can help answer this question could just be a party to sign that agreement.

Yeah, mayor and council I think I think the point of my comment and your comment council member is I don't know what the existing easement arrangement is. There is apparently some agreement allowing the private drive to be there. We'll have to take a look at that. And I guess the point is that we'll have to make sure that that private access, which is also going to be for emergency access going forward, that we have adequate rights to maintain that. And that may include over the property owner to the east or west or whichever way we're looking at here to the left on this picture. Um uh and so it's a good point, but we may involve somebody other than developer in getting those access easement rights nailed down. Okay, good. Thank you.

Any other questions, comments? I guess my only one was just in reference to one of the comments that I saw was this becomes more dangerous or there's a safety issue and to me it felt like this becomes safer and there is not as much a danger issue with this access point to the rest of the neighborhood. What am I missing? Am I missing something with that or not? Mayor and council members, I I agree with your interpretation.

Thank you. Great. All right. All right. Seeing no further discussion, council, there's two separate motions that we need to take on this. Um, with that, I will entertain a motion, please. Motion to adopt ordinance 487 ZC Z, excuse me, ZC reszoning the property at 8675 County Road 43 from agricultural to R1 lowdensity residential. Uh, is this is that what we're reszoning to? I thought we were going to reszone it to the conservation residential.

Mayor and council members, that's a good question and clarification. So, reszoning to R1 lowdensity residential, the comp plan amendment and the second motion is for the conservation residential. Okay. So, thank you for clarification. Okay, we have a motion. Thank you, council member Refe. Can I get a second? I would second that. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And I will entertain a second motion. Motion to adopt the resolution authorizing submittal of a comprehensive plan amendment for 8675 County Road 43. Very good. Thank you. Can we get a uh We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Very good. Next item is item 6.2, which is the final plat for the Victoria Gateway commercial development. Back at this one again is our city planner, Mr. McCann. Mr. McCann, the floor is yours.

Thank you, mayor and council members. Uh, this one is not a new project to you. You've seen this a couple times. This is the project generally known as Hometown Bank. So, they are asking for final plat this evening for their commercial development. You may recall you saw this most recent uh version of their plan back during sketch plat in July of last year and then for preliminary plat this past September. So with the major subdivision platting process, we are at the final step here where we finalize the development details including execution of a development agreement which will come to you at a future consent agenda. Uh, and we just really look at the plans and make sure everything's matching what was approved with preliminary. So, for the location and area, it is a 4.13 acre parcel adjacent to Highway 5. It is just to the northeast of our fire station. It's just to the east of downtown existing today and Commercial Avenue. There are also some properties owned by the MCWD to the north and east of this property. And with in the site, they are looking at two proposed uses. The first one being a combined bank and coffee shop with drive-throughs and then the northern end of the site would be a three-story medical office building. So the existing conditions of the property as it stands today, it's currently vacant with some grasses and rolling hills you can see in the elevations in the image on the left as well as some wetlands present on the northern border and the eastern area here. So [snorts] looking at our zoning and comprehensive plan recently it was reszoned by the PL uh city council

during uh that September preliminary plat review. So it was changed from R1 low density to central business district and then a comprehensive plan amendment was also submitted to the metropolitan council to change the future land use from low density to downtown mixeduse. The metropolitan council did approve that. So that is in effect today. So looking at the proposed uses from the applicant, everything uh checks all of our boxes. They got their conditional use permit approvals from the city council during preliminary plat as well for their drive-thru uses and the design deviations from our central business district architectural requirements. So the image on the left is what was submitted for final plaque consideration by the city council this evening. They are proposing two outlots containing wetlands. Uh outlot A is here containing that pocket of wetlands that I highlighted a few slides ago and then outlot B is here also containing wetlands. Lot one is the site of the bank and coffee drivethrus and then lot two is the site of the proposed medical office building. And you can see all that and their parking lots and the functionality of the site in the image on the right that was submitted as well. So they also submitted a landscaping and tree preservation plan. Since it's within our central business district, they're exempt from open space, a minimum number of plantings, and our buffer requirements. They do have to provide foundation plantings where practical, which they've achieved in the image on the left. They've also provide boulevard trees every 35 ft, as well as terminal landscape islands to be planted in areas to deter headlights from shining into other areas. They're also

proposing less than 20% removal of existing trees on the site. So there's no additional mitigation required either. Then for streets and parking, they are also compliant with our minimum parking requirements for restaurant uses and medical office uses. Throughout the two uh proposed lots, they are required 135 stalls. They're providing 136. So they meet our requirement there. They also have a private street uh connection from the future uh roundabout with the highway 5 project at Commercial Avenue. Then looking at parkland dedication and pedestrian connections, our criteria for our municipal code for parkland dedication comes out to be about a fifth of an acre or just over $21,000 for cash fee in lie of land. We're anticipating that cash fee since they aren't showing any trails or parks in their proposal and our parks and recreation committee did review this back during the last sketch plat cycle last July and recommended cash as well. And then they are also provoke uh providing sidewalk connections between the two sites as well as a sidewalk connection that would feed directly into the trail with the highway 5 project.

Are those yellow areas sidewalk connections? Correct. Thank you.

And then the wetlands and storm water management, it is subject to the MCWD's rules. Uh they are proposing minor wetland impacts um which were anticipated given the conditions of the site. So they are working through those with the MCWD. There is also a private storm water basin on the north end of the site that the um property owners will maintain in the future. And then just that outlots A and B as I mentioned earlier will be dedicated to the city for wetland preservation. So with that I have some suggested conditions of approval for the city council to consider this evening that were included in your packet. Uh these are all our standard conditions. There's nothing too unique here. Um, so with that, I have a sample motion for you on the screen and there are representatives of the application in the audience as well if you have any questions.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. McCann. Council questions, comments on this final plaque. I just go ahead council. Council member Right. I just had one on the uh parking. I think we're fine in the parking, but I think we were short on one and not short on the other area. Is that right? But collectively we're above by one. Is that accurate? But they it flows together, right?

