SHARED PARKING ALMOST A DONE DEAL
FOR VICTORIA DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
It was a lengthy discussion on February 8th that led, finally, to accepting a Shared Parking Ordinance for Down-town Victoria.  First reading of that ordinance amendment occurred on Febru-ary 22^nd.  A second reading is required for final adoption; that reading is expected to occur on March 8^th.
The ordinance acknowledges that some businesses such as a dentist's office use parking spaces during daytime hours, and other businesses such as bars use parking spaces mainly during evening hours.  Some parking spaces could be identified for shared use.
Holly Kreft, Victoria Director of Planning, reported that the Planning Com-mission has problems with Shared Parking as a long term solution to parking in a developing downtown district.
On February 22^nd, she reported, "The Planning Commission recommended the city move forward with this, recognizing this is not the end of discussion.  They felt it important that the city be flexible in working with developers."

February 8^th.
Gordy Simanton, a member of the Victoria Planning Commission, stated, "Since 1998 I've had several different positions with the city lamenting how Chaska and Chanhassen were getting all the development.  Now we have business coming to us and have to turn them away.  Ultimately, shared parking will probably not get us to where we want to go."
In regard to the new 13.5 acres that will become part of Victoria's downtown business district, Gordy suggested this west side could become the "Cinderella" district for parking, whereas the current district could become the "Three Ugly Sisters" for parking.
He added, "I know Mr. [Terry] Hart-man has some ideas here.  We've talked about getting people together philosophi-cally."  He mentioned such groups as the Planning Commission and Business De-velopment Committee.
Asked Councilmember Kim Roden, "Was the Planning Commission seriously interested in a moratorium until June?  I'm concerned about how we'd treat the Mary Meuwissen project with a morator-ium."
Replied Gordy, "It would give us a legal position to make sure we have all the pieces to the people.  I'm not really in favor of moratoriums, but I think till June would be fine."
Holly Kreft pointed out that it was Mary Meuwissen's application for a con-ditional use permit and parking variance that started this process.  Mary Meuwis-sen is the owner and developer of the Creamery property in downtown Victoria.  The project is expected to come before the full Victoria City Council on March 8^th.
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "I totally believe we're never going to get enough satisfaction in the parking issue."
Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, "Mary Meuwissen is a reasonable understanding person.  I'm definitely will-ing to work with her and Matt Crowe."  Matt Crowe is the owner of the Noter-Building who has more plans for down-town Victoria.
City Attorney Mike Norton stated, "In order for there to be fairness, there has to be some mechanism for a developer to exceed the baseline parking level.  Other-wise you start to control the market and have a real mess on your hands.  Let us put together an ordinance and then look if a moratorium is appropriate.  A business can exceed the baseline, but it's going to cost them."
Mayor Mary Thun referred to the 300 feet that was being used to define the radius that determines the limit for count-ing shared parking spaces.  "I don't think that's a big enough number," she stated.
Agreed Councilmember Tieden, "I'd walk 600 feet to get to Floyd's!"
But Planner Holly Kreft said that 300 feet seems to be a standard.
Councilmember Jim Paulsen did some work on his own and presented councilmembers and staff with his own research and numbers.  He said that in Victoria today there are spaces to park 269 cars, and there are only 228 total used.  "Everybody says we have a parking problem, but I don't understand it," he said, calling it 84% usage.  "We might have a distribution problem and not a parking problem."
A first motion to approve a shared parking ordinance failed 2-3 but then passed 3-2 when Councilmember Tieden admitted his voting mistake.  "I'm in error.  I'm in favor of shared parking."   He thanked his colleagues for allowing a revote of the issue.
Those in favor of the shared parking ordinance:  Mayor Thun, Richard Tieden, Kim Roden.  Those against:  Tim Amund-sen and Jim Paulsen.
Just prior to the vote, Gordy Siman-ton stated, "Whatever you do here, there will be shared parking on the west side, so it'll all eventually get there."

February 22^nd
At the first reading of the proposed new parking ordinance, Councilmember Jim Paulsen stated, "This is a big govern-ment kind of ordinance."
Stated City Attorney Mike Norton, "This will be an important step for you to take, for generations.  This is a different concept.  It is a more complex planning idea, this shared parking philosophy."
Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, "It's important to bring business into Victoria and be flexible.  This seems to serve the businesses right now ... but people are possessive of property.  This won't work with a totally possessive atti-tude toward parking spaces."
The second, and final, reading of this shared parking ordinance is scheduled for March 8^th.

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