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IT'S BETWEEN VICTORIA AND CHASKA
AND DON'T FORGET LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP
The proposed new development is called The Hamlets of Lakeshire and its sketch plans lie partially within both Vic-toria and Chaska. To make the develop-ment's division more logical, the bound-ary between Victoria and Chaska may be reconfigured. Then again, it may remain unchanged.
On February 9th, Victoria City Planner Eric Zweber reviewed several potential changes to the current and future city limits of Victoria and Chaska, at the boundary where the two cities meet. That boundary includes irregular pockets along County Road 11 as well as other parcels at 86th Street and 82nd Street.
Most of the land along the east side of County road 11 lies in Laketown Township and is slated to become annexed to the City of Chaska in 2010. It has come to be called the "Green Belt," which is perhaps a misnomer. There are no legal restrictions to the density that Chaska can heap into the "Green Belt" once annexation occurs.
A public open house was held in Chaska on February 21st to see what Laketown Township residents think of the various proposals. At the Victoria City Council meeting of February 23rd, Planner Zweber reported that over 60 people attended the Chaska meeting. He also reiterated that Laketown Township appre-ciates Victoria's past cooperative efforts.
Stated Ken Essig, Chair of the Lake-town Township board, "Laketown doesn't have to approve Chaska's request for rezoning from agricultural to residential until 2010."
Ken said that the township would like to see a plan from Chaska for the whole strip of annexation territory along the east side of County Road 11, including a large portion of the shores of Lake Bavaria. There are concerns that when it gets annexed to the City of Chaska, the nature of the lake and the lakeshore could substantially be changed through various types of development.
"We'd like to see from Chaska what they have planned for the annexation area before we'd consider rezoning it," said Mr. Essig.
Stated the Victoria City Planner about possible city boundary changes, "If it's not a win-win for both Victoria and Chaska, then we'd go back to the original annexation boundaries."
At least three options for boundary configuration have been mentioned. One involves the continuation of Kochia in Victoria to the south, winding west to connect with County Road 11. The "new" Kochia could become the boundary line between Victoria and Chaska.
Another option defines the Victoria intersection of 86th Street and County Road 11 as the point of separation between Victoria and Chaska. At that point, Chaska would acquire all the property south of 86th Street and east of County Road 11. (The proposed exten-sion of Kochia to the south would dis-appear.)
Another option is to leave boundaries as they currently exist and are currently proposed by the Orderly Annexation Agreement.
Discussions will continue, perhaps until the year 2010 when Chaska annexes the "Green Belt" and doesn't need the approval of Laketown Township in order to rezone from agricultural to residential.
MORE NEWS FROM FEBRUARY
CONGRATULATIONS, JENNY KRETSCH!
*Mayor Jerry Bohn congratulated City Clerk Jennifer Kretsch for becoming state certified. "I applaud her," he said. "We are the beneficiaries of that."
*Councilmembers gave final plat approval for Laketown 5th Addition as proposed by U.S. Home Corporation, formerly known as Lundgren Bros. Construction. Lot lines have been re-adjusted but there will still be 18 twin-homes in nine buildings.
*Dr. Bruce Baker and Jeff Byrne of Cabin Fever were appointed to the Vic-toria Business Development Committee.
*Council approved funding for City Finance Director Jylan Johnson to attend the Government Finance Officers Associ-ation Conference in Montreal, Canada, from May 7th through May 10th at an approximate cost of $2,000.
*Council approved funding for Assistant City Planner Angie Perera to attend the American Planning Association National Conference in San Antonio, Texas, from April 22nd through 26th at an approximate cost of $2,000.
*The mayor reported that the Henne-pin County Regional Railroad Authority owns the old rail/trail bed through Victoria, and the Authority is in the pro-cess of putting a ban on all snowmobile traffic on that trail and has scheduled a hearing for March 28th.
*Council approved $91,000 worth of sealcoating on various streets in Victoria. Sealcoating is done every five to seven years as part of a maintenance program. The work will occur in July and August, 2006.
*Council approved an agreement whereby the Carver County American Red Cross can use the Victoria City Hall and its grounds in case of a disaster.
*Lind McNulty was appointed to the Victoria Senior Commission.
*Marilynn Weber ($25) J.A. Janish ($20) and Eugene and Mary Anderson ($100) made donations to the Victoria Fire Department.
*Jude Boulianne resigned as Facility Coordinator of the Victoria Field House. The position will be filled on an interim basis by Corey Martin who currently works for the City of Victoria as a full time building inspector and is knowledge-able in the workings of the Field House.
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