Correct. Yeah. So um here is the dividing line between the two properties. So um if the bank and coffee shop were on its own, they wouldn't have enough within this site area to meet their parking requirement. But between the medical office building just to the north as well, they have sufficient parking throughout the entire two project collectively. Okay, great. Thank go ahead. Thanks. Can we look at the sidewalks again?

Looks like so my concern was can we get folks through that parking lot safely to the coffee shop? It looks like everything looks great there. So it looks like it got pedestrian crossways, sidewalks, so we aren't wandering through parking lots, which is probably a good thing. Yeah. Will the sidewalk that's going to the high to highway five will that will they extend that as far as and that and then five will the side the trail or sidewalk that's there will come to it or will they have to finish that after the highway that part after the highway five project is done?

Mayor and council member Roberts, that's a good question. I should have highlighted a little better. Um, so this sidewalk connection actually goes right up against a trail uh that they've shown in the plans, just a lighter color. So it actually will feed directly into a trail that will be constructed with the roundabout. And then can you remind me because we've talked about this a lot I feel like. Right. So, um, will the and I know at one point the medical building was maybe in the f is that will these be built at the same time. Is there going to be a delay in the medical building? Are they going to build the mocha monkey and the bank first and any sort of delay in the medical building? Do we know that?

Mayor and council members, that's a good question. I'm looking to the project team. I'm getting a head nod. Does that mean that they will be constructed? Come on up [laughter] to the podium. come on up to the podium so we can question you properly. Please um state your name for the record. My name is Ryan Syler with Headarters Development Developer. And the answer is uh in a perfect world, we construct them together. Uh that may or may not happen. Um but if that doesn't happen, the bank will go first. Um and if the bank does go first, then we will construct the parking needed to handle the bank along with it to satisfy that requirement. And we're also coordinating with um CS McCross and Bolton and Mink right now just on their timing so we can understand our timing

for the highway 5 project. Okay, there you go. Any further questions? Um and then is there any update? I guess you might not be able to answer, but like what might be in the medical building at this point? I I can't answer that right now. Yeah. Is there are you only considering a medical building use or could it be something different? The intent is to keep it as medical office. Okay. We'll take that. Okay. All right. Other questions, comments? Just a quick question. So yeah,

would we contemplate in our development agreement the this is where we would have um the covenants or hooks to so to speak to ensure that lot two is going to have the adequate parking built out even though the building may not get done at the same time. You're sorry you're or breaking your perfect world scenario, right? [laughter] So yeah, I'm I'm fine with that being a covenant. I think that that would be pretty customary and okay standard. Staff, are we okay with such an action? Yes, Mayor and Council Member Evansky, we can certainly put that into the development agreement.

My last question is just in a Right. So, it sounds like if they're not in conjunction, the bank and Mocha Monkey building will be built first. When is when in a perfect world, when would that be open? Well, I think in a perfect world, and I'm I'm looking at Not tomorrow, Mr. work, but I think I don't think they really want to open until the highway 5 reconstruction is done. So, in a perfect world, they're completed at the same time. Okay. Let's hope for the perfect perfect world, right? Council, any other questions?

Mine was only on staging. It sounds like you got that covered with Boltman and everyone else. So, because there's going to be some possible start and stops just based on their construction traffic and shutting down the uh roundabouts and things like that. So, yeah, coordination will be key on this one. Sounds like you got it covered. So, thank you. I guess I do have one other question. Uh, does staff have any concerns about

obviously the there's one entrance into there. Um, is there any concerns about if the medical building is constructed later, construction equipment coming through while the public is also trying to get through there to get their coffee and do their banking?

Um, Mayor and Council Member Roberts, that's a good question. Um, we are thinking about that. we come through and go directly to that medical office building. Um, granted the coffee site also shares that, but they do have a direct path to get to that medical office site. Thank you. Okay, any other questions or comments?

Working on this for like three years, right? We love it when it comes to final plat. This is a beautiful thing. All right. So, with that, I will uh take the first motion, please. Move to adopt the resolution approving the final plat for Victoria Gateway East. Very good. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Moving on is item 6.3, which is another final plat and reciprocal easement agreement for Victoria condos mixeduse development. And we're making Mr. McCann work very hard tonight. So, it's now back to you, Mr. McC. Thank you, Mayor. I'm earning my paycheck tonight.

You are indeed.

Uh, so yes, next on the list, we have Victoria Condos. This one was previously reviewed um back as early as 2022 originally with a 63 unit apartment building proposal. Uh most recently it was reviewed this past August with a 10-unit condominium proposal and received preliminary plat approvals from the city council this past December. So once again in the major subdivision platting process, we are at the final step here where we are reviewing the final details of the development and coordinating a development agreement with the applicant. U just as a reminder for the location and area. This is right in the heart of our downtown. It consists of three parcels totaling 63 acres. Um only about a third of an acre is the actual project site though. It consists of the existing 7942 quamlet as well as two properties uh owned by the city for the uh parking lot just to the north. So, as I mentioned earlier, they are proposing 10 condominium units as well as two groundf flooror commercial tenant spaces and a third showroom space uh for private vehicle storage. So the existing conditions of the site as I mentioned it consists of an existing private garage um shown here on parcel one and then those two uh lots dedicated to the city parking lots consisting of existing 43 parking stalls. There are also utilities available along Tower Boulevard and Quamlit for this site. So, here's a rendering that was submitted back with the preliminary plat of what the building could look like at

buildout. Um, going through each level, uh, this is the proposed garage consisting of the 21 residential um, stalls available with that private driveway down to access the garage from Ry's way. And then moving up to the ground floor, these are the two commercial spaces as well as a lobby for the condo users and the final showroom space um with the access towamlit. And then levels two and three would consist of four units each of condos. So uh four units on level two, four more units on level three. um with those sizes ranging at about 1300 square feet to 2200 square feet in size. And then the fourth and final level would be a rooftop amenity space as well as some private storage lockers for the condo users and those two last two condos on the very top floor. So this is the final plat that was submitted for city council review. Uh they are proposing two outlots. Outlot A to the north here adjacent to VIX just to the north and then out lot B here containing that city parking lot and those uh compact spaces that they had proposed with preliminary plat and then lot one block one would consist of the building and these areas that you're seeing here in front uh would be portions of dedicated rightway uh to the city for uh future maintenance in front of the building for the sidewalks. Then for the zoning and comprehensive plan, it's currently zoned central business district and guided downtown mixed use. Based on what they are proposing this evening, all those uses comply with the zoning and the 2040

