DOWNWTOWN REDEVELOPMENT IS FORMALLY APPROVED
CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN THIS SPRING
At approximately 7 p.m. that evening of February 13th, councilmembers held the public hearing on downtown plans.  Approximately 20 people attended includ-ing Rich Gannon, quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and owner of the brick building located between the downtown alley and Quamoclit Street in Victoria. 
In this regard to a question from Mr. Gannon, Mayor Jerry Bohn explained, "We assume that being on a street is an advantage.  You could have storefronts on two streets."
Said Mr. Gannon, "I'm very excited to see this plan, and I hope some of this is going to take off."  Said associate Scott Carlston, "It's something we've wanted to see for a long time.  We're interested in getting involved in downtown redevel-opment.  We do look forward to this."

As previously reported, the total bill for the downtown improvement project is projected to be $2,476,307 -- with only $513,865 of this total to be assessed to benefiting property owners.  Resident Pat Hanily asked how the rest is going to be paid.
Replied Mayor Jerry Bohn, "Not from a levy to existing taxpayers, but from taxes from the increment property values."  He explained that the increase in downtown property values will result in increased property taxes, and that the increment stays in Victoria through TIF in order to finance the development itself.
Bob Goral, an owner of the Victoria House, expressed parking concerns.  "On Friday we had 120 cars parked out there between us and Schmitty's," he said.
The mayor said that current plans do not show all the parking space that is projected to arise as more building and downtown development occurs.
Lois Plocher, owner of Floyd's Bar, stated, "It takes a number of years before this plan is completed, yet we have to continue to do business through it.  Will parking be allowed on Rose Street?  Our own parking lot is maxed out on many evenings."
Planner Mark Kaltsas stated there will not be parking allowed on Rose Street, at least not at this time, but that diagonal parking will be added to one side of Victoria Drive.  "We're trying to add spaces where we know what the uses will be or are," he said.  "The west side of Rose Street is therefore being left unfin-ished at this time.  We are not developing the other side of Rose Street now."
Lois was also informed that Floyd's access on the Hwy 5 side of their building will be closed.  Stated Mark, "We are asked by MnDOT to close off as many accesses as possible on Highway 5."
The owners of the Creamery building were also in the audience.  Councilmem-ber Dave Lindgren spoke to them.  "If you have some objections we'd sure like to hear them," he said.
Ed Anecki came to the podium.  "Our dream and hope is to have an art school and gallery there," he said.  "We're late on our schedule ... We've expressed our opinion that your plan was unacceptable ... We're not interested in profit.  We wanted to bring something to Victoria in the nature of arts and aesthetics.  We've invested over $170,000 to date ... We use the fire escape as our primary entrance ... We feel there hasn't been due process.  Now I'm really boxed in with parking all along the alley ... I understand the assessment but I also understand being reimbursed for the property being taken from me.  I'd like to have the ability for a turnaround on our property."
Then Jill Anecki spoke.  "The plan that we thought we were buying into isn't this ... We're going to be providing parking land for all the buildings around us ... We'll be looking at legal options."  She also said their phone calls were not returned by city staff.
"We've spent hours making city staff available," said Mayor Bohn.  "We've certainly tried to provide opportunity for you, and this is another forum right here tonight."

The hearing closed at 7:45 p.m.

Then Mayor Bohn spoke again.  "One of the reasons we're doing this is to spur downtown development.  We have to do our part to get this thing going.  City ex-penses will be paid by developer's fees.  We're not levying for any of this.  It's all being paid for by future development, and future development is here."
"I think we have an obligation to our 5,000 residents," continued the mayor.  "We have to think of the larger good.  We have an obligation to provide some retail and office space to the residents who live here."
Stated Councilmember Terry Bishop, "I agree with Jerry.  We're trying to take into account a community that is moving forward.  I think the job that has been done by Mark and Jack has taken into account the community's needs as a whole."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tie-den, "I think the handwriting is on the wall.  We're going to address parking in more detail.  I think the staff and the com-munity are to be commended."
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "In looking at the plans and surveys of 1992, I think what has been developed is in response to that.  It looks to me like you've taken everything into considera-tion.  You're preserving the integrity of the downtown area.  I think the city has really been listening to the residents."
Finally, on February 13th, 2003, after many years of having "downtown redevelopment" as a priority of both residents and councils, the Victoria City Council of 2003 unanimously approved the construction plans and specifications and authorized bidding of the project.  This authorization allows staff to place the ad for bids and to receive bids.  It is anticipated that staff will be making a recommendation to award the project at the April 3rd council meeting.
The project consists of the recon-struction of Stieger Lake Lane, Rose Street, and Victoria Drive, the extension of a new street from Victoria Drive easter-ly to the alley with a future extension to Quamoclit Street, the construction of a public parking facility behind the Victoria House, and improvements to the alley-way to enhance traffic circulation and parking.
These improvements are to be con-structed together with the necessary utility improvements, sidewalks, landscaping, street lighting, and streetscape amenities to create a complete downtown street-scape.  Sidewalks, street lighting and street trees will be added along State Hwy 5 from Rose Street to Quamoclit Street.  The project also includes the storm-water needs and two-pond facility at Salter Park.
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