LAKETOWN DEVELOPMENT APPROVED
FOR 203 NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
Council voted 5-0 in approving the concept plan for a 203-lot single family residential development on the "Bowen and Olsen Properties" located south of Highway 5 and west of County Road 11.  Carver Park is on the north side of the development.  In general, the large acre-age lies between Lake Auburn on the north and Lake Wasserman on the south.
The Bowen property consists of 163 acres on which 171 homes are proposed.  This property lies in Laketown Township, adjacent to Victoria, and needs to be annexed.
The Olson property consists of 24 acres on which 32 homes are proposed.  It is already located within the city limits of Victoria.
Developers are Hartman Communi-ties of Victoria and Pemtom.  The devel-opment will be called "Laketown."
"There will be a mix of housing types," said City Planner Mark Kaltsas, comparing styles to those in existing Victoria neighborhoods.  The central area of homes will be similar to the homes in Savanna Valley.  Homes at the entrance will be like those in the Woodlands.  The southern part near Carl Krey Lake will consists of homes like those in Watermark.
In response to a question from the Council, developer Terry Hartman said 46 lots will have 60' widths like Savanna Valley; 112 lots will have 70' widths like the Woodlands; and 45 lots will have 90' widths like Watermark.
There will be two accesses onto Hwy 5 to be conceptually approved by the MN Department of Transportation.  There will be an east-west "collector street" with limited access and no private driveways onto it.  This collector street will be 32-feet wide with sidewalks on both sides; it allows traffic to move freely through the development.
Planner Kaltsas said that this east-west collector street will "ideally keep going to the west" as development contin-ues to the west. 
He said the new development will provide active recreation for the neighbor-hood and city with ballfields and soccer fields.  "It will be our next large active park," said Mark.
"The development will include a trail system along the old rail line that runs into town and provides a regional link," he said.  Referring to Carl Krey Lake he said,  "The development takes lakeshore out of a private realm and puts it into pub-lic use."
"It's a development that accomplish-es what we've wanted," continued the city planner.  "It will allow us, I think, to get into some affordable housing by taking a couple lots and putting them into a land trust."
In regard to the half-dozen existing homes along Hwy 5 and Maple Drive, Planner Kaltsas said those homeowners will be able access Highway 5 without having to traverse the new Laketown neighborhood.
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "I like this development.  I think it's very attractive."
"I'm impressed with it," said Coun-cilmember Richard Tieden. 
"You've met the concerns of the Planning Commission and the Council," said Mayor Jerry Bohn.  "There is good screening from the highway.  I like the three different housing types.  It's a good plan."
"It's more in line with what the city is used to," agreed Councilmember Terry Bishop.

LOOKING TOWARD 2005
WITH IMPROVEMENTS FOR VICTORIA PARKS
Tammy Abrahamson, Director of Victoria Parks and Recreation, submitted project recommendations for 2005.  They were divided into major and minor pro-jects and assumed a budget of roughly $250,000 in one fiscal year.

Proposed major projects:
*Build Lions Park playground, $40,000 (after tennis court demolition).
*Build Diethelm Park playground $80,000.
*Install Lights at one Diethelm Park softball field, $75,000.
*Create Master Plan, $35,000 to $50,000.
Proposed minor projects:
*Repair Deer Run Tennis Courts, $15,000.
*Demolish Lions Park Tennis Courts, $5,000, in order to build new playground on site.
*Demolish Kirke-Lachen Tennis Courts, $5,000.
*Demolish South Lake Virginia Shores Tennis Courts, $5,000.
*Pledge toward Off-Leash Dog Park, $5,000.

Tammy reported that staff is working on obtaining exact bids, location of play-ground equipment, and site plans.

VICTORIA CITY BUDGET WILL INVEST FOR THE FUTURE
AND STILL CONTINUE TO OEPRATE THE CITY
Councilmembers held a workshop on Monday evening, November 22nd, to look again at the proposed 2005 city budget, as City Finance Director Jylan Johnson had moved approximately $100,000 from the Community Development Fund into the General Fund, where it would be used for the city's operating expenses.
Although the bottom line remained the same in the budget, the $100,000 would have meant an increase in expenditures and a decrease in investment for the future.  Most councilmembers spoke against the move. 
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "I'm disappointed in the increase in this budget since we met earlier.  I'm wonder-ing even at this late date if we don't have to rethink the whole budget.  The $100,000 concerns me a lot.  I have a real hard time with that."
Mary said she was also uncomfort-able approving a budget that relies on the building fees from 200 new homes next year rather than 150 homes.  The issue of available sewer capacity from the Met Council can affect this number.  Funding the proposed new Water Treatment Facili-ty is based on 150 new homes.
Continued Councilmember Thun, "I don't want to go to my neighbors and tell them there's a $100,000 increase ... so where can we cut $100,000 out of this budget?  We see Carver County is cutting and the State is cutting.  We need to take a hit as well."
"I think we have to sharpen our pen-cils, and maybe cut travel or staff sub-scriptions.  I think our budget has to be based on 150 new homes ... I think each manager or director has to go through their department line item by line item and decrease their expenses ... maybe cut travel."
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