comprehensive plan. And they also received a lot of their previous approvals for conditional use permits and the shoreland um or the standard variance I guess I should say for um the impervious out here. And then moving on to the streets and pedestrian connections. They are proposing a single access to the city parking lot. There are two currently. As you may recall, they would be eliminating one of those access points. And uh this would be a entry and exit servicing the parking lot. And then the parking lot stalls would be reoriented to allow uh one way in and one way out navigation through the parking lot. And then this is the private uh driveway down to the garage from Ry's way. They are also showing concrete sidewalks uh throughout the east, west, and south sides of the site. There just isn't enough space on the north here uh to make that work, but they do have an available connection here for any of the parkers in the compact stalls. So then looking at the parking, we have as I mentioned 43 existing stalls within our city parking lot. The total parking proposed with this project comes out to 83 total stalls. 20 of those are underground in the garage available to those condo users. They also have one additional space down there for the showroom use. And then they also have uh 17 available spaces for the retail as required and three stalls dedicated for that showroom use uh as required. So in total there's still an available 44 public stalls remaining for the project.

Moving on to signage, lighting, and architecture. Uh the pass submitts that were reviewed were compliant, but signage permits will be required when the building is actually constructed and they're ready to put signage up. And the review of the building met all of our minimum architectural requirements in our central business district. And then the landscaping and tree preservation aspects that were submitted with the project, they are uh required to have boulevard trees every 35 ft unless exceptions are granted as well as placing foundation plantings, but they are exempt from our typical central business district requirements. Uh and then they are proposing to remove more than 20% of the existing trees on the site. So they do need to mitigate that. They are proposing uh to contribute to the city's tree fund for the missing amounts in 129.1 in of cash in lie of replacements. Then looking at park dedication, they would be required to dedicate about a fifth of an acre or 21,000 uh in lie of land. that was calculated per our municipal code section for parkland dedication. Um, but commercial projects less than one acre are exempt. So, the ground floor, commercial, and showroom spaces were not counted in that requirement. We're only looking at the 10 condo units here. They aren't proposing any parks or trails because uh they're in our downtown. We have lots of great uh park amenities already down here. So, they have to meet the MCWD's rules and requirements for storm water management. Uh, we don't anticipate any wetland impacts based on the size and location of the site. Uh, they do need to install some BMPPS in accordance with

the MCWD's requirements. Um, and then just a note that we talked about at preliminary plat, the current storm water out here is not captured, uh, treated or rate controlled. So the installments that they would be placing would actually improve the storm water quality out in this area. Then for the site utilities as I mentioned there's sewer and water available. They are proposing to utilize those existing services on Tower Boulevard and Quamlit. Our engineering staff did have some minor comments but nothing atypical from what we usually see uh for a similar project. And then talking about the reciprocal easement that was included with your packet tonight. So, uh, you may recall during the preliminary plat discussion, there were some concerns about ownership of a portion of the north lot line adjacent to the uh, city parking lot and the implications that could have on building construction. So, as a condition of preliminary plat approval, the city council required that uh city staff work with the applicant to find a creative solution to how this could work where the city retains ownership, but the project team has what they need to get the project done and get the building built. So, we came up with a reciprocal easement. I guess I should say the applicant came up with one and brought it to the city. Uh city attorney has reviewed it. staff has been working with the applicant on this. We do think that this satisfies the requirement and is able to get the project done. So, with that, I do have some suggested conditions of approval for consideration by the city council this evening that were included in your report. Uh, two of those being unique or different than what you typically see. We would just want to finalize a staging plan because this is a sensitive area within our

downtown. We want to make sure that uh the construction traffic is going to be routed accordingly and then uh that the applicants and the city shall continue working on that reciprocal easement to finalize the details of that. So with that I do have two sample motions for you on the screen. Staff can stand for questions and I have a representative of the application in the audience as well. Very good. Thank you Mr. McCann. Council comments, questions on this final plaque. Well, I'll I'll start out. Yeah, council member.

In general, we've come a long way. I mean, this coming from 63 units to 10 units, it fits. It fits in Victoria and it looks uh great. Um, so I think we've come a long way. I do have a question. Um, these are owner occupied condos, right? Not rentals. Okay. I'm getting a nod to correct from the audience for the folks viewing at home. All right, other questions, comments from council.

Well, we know where I'm we know where we're going with this, but for me it's the just how the parking's laid out. Um, we've removed all of the various permeable surface area. We've squeezed the lot spaces. We've reconfigured them and we've tried to essentially squeeze them in here. put two DY pickup trucks in there and we're gonna they'll be taking up two spots. Um, and then we're under parked. Are we missing an opportunity here? Is my thoughts on providing more parking? We required an easement on the back end of the structure so that at some point in time we can put a parking deck or ramp in this location. I'm just curious if we're missing a spot, an opportunity to do it right now. I my thought is we hold up this development if we start having this conversation and you know we're we're at final plat here. This feels like the 11th hour.

Yeah. Well, I know and I it's just I've been bringing up since August and I'm just curious if there's any other things that we might be able to do at this point in time. I mean it's been talked about a lot longer than that and I think right like unfortunately not unfortunately I mean There's a lot of different interests, I guess I'll say, and not everyone has come to the table when they needed to. And now we're at the 11th hour, as the mayor said. So, um, fair enough. I I think it's something that can be looked at in the future, but I don't think we want to hold this project up for I'm the new guy. I don't know. No. Yeah.

You know, which brings up a good point. Um, and what I'd like to do is take the conversation separately. So, let's let's maybe hang on to that parking thought and we'll talk about it in reports and emerging issues. Agreed. And then let's take what's in front of us here now and then we can chat about the parking. Fair enough. A little later this evening. Fair enough.

