TALL BUILDINGS AND FLOORS OF FAMILIES
MULTIPLE USE FOR VICTORIABUSINESS DISTRICT

Council voted 5-0 to approve a condi-tional use permit for building heights ex-ceeding 35 feet and for multi-family residential units in a project proposed for the Creamery property in downtown Vic-toria.  The project includes two buildings that are proposed to replace the existing old Creamery building.
According to Victoria Planning Director Holly Kreft, who summarized the project on March 8^th, Building #1, located on the north (lake) side of the site, will include retail business on the main floor with three stories of residential units above.  There will be 63 underground parking spaces.  Proposed height of the building is 51 feet.
Building #2, located on the south (Clocktower) side will also include retail business on the main floor but will have two stories of office space above.  Proposed height of the building is 39 feet.
Reported Holly, "The Planning Com-mission held a public hearing on December 5^th.  All the comments from the audience were positive.  The project was also discussed at their March 6^th meeting.  The Planning Commission would like to see more detail and an informational cur-sory review of final layout plans."
Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, "The past council didn't feel there was enough detail.  There seems to be more detail now."
Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, "I'm being asked to approve a pretty broad-based issue.  It's tough for me to wrap my hands around this."
Mary Meuwissen, developer of the Creamery project, clarified, "I'm here because of the [building] height.  The only reason I'm before you is because of the height.  Just as with the Kidtalk, Clock-tower, and Notermann buildings, they didn't know what was coming into their space either.  This is the same information as far as parking as we had in November.  Staff has repeatedly told me that my application is complete.  We are allowed to build on that site."
Councilmember Jim Paulsen asked the city attorney, "To what extent are we diminishing our rights with this?"
Replied Attorney Mike Norton, "There are legitimate concerns related to what the future use will be."
Councilimember Roden thought the developer could have brought it all together including the Tax Increment Financing package, "and not piecemeal, as the past council was concerned with."
Stated Councilmember Paulsen, "There are many flaws in this process that's brought us to this level.  I'm trying to approve this."
Replied Mary Meuwissen, "As a business owner and land owner in this city, I came here two years ago.  I've been working through your process for two years."

Councilmembers unanimously ap-proved the building heights and multi-family residential use in the central business district.
According to Planner Holly Kreft, the next step for the developer is to apply for Tax Increment Financing and have that application re-viewed by the EDA.  In Victoria the Economic Devel-opment Authority consists of the five members of the Victoria City Council.
"From the planning perspective," reported Holly, "the applicant now needs to finalize the building plans and submit them for review by city staff and the Plan-ning Commission.  The off-street parking requirements will be determined once the uses within the proposed buildings are finalized."

PROJECT FOR EAGLE SCOUT MERIT
PLANTINGS AT WELCOME TO VICTORIA MONUMENT
Kyle Wall presented plans to Victoria councilmembers on March 8^th about a project that will help him earn his Eagle Scout badge.  His project is to landscape the area at the Welcome to Victoria monument.
Said Kyle, "I'm putting perennials and trees around the Welcome to Victoria sign.  Perennials are a one time thing and a lot less work.  We'll probably be using mulch to help prevent weeds.
"I checked prices at three different places.  If professionally installed the cost would be $8,414 including the plants.  If we do it, it'll cost $3,098 with wholesale prices.  Hartmans had the best price by $2,000.
"We'll be doing the project in late May to early June.  The Victoria Fire De-partment agreed to donate 25% of the cost.  We're also going to be talking to the Victoria Lions, and to Minnesota Valley Electric for a $1,500 grant.  Bruce Osborn will be putting in the irrigation for us, which is not included with our prices."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "It's a great project for all of us to look forward to."

DOWNTOWN VICTORIA FISCAL PLAN
COLLATING PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
City Administrator Dave Urbia sub-mitted a preliminary report that included estimates, valuations, discussion, and action steps related to:
*potential costs to construct parking accommodations for current redevelop-ment proposals in the existing downtown business district
*street, trail, stormwater, grading, utilities, and other infrastructure costs in the new West Side property of downtown Victoria, as well as some acquisition and demolition cost necessary for develop-ment of that area
*development of city-owned proper-ties along Quamoclit Street including the extension of Tower Boulevard that entails acquisition costs, infrastructure, and reconstruction of Commercial Avenue
*marketing of the current Public Works Site with consideration for market conditions, and the eventual construction of a new Public Works facility at County Road 43, along with related site work.

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