NEW 57-HOME PLAT PROPOSED
FOR McMAHON PARCEL ADJACENT TO DIETHELM PARK
A sketch plat for a new 57-single family home development in Victoria was approved by councilmembers on April 24th.  The 35-acre parcel has been known as the McMahon property.  Located on the east side of Diethelm Park, it is currently zoned in the Comprehensive Plan as low density farmland.
"But the East Side Study shows it as single family residential," said City Plan-ner Mark Kaltsas.  "This is consistent with what we were proposing.  It's a PUD, so minimum lot size is 15,000 square feet.  Two accesses are proposed, one off 86th Street and one off Bavaria Road.  The rest of 86th would have to be improved."
Mark said there will be a trail and sidewalk system in the development.  He spoke of the gas-line easement that would be part of the development.  No homes would be built over it.  The lots are adjacent to the city park, so the developer and potential homebuilders and home-buyers must be aware of park lighting.
Petitioner for the property is Scott Carlston.  His partner is Rich Gannon, former Minnesota Viking who owns a building in downtown Victoria.  Some of the proposed street names include "Gannon Way" and "Kristine Court."
Mr. Carlston referenced the custom homes at Stonegate, near Bearpath in Eden Prairie, for similar lot sizes, and where a home is specifically designed for the lot.  The homes he designed at Stone-gate range in price from $650,000 to $940,000.
Other comments from Mr. Carlston:  "The pipeline does make it difficult ... Are we overdoing it with both sidewalks and trail? ... There will be no small trees, but big healthy trees ... I'm a hands-on, on-site person.  I'm committed to the devel-opment and making it look very good."
He stated that the lots will sell for between $75,000 and $110,000.  House packages will probably lie between $350,000 and $550,000, he said.  Park dedication fees for the City of Victoria will be cash in lieu of land.  The existing McMahon house on the farm property will be torn down.
The next step is preliminary plat approval and final plat approval.

DEVELOPERS AT LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP
CREATE A MASTER PLAN FOR 1,000 ACRES
The City of Victoria has been peti-tioned by developers for annexation of their properties in Laketown Township.  According to City Planner Mark Kaltsas, "The development community is seeking to annex and develop areas sooner than provided for by the city."
Therefore, a Master Plan is being pre-pared by the development community in collaboration with the city and township -- at the developers' expense.   The Master Plan includes an area deemed to be developed by the year 2015.
Stated Mark, "It lists the parameters of what they want to develop, a scope of services."
John Scalzo, who said he is doing the major design work for Lundgren Brothers developers, spoke to councilmembers on April 24th.
"This is going to be a collaborative process," he said.  "It is our intention to do this plan cooperatively.  I doubt we'll get 2,000 units on these 1,080 acres.  We'll probably have a max of 1,200 to 1,500 units.  The land has to tell you what to do with it ...
"We're hoping a lot of these things can happen concurrently to speed up the process.  I know the school issue is still an issue ... We are willing to look at a site for a Public Works Garage and a Fire Station.
"We're planning on five to six different product types ... from moderate single family to possibly multiple family products and twin homes."
The next step is the formation of a "subcommittee" that would work and meet with DSU, the planning company hired by the developers, and relay infor-mation among the interested parties.

OTHER/SHORT NEWS FROM CITY HALL
500 PEOPLE USED WALKING TRACK IN MARCH
*Tammy reported that almost 500 people used the walking track at the field house in March and over 300 people used the gymnasium.  "We are meeting the needs of the people," she said.  "We've got a lot of positive statements.  It's a great facility."
*Council approved a resolution pro-viding for the competitive negotiation of $2,720,000 in general obligation tax in-crement financing bonds of 2003 which will finance the downtown street and utility improvements.  These are 20-year tax exempt bonds with an average coupon rate of 4.38%.  Bond sale is tentatively set for May 22nd, 2003.
*Council approved agreements for advertising at the Victoria Field House by Edgewood Builders and Waste Manage-ment.
*Council approved operational man-agement changes at the field house whereby Tammy Abrahamson, the  Park & Rec Director, will move her offices to the field house and take over daily opera-tional responsibilities of the field house; Bob Carruth will become Facilities Rev-enue Manager; two assistant managers will report to the Park & Rec Director.
*Council approved an agreement between the City of Victoria and the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association that outlines intentions of the relationship.
*Council created a Field House Operating Board that consists of Mayor Jerry Bohn, Councilmember Mary Thun, Mike Ayres of MYHA, Tammy Abraham-son, and Steve Sarvi.  Purpose is to "make operational type decisions under the guidance of the council."  Appointment is to Dec. 31st, 2003.
*A seasonal park attendant was hired for 32 hours/week at $10/hour.
*Fire Chief Gary Sohns spoke to councilmembers on April 24th about Ridgeview Medical Center going from a four to a five-ambulance system.  Council authorized the mayor to sign a letter of support in the upgrading of ambulance service from a Basic Life Support to an Advanced Life Support.
*Council approved a Mutual Aid Agreement authorizing the dispatch and use of City of Victoria equipment and ser-vices in emergency situations in Carver County.

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