Well, I I think that we can maybe get some places with this. Um, to address Councilman Peter's concerns about the snugness, I think, of what will be, air quote, the new parking lot, do we need that 7 foot island to the east edge of the parking lot where the sidewalk is, or can that be shrunk down or removed in its entirety so that those spaces can have a little bit more breathing room in the the new angled spaces? Can can you point that out? So, this is this is going to be where you see the 20 foot um dimension on Ry's way on the east edge of the property the the oval that is there do we

we need all that space for so what is that what is that island or can that be what is that width today right now seven today okay y so can you cut that down or eliminate it all together and then you know give those spaces a little bit more breathing room to address council member's concerns about when you start putting larger vehicles in there. There's a little bit more room there. Mr. McCarthy has gotten to his feet. Come to the podium, please. Welcome, please.

Marty McCarthy with the development team. Um, right now it's currently a sidewalk, so you would just be kind of walking out into the street to then get to the Victoria House or whatever. But, um, that's Yeah, I would say it's up to the city. This is city's lot. It's just it's work we're doing in in the parking lot to make that much parking. Okay. So, I mean I I think the answer is yes. There's some possibility to have a little bit more flex there if but this would be something that the city would do because it's our parking lot. Yes. Seeing that.

Okay. And Christian, just to answer your to your to your point, we've been building or we've been designing the building to take into consideration a potential future parking lot at this location. Um, and like you mentioned too that I I think the easement agreement I don't think I know the easement agreement is is kind of been created around the concept of a parking structure with maybe a park on top of it being um an opportunity in the future as well. So hope that answers all

but then helpful. That's a great segue into the question of the um reciprocal uh easement agreement. Um I I think with respect to the part of the agreement about parking spaces, it's I feel it's a little too restrictive on where I think we wanted to go with having future flexibility for that piece of the outline. So, um, for instance, if there were some future development on the lot, we, the way this agreement seems to be written to me is that we would not be able to reconfigure that space to say an ingress, an egress into whatever that future part might be. And that's where I was going with the recommendation of having the city own that so the city can have ideas about what we would feel is best for that development and that lot. So for instance, we could if if we needed to remove the ingress and egress at the north end of that lot and then replace it with um ingress and egress off of through that space there and remove those parking spaces knowing that we might be able to get those spaces back elsewhere. So I think for our agreement to say that we're restricting it to parking is a little bit um it it feels too st you know. Another thing could be done is that could be you know if if we wanted to convert that to a small local uh gathering square for residents similar to what exists in between the not building and the Nova lion. uh I

could see envisioning there. That was how why I suggested that we take this approach to keep that land in city control this uh easement agreement. Well, I I fully understand Marty where you're going because you want to be able to access and be able to get to that upper part of your building so that you can install, maintain, etc. Um that's not something that I I think has heartburn. We would be giving that easement across the entire outlaw. out is is is practically speaking they would can't deliver lever out 30 feet over into the city's lot because you're now giving up 14 feet in the air. I don't necessarily think so. But if we want to do that, then potentially maybe the question becomes, should we create an outlot C, the width of an alleyway, for instance, and then put this reciprocal easement agreement over that smaller space rather than the entire outlaw B. Counselor, I defer to you on a thoughts on that. Yeah, I think attorney Bos I think that falls under your jurisdiction as to how that agreement is worded so that those flexibilities can be maintained.

Yeah, Mayor and Council, as as staff indicated, I've looked over that easement. I've made some comments. I think we believe that uh the the comments I've made thus far can be accommodated. Um but I didn't uh make comments through the lens council member that you're talking about. Um what's contemplated here tonight is approval of the stuff the things in front of you subject to sort of me being satisfied with the final easement. So the intention is to leave some flexibility there. I'd be perfectly happy to have you give direction that if the consensus is to agree with council member Vansky. I think that could be accomplished without having to create an outlot C. You could restrict um the height issue to a certain portion of what would be uh outlot B and not the entirety of outlot B. Um so that that can be accomplished conceptually. And then to the extent you want uh more city control flexibility over the parking issue, I guess giving that direction, we I think we can work with developer to figure that out. Um but I have not I did not make comments on the agreement with that through that lens.

Okay. Well, council, do we share that lens? Yeah. I mean I think I think always uh you know preserving our flexibility is always a great idea and you know just in the you know I've been sitting around here for I don't know eight years or something like that now and just the changes that have come and gone over the eight years and how the different uses change and I mean I think we always want to maintain flexibility on our on our parking lot so that we can do what we need to do to help facilitate any changes in the uses downtown any development any redevelopments. So, yeah, I'm in agreement with that. I'm in agreement as well this time. Thumbs up. Okay, we got nods all around. All right,

Carl Marty getting to Yes. It's what mayor likes to say we always drive to do. So, there we go. Thank you, Attorney. I think that between our comments tonight and Brian, you you and Jen can pars that our comments and figure out how do we get to that mutually. Yeah. Mayor, mayor and council members, I just want to jump in here for clarification purposes. Um, the easement here is just this three foot strip of area, correct? It's not being proposed over the entirety of outlot B. Partial of outlot. Oh, so it's just it's a small tiny little strip. It's a very small sliver. Got it. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, that's not clear from our exhibits that that's

Yeah, I should have highlighted that. My apologies. Okay. Well, and mayor and council that the uh the 14 foot the height restriction of course is over the entirety of the parcel for scenic view purposes. Um, correct. So, I guess that's that's where I was tracking with you, but yeah, the the parking portion is only the strip that's shown here on the exhibit in front of you. So, yeah, I I fully anticipate that the parking lot that sits there today will not look like that in the future forever. So anything that we can do to kind of preserve our flexibility as we as mentioned we support that. Okay. Great. All right. So we're we're in agree with both. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Other comments, questions? Just I have a question about staging. I know it's uh being you know it's in the uh I just um do we foresee you know something similar to the Bur project where with Rose Street right like where is you know a day here a day there where a shutdown or do you anticipate like a full shutdown of a certain road for full construction I

so so with the roars project when I was before you the last time um I was a little bit further ahead head with with our general contractor getting um subs on board and understanding um the schedule specifically of how they would attack that. Um I think over the next couple weeks, months, we'll have a better understanding and I do think there will be need to be closures um that would be temporary. Sure.

Over time um and phasing. Um and we're we're talking to some of the property owners in downtown identifying places for them for part um construction people to park. Um we had a challenge with that with uh rower uh the row project and um I know how to deal with that a little bit better. So um that's generally where we're at right now. In the future we'll have much more. Sure. Yeah, no problem. And then do you uh when when would uh open date be? Do you person? Well, we want to be able to start construction um as soon as the um road restrictions come off. So, probably May 1st somewhere around there.

And then how long of a construction period? A year. Um a year to 14 months, 12 to 14 depends on so like the the structure of the building will be up within a year. Um and then there will be internal buildout. Yeah. uh at the different units because these are luxury condos. Um it's going to be um building them out as people kind of put them together. There will be many common things that are um throughout the different units, but then people have the ability to to tweak units here and there and so so maybe late summer 2027, maybe fall or something. Yeah. Okay.

All right. Yeah. We can't stress enough how critically important that staging part is going to be. We Oh, yeah. You know, to I know minimize the disruption to the other residents and folks trying to park and and those kinds of things. And it it causes a lot of heartburn for sure. So, I'm glad you're proactive already with the other businesses, though. It's great. Yeah. And we we have been working with the downtown business group for months. um several of the property owners talking about this parking structure concept since August. Um we've been having weekly meetings um since October with that different group to to to kind of come up with a strategy. Um and so great.

Yeah. Good. Thank you. Thanks Marty. All right. Last comments, questions. All right. Seeing none, I will entertain a motion, please. Motion to adopt the resolution approving the final plat for Victoria condos. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion in a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And we have a second motion this evening. I'll make a motion to approve the reciprocal of easement agreement subject to the terms and conditions that council has laid out and communicated to attorney votes for staff to include their concerns about flexibility.

Thank you, Council Member Evansky. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next item on the agenda this evening is 6.4, for which is a our final final plat for the downtown west third edition mixeduse development city planner Brian McCann a frequent flyer this evening

thank you mayor and council members um just jumping straight into this one with the major subdivision platting process you're well aware of it this evening at this point but we are finalizing the details of the development and a development agreement was approved for downtown west third edition as part of the consent agenda agenda which Jen covered earlier this evening. Uh but just going back to the development team as a whole and all the groups that have been involved with this project along the way. So not just uh City of Victoria staff and city council but Monarch Development SW group and all of their consultants listed on the screen were all a huge part of this project and it's been a great project so far to be a part of. So, for the location and area, it consists of two city-owned parcels about 12 1/2 acres in size. It's located north of Highway 5, south of the Carver Park Reserve, east of Victoria Drive and some existing businesses out there and west of downtown Westphase 1, which was the Olivine Apartments. So with the submitted final plat they are proposing four commercial buildings as well as two C uh condo town home buildings a mixeduse building and an activated public plaza. So the existing conditions of the site it's vacant land uh with rolling hills and previously had pockets of tree coverage as you might recall from the construction update this evening. It's been uh cleared and there's a lot of grading going on there currently. So there are also utilities available around the site and to the west of some of those adjacent businesses. It's also within 1,000 ft of Siger Lake and Lake Auburn. So the plat that was included with your report uh from the agenda last week, we've actually received a updated plat recently. The only real change between

this plat and the one that's in your packet is uh the two town home condo buildings have now become an outlot. Uh the applicant and their team thought it would be easier to separate phases between the four um uh retail commercial buildings and then separate out the residential for a future phase. So that is the plan and the plat change that you are seeing here this evening. So for the zoning and comprehensive plan, it's currently zoned central business district and guided downtown mixed use. Uh they did receive all their necessary conditional use permits to move forward during the preliminary plat phase as well as the uh height increase with a conditional use permit to 55 ft for that mixeduse structure. Looking at the landscaping and tree preservation, they're within the central business district as well. So they're exempt from open space, a minimum number of plantings and landscape buffers. They have also provided foundation plantings where practical as you can see in the image on the left. They've got lots of additional shrubs and trees for the site. They are also meeting the required boulevard tree width every 35 ft. Um, and then they have the landscaped islands placed appropriately in front of um, areas that could impact street parking, which there aren't many areas within this proposed development with uh, parking stalls that would face public streets. And then lastly, tree preservation. Um, an exemption was requested during preliminary plat that was reviewed by the council. Um and it was determined at that time that they were providing the sufficient number of trees and they've retained that same plan in the image on the left here.

So for streets and parking, they do have a proposed connection from Highway 5 as well as some local collections to the newly constructed Stiger Lake Lane. Uh those two uh streets are highlighted in green. And then looking at the parking with the uh anticipated space and square footage and proposed uses that was evaluated at preliminary plat. They needed 210 parking stalls. Uh they are providing 213 uh surface stalls available throughout this development for the project. So they are meeting the parking requirements as well. And then the future phases including any residential are also proposed to have some underground parking to meet their parking requirements for the residential components as well. Then looking at the park dedication and uh just over an acre would be required for the uh previously evaluated town home condo areas and the um retail components and everything. So they are constructing this public plaza which um complies with the minimum requirements for parkland dedication. So they've satisfied their requirements for that. And then they also have proposed sidewalks throughout the site as well as connections to uh the regional trail which feeds down into the Lake Manitonka regional trail. So lots of areas for connection out with this plan as well. Then looking at wetlands and storm water management, it's also subject to the MCWD's rules and regulations. Uh they do show impacts to one minor wetland which are being worked through the MCWD and they also have regional storm water uh areas proposed throughout this development to meet the storm water

needs for this uh master development. So they also have site utilities proposed from Siger Lake Lane that would feed throughout the site and connect to the existing services uh to the adjacent businesses to the west. And with that I have some suggested conditions of approval. The only unique one being that Mandot has to approve the access to Highway 5 as shown which uh city staff and the applicant are working through with them. Uh, other than that, I do have one sample motion for you this evening. Staff are available for questions as well as representatives of the project.

Thank you so much. Um, exciting to be getting to the final plat in this project. Council questions, comments.

I think the only I don't have any questions. I think I'll just make a comment that um it probably shows how I've aged in my tenure with the city of Victoria. If memory serves me correct, um back in somewhere around 2009 when I first volunteered on when the city had a finance committee, uh we acquired this property with a land swap with the Three Rivers Park District. And at the time it almost seemed like this was an administrative bllas kind of thing. Hey, we don't really need that land. We'll get this. We'll do something with it someday. You know, it's almost like it was banked. And and look what we've been able to create today. Um it's it just shows that when we put our hearts and minds together, we can just really achieve great things. And I've said it before, we we so want this to succeed. So, we're going to continue to keep the hammer down on driving, you know, just a great outcome. The Thank you, Carl, for coming up and showing the public what what's happened so far. Um, you know, when you look at just a raw field and now it's starting to transform, uh, these this is a great time. and you know some of the other highlights that the city's going to get from this employment tax base. It's it's a great way to demonstrate that some of the typical tools of how development get done um don't always work for everything and in in this particular case um we've brought some new things to the table. I think the city should really be proud of what is happening for uh Victoria. It's going to be a great great

Yeah. Council member Ivansky, thanks for pointing that out and you know, kudos to our staff and the development team who worked really hard to come up with those creative solutions and bring us a great project. So exciting. Any other questions or comments? I don't want to spoil it. I feel like that was a great ending point, but I had one resident ask about the connectivity from here to the actual Carver Park. So going north from Stiger Lake Lane, is there something planned to be there or not? Maring. Yeah.

Yeah. Mayor and council member Stiger Lake Lane is under construction as you know. So we'll have a trail connection there going up to the roundabout at 11 and Stiger Lake lane which will then have a trail going north up to the Carver Park Reserve. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. I drove Stagger twice last week just for fun. I don't know if I was supposed to, but nobody stopped me. It's drivable. It'sable. Mr. Runk, welcome back.

Thanks for those comments. Um, it's been a great public private um collaboration and now it's proceeding ahead and and living up to the uh the vision that we all created here. Um when we met with the Three Rivers Park District, um they're open to putting up more signage like they have on the trail right now, the lake trail that we can put at downtown west that would say to Lower Nature Center, two Monarch Bomb Bike trails, two Excels here. So, we're going to find a place together, you know, where that could go here as well to direct traffic. And hopefully this becomes a great uh destination for people, not just a gathering space, but bikers, bikers and joggers that can and there as well as downtown Victoria. Yeah, for sure. Excellent.

We love how connected that trail makes us to the rest of the world. It It's really a great alternate transportation method to get here. We love it. Before you sit down, I just have one. I mean, I think the public's excited about this as well. And so I mean we're just at final plat so maybe there's nothing to share but I'm just curious if there's any like do you have any thing you can share yet about like potential tenants tenants or anything or are we not to that point

yet? We'll um it's a drip campaign on the marketing side. So we'll announce them as they come. The only thing we can announce is that we have the Dairy Queen property or former Dairy Queen property under contract. And so we'll we'll be in front of you again with an application for that property to fold it into downtown west which we're excited about. So would that be in conjunction then kind of at the same time as phase one? Would it be after phase one is done or that's our goal be depending on the market you know in terms of absorption of the buildings we're proposing on in you know leveling the Dairy Queen that's irritated vacant Dairy Queen and putting up a building or two is what we're designing right now with working with the city and depending on absorption we would be wanting to proceed right away with that.

Yeah. And then when I guess I've asked this question with all the projects, but when is the hope that this is you know phase one is complete and and ready for use.

Uh we're hoping that so we have two different major components is now the retail component the public plaza. We're hoping for summer of 2027 spring summer for the first four buildings you know two restaurant buildings two retail small shop buildings that that cool active plaza that will be a destination for all everyone in Victoria. We're open by the spring summer of 2027. And then our we're opening a condo or we're proposing a condo sales center be built. And we need to get pre-sales sufficient for the the first condos, the first 50 units. And so our goal there is starting this fall with enough pre-sales and being open a year to 18 months after that. But the retail want to set set the tone for that whole project for everyone and for the future residents living over there.

2027 is going to be a great year. Come quick. Yeah, it's gonna be a great year. [laughter] Maybe scary, too. Yeah, a lot of construction, but once it's done, it'll be great for everyone. Good. In general, I'm excited from the connectivity of here to there as well. Right in the heart. It's not that far, right? And I think it's flowing and it's going to look great. So, I think that's you guys have done a great job of with what we've seen that it's going to flow and connect. So, I think I think I that's the only thing I've heard from residents is it seems far. It's really not that far.

Yeah, thank you. At least in warm months, it seems like and the new Siger Lake, you know, renovation area with the sidewalk and road makes it feel comfortable to walk there as well, but in the cold months, we can't promise people are going to be walking. Hats and gloves later. Hats and gloves, right? Hats and glo. Yeah, dressed for the weather. Dressed for the weather. We're going to go out and buy some big fat spool of ribbon so we can cut a bunch of ribbons and so I look forward to that. All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. I think we still got some business to take care of here. So, any further comments, questions? If not, I will entertain a motion. Motion to adopt the resolution approving the final plat of Downtown West, third edition. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. All right, that completes our formal agenda this evening and we're on to reports and emerging issues. So, first up, uh, Attorney Vos, any reports from you, mayor. I I really don't just, uh, your agenda tonight, uh, evidences the disperate and yet interconnected kind of development you're having, and it's a lot of fun to work on, so I appreciate the work, but I I have nothing to report. Oh, very good. Thanks for that comment. Uh, Miss Hardy, anything from staff this evening? Thank you, mayor, members of the council. I'm just looking at our city clerk to see if she is ready to share about our new artwork today.

Oh, [clears throat] Aia, Missold. Hi, mayor and council members. Um, as part of our continued collaboration with Deb Zeller Studios, I want to present to you uh, Manamore, which is Barammano Konam exhibit. The exhibit is open during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 to 4:30 except holidays. Was that a French? No, it's in Spanish.

It's a Spanish. Okay, that tells you how much I know about foreign languages. But it's a beautiful exhibit. We invite everybody, the members of the public to come up during um office hours to view it. It is it is beautiful and we appreciate Victoria resident Deb Zeller and her continued commitment to keeping beautiful art in this space. So, thank you to all of you,

Mayor, members of the council. Just a quick kind of fun note and our city clerk can correct me if I'm wrong, but the large painting in the back here know if people on camera can see, but um that is done by uh a relatively I'll say famous regionally uh artist who actually has uh several exhibits in the Minneapolis St. Paul so MSP airport. Um we are you don't have to go to the airport. You can see it right here

in our chambers for a couple months. Very good. Thank you. You don't have to go to the airport. You can see it right here. All right. Very good. Um, so as mentioned earlier, um, on reports and emerging issues, I want to talk a little bit about parking. So, council member Person is is right. He is new to the new to the council. He's been around on planning commission for a while, but um, I think we one of the things that we've done over the years in parking is we did a parking study back in 2018.

2018. So quite a while ago, um, counted a bunch of parking spaces and that kind of thing. And every year we kind of have an opportunity to revisit that, refresh it, do some work on that. And I would recommend to council with your approval that we work on a a workshop, maybe kind of put together a document that that states where we are, where we've been. We've got some new uses coming online here in the next couple of months for parking. We want to make sure that you know the parking is adequate. One of the things that we've always done is we've maintained this idea that we are a district you know we are a parking district so every business in the downtown area can use all the parking that's available. We match up the daytime uses with the nighttime uses so we aren't overparked. And that's I think that's fairly common for all um for cities. uh when you're in a downtown area, you don't want acres and acres of asphalt parking. So, we we try and minimize the parking to the extent, but we also don't want to under build parking because we want our residents and people who visit us to have be able to find a place to park. So, um I want to take a look at maybe what we've added in the past few years for parking spaces, kind of how those different uses have impacted that. Um, and with council's permission, I think I'd like to direct the staff to maybe schedule a workshop where we can kind of talk through some of the parking that's happened where we think we want to go with that.

I think too, um, you know, I think we've done a good job about, you know, when new businesses come in, when new these new projects, right, making sure they're parked appropriately. Um, you know, the one area I've heard concerns about now though is, you know, the Victoria House going to be opening

uh again, right? Like that's a business that has been vacant for since COVID basically, right? So, five years. So, um, you know, now that's going to be an additional I don't want to say burden, but like but but it's going to be it's going to tax the parking and we may be perfectly fine, but those are the concerns I've heard about is how is that right? because in that general area there's not right and again I think this comes back to is it a proximity issue or is it a parking issue and I've always felt that it's been more of a proximity issue than it is parking issue but we will see with you know

I think it's important to put some data to that so that we can understand and and you know we've done we've done some things over the years too added um parking signs and then bigger parking signs and and we've talked about it on social media extensively we We really try hard to get our businesses to educate their their visitors to know where the parking is. Um, you know, my favorite line is all the secret super secret parking spaces are right on the side of city hall and that side of the flats building and now the row building. And now the row building more super secret 30 extra spots there.

Yeah. So, so uh where you might have to walk for a block, you will certainly enjoy your walk. It's a beautiful and take it in as you walk through it. So, but um if I can see from I would second the the if it's a formal motion. Absolutely. Actually, I think in just consensus consensus let's do let's do some parking. I think it's a great idea, mayor. Okay.

I just had some things also to add on from what you said, Chad. We also have a whole bunch of people moving into Olivine that are going to have nothing to do but seven to eight months out of the year drive down to Victoria to hopefully frequent the businesses and you know I with what we we've got going on I'm not sure what timing looks like at this point in time but just the opportunity to use PIF assessments and other things whether we're taking it from roars not building what's left of the other buildings along Stiger Lake and up through. Are there opportunities or timelines that we need to hit? And I think that's where if we have an opportunity, I mean, we've all seen the double decker um parking ramp with the park on top of it and it adds beauty and value to a lot of different properties. Um I just want to make sure we're not missing out on an opportunity. And I know we had a tiff assessment done again. I was looking back. I was watching YouTube way too much this past weekend. I think there was something back in August of 2024 where we had a tiff assessment done. If that's something that we can build off of and then our parking study I think is a little bit old but we've got so many new things coming. I don't want to be the place that we've been telling you you have parking issues and then all of a sudden it's like, "No, we really have parking issues and now we have to fix it and we've got Highway 5 under construction. We got six other things going on." Um, I just want to make sure we're taking the right routes to approach this and I don't want to miss out any opportunities. And I guess that's kind of where I wanted to go with it. I think I mean the big dilemma I get right has always been funding right like how do you do it because downtown businesses don't want to be assessed

you know taxpayers may or may not want their right like to b right to go up for it so it's that you know and it's always been I think do it with with development right and so it's trying to find those option right like so That's always the hard part. That's the hard part with that that lot behind Vix and Victoria houses because it's like because we have a lot of stuff going on right between the fire station and so and we want to keep that AAA rating. So, and I and I also want to shout out to staff who

has got a lot already going on too. So, you know, we want to make sure we we have all the resources we need to do the work that we want to do. So that's not to say we shouldn't talk about it. Absolutely. Right. But it's it's just like all these things that have but understanding that something might have to shift. The other the other thing too, just a quick comment, um Victoria is shifting in certain areas are getting busier than others and all that. So I think yes, that's a potential spot for uh additional parking, but there could be another part of Victoria that could also be a potential spot for

our center is shifting west. So I think in that parking study and engagement, we should look at options like that and really understand where the residents and the community has those needs. Yeah. Good point. Uh Miss Harvey, I'm looking at you. Do you have what you need to act on that request?

Mayor, thank you, mayor, members of the council. I just want to repeat back what I think I hear that there's consensus for um and then maybe make just a couple of comments. So, um, where I I'm thinking I'm hearing is that you'd like anformational workshop just to kind of communicate what historically what we've done that historic to provide that historic lens um or context around our strategies and approach for the district-wide downtown parking. How did we make those decisions? How did we get there? um what have we done um to address the um the challenges related to parking um and then the potential impact of you know utilization. So making sure that there's strategies that we can continue to monitor these going forward. So we can certainly um share some information and bring that back to you for a future workshop and um we could probably compile that fairly quickly. So, um, we'll look at getting that scheduled as soon as possible. And then with that,

sorry, can I add just one other thing that I think would be helpful, whether it's Trish or if it's Tammy, like like what are even our options of [snorts] right like is it bonding? Is it an assessment? And what does that look like? So just someone who can speak I guess on on that portion of it because I mean that's that's the big portion right like how do you I mean that's it I mean if we it's beautiful satisfies this need but it costs money

and the way things operate change every year just with new legislation and what gets you know this guy pulls a permit that guy pulls a permit now it's not contiguous I don't know all the answers I'm the one who sits back and you bring that information to me and hopefully I make the right decision. Um, but I think I think with everything we have going on and if you like I looked again I looked at our comp plan too and it just said you know we evaluate this every couple years or by annually I think was the technical term and I think with new construction going on down there and by annual reviews this is probably something we need to do. I mean you guys might have done it back in 2024 but I don't know. Um, but yeah, I think the funding's the key point. And something else that I did find out and if we can do it, I don't know if we can, but Mark Kolstus was involved with kind of the original parking plan. If it makes sense to have him come and join us for a half hour or something, I don't know. That's

So, mayor, members of the council, sorry, council member Peterson, sorry. Go on.

Um, I So, a couple things just to note. We can certainly we we can have a a workshop. Um and if I just want to make sure that I'm what I think I'm hearing where there's consensus is anformational workshop and we can certainly talk generally about the types of financial tools that we can bring to the table to do these kind of um projects. Um and we can certainly bring options to the council for next steps which may involve uh additional studies or evaluation um or if you wanted to look at different solutions um if there's an appetite or evaluate different types of solutions and uh whether go as far as different designs locations and funding tools available to achieve those solutions that would be maybe I would recommend that is being a next step. Um, if council's open to just having anformational discussion, we can bring where have we been, what have we done, what are the challenges, how do we continue to monitor, what tools are available, what conversations have we had, um, and then bring you some potential next steps. That might be a really good starting point to just make sure we're all singing off the same choir sheet. I think

fair enough. We're in a I think we're in a like studies are can be great, right? Sometimes you do too many, right? Like there's too many studies, but I think we're in a really difficult time period as well because, you know, you mentioned Olivine where I would hope a lot of those people walk downtown versus drive, but in the winter months they might not. I don't know. Right. And so, but we've got Olivine, we've got our western development, right? like starting soon. We've got um the the Ganon property project that we just approved, right? Like so all these new things we don't know how they're going to affect. So like we have to take into account like it might make no sense to do a study this year because they're going to change.

But then well and then but then you know in addition so we wait till 2027 but now Highway 5 is shut down and that's going to affect how many people are coming down. So, are we three years out from doing a study to even do everybody in the south growth coming out? Like there's so many things though that are gonna affect like I'm like I don't even know if a study would

I think we have to do what our job is as repres you know represent the people you know and that's where um sometimes I I mean I'm tired of taking studies and I'm tired of going through all I mean I I walked out of Target and had three different you know assessments tell us how we did and I'm like I can't answer all of these anymore. So there's some level of we got to make some decisions and do the right thing for the community. But again, right, but whether you do a study or not, we might not know until we have all the information because again, highway 5 is going to be shut down. So how does that right like

like we might not be able to do anything until all this development is done plus Highway 5 because you're not going to get a accurate picture of what's going on down here until those things are complete. Yes. I would almost argue you're never Is it always [laughter] moving evolving? That's what I was just thinking of Mera, you know, I mean that's shut down and not happening anymore, but can that rekindle? I think it can, but

anyway, sorry that's off topic, but I think that's a good next step. Um, again, I just don't want to miss out on any opportunities that we might have there. Well, and I think it's important it's important to say, you know, our approval tonight of any project doesn't compel anybody to build a project. If they can find another way or if they see something that might be interesting that they can implement into their plan, they have every right to do that. We, you know, we're just not, we're not standing in the way of that. So, okay, I think we're all in agreement here. Dana, you got what you need um the next step there. We will get that scheduled. All right. Very good. Anything else from council? I got two more. Yeah. Person,

but it'll be these these will be fun and quick. Um I had the opportunity to attend the Miniha Creek wershed district annual kickoff LA two weeks ago with Brian and we were featured as one of the key members of that. Uh Mayor McMillan uh gave a little talk about how we've engaged with the uh You're on videotape. Sorry, but so you weren't there personally, but it was great to see how much we were respected by the Minih High Creek Watershed District and the other communities for a leader in embracing what they do. Um, I don't know, I kind of felt like a superstar being there and I'm like, I didn't do anything. Um, and then last weekend I had the chance to attend the League of Minnesota City's Next Level Leadership Conference. I haven't written anything up yet for you guys, but I will. It focused on engagement, um building trust within the community, leading with empathy, and probably the most interesting part was the disaster readiness where we had um uh groups from Mano speak about the floods. And then um really impactful and kind of just crazy was a group from Baiji about the storm that went through uh last year where they lost over a million trees in the city and over 9 million trees in just the in the surrounding area and just what do you do with all those wood chips? I mean it was just crazy just to see the pictures and just how they responded. And so one of the things I'll probably address at some point in time and I think it's there because I think we've responded well to emergencies in the past um but to make sure that uh we have something in place um with Dana and um Chief Sher. So thank you.

Yeah. Good. Thanks for that. Yeah, the League of Minnesota Cities does a great job for us putting together that. And then the I have one other things. Yes. I was just going to ask Miss Hardy. Uh I think I believe it was our uh ice fishing contest. the fire, right? The like. So, I'm just curious how if we have any how it went, how it was turned out. Council member Roberts, mayor, members of the council, I actually don't have any information to share, but I will bring it back for our next meeting. Um, as I have not had an opportunity to connect with our um anyone in our fire department yet. So, is everybody okay back there? I was going to say somebody fell off their chair because [clears throat] it's so boring.

Contested music of a lot of drawings. A lot of local businesses contributed. Awesome. Awesome. Great. We'll look forward to hearing more about that from Chief Shoger. Good. All right. Anybody else got anything in their pocket that they're remembering? All right. With that, there are no more items to come before the body this evening. So, I will ask for a motion to adjurnn. Move to adjurnn. We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. We stand adjourned.