NEW PROGRAM:
GIFT TO THE PARKS
Councilmembers approved the Gift to the Parks Program whereby residents can commemorate the life of a loved one while adding to the beauty of Victoria's park.  Individuals can select an item to be donated to the parks, and a plaque will be installed and located near the item accord-ing to determination of staff.

TEST-WELL PROJECT
NEAR WATER TOWER
Councilmembers awarded Keys Well Drilling the project of constructing a Test-Pilot well at the Elevated Storage Tank Site to determine geologic conditions before finalizing plans for new Well Number Four.  The test well will reveal potential yield and apparent water quality.

IMPROVING STREETS,
SEWER AND WATER
Councilmembers approved plans and specifications and ordered advertisement for bids for the 2004 Street and Utility Im-provements.  Updated project costs:
*At Smithtown Road, Iris, and Iris Circle, $678,000.
*At Parkside Estates, $771,000.
*At 86th Street from Kochia Lane to Bavaria Road is $631,000.
The projects will be financed through assessment bonds and repaid through a combination of property assessments, water and sewer core funds, and the city improvement fund. 

MOUNT OLIVET WEST
REACHES FOR THE SKY
Councilmembers approved a permit for Mount Olivet Rolling Acres Inc. that allows a church to be built that exceeds the maximum height permitted by city ordinance.  Measured from the ground to the top of the peak, Mount Olivet Church-West Campus will be an estimated 79.5 feet in height.  The church therefore ex-ceeds the height of a three-story building, but it will be placed very far back on the property.

SPLITTING A LOT
IN NORTH PART OF CITY
Councilmembers approved a minor subdivision for Wayne and Gretchen Swenson at Baycliffe Drive.  The request was for the movement of lot lines on two adjacent parcels that allows for the con-struction of a new home on the second parcel.  Total site area is 2.67 acres.  Both lots exceed minimum city requirements.

ACCEPTING PLANS FOR
STORMWATERRUNOFF
Council approved the final AUAR, which is a document required by state agencies that assists in reviewing the im-pact of new developments and, if there are negative impacts, how they city can ad-dress them.  The Metropolitan Council accepted the final AUAR.  This document is especially important as Laketown Township is being annexed to the City of Victoria. 
AUAR stands for Alternative Urban Areawide Review.  It provides a process and program for dealing with stormwater runoff within the city in way that will not adversely impact property owners and will protect natural resources.

OVERLOOK ON TAMARACK
OKAYED FOR 17 HOMES
Councilmembers approved all of the 17 proposed single family lots for a sub-division to be known a Overlook at Tam-arack Lake.  It is located on the east side of Rolling Aces Road and consists of 13.9 acres.  The city is recommending the con-struction of 150-foot turn lanes on Rolling Acres Road.
The Minnehaha Watershed District has required that the wetland buffer along Tamarack Lake cannot be altered in any way and cannot be located on private property.
The developer, Plowshare Develop-ment, Chanhassen, will pay $101,515 to the City of Victoria in lieu of parkland dedication, plus a Recreational Facilities Fee of $44,980.

1ST PHASE OF LAKETOWN
GETS PRELIMINARY OKAY
Councilmembers approved the first phase of "Laketown," a project that gets 206 acres south of Deer Run annexed to the City of Victoria.  The approved pre-liminary plat shows the property subdivid-ed into 116 townhomes, 58 single family homes, and 30 detached town-homes.
A connection to Wedgemere Drive at Deer Run will be made, with efforts to reduce the impact to adjacent properties.  Main access to the development is County Road #11.  Lundgren Brothers, the devel-oper, will work to increase the ratio of single family units to multiple family units.
This area is identified as the location for the new Victoria Elementary School.  The developer will provide land to meet the city's parkland dedication, plus pay the city's Recreational Facilities Fee of $574,800 -- which $3,750 per each of the 153 net acres.

WATERMARK CONTINUES
WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
The preliminary plat for Watermark South and Watermark South 2nd Addition was approved as requested by Hartman Communities and Lyman Development.  Hartman's 37 acres are slated for 37 sin-gle family lots.  Lyman's 19 acres are slated for 12 single family lots.
The two plats are adjacent to each other and will appear seamless.  They will also appear to be an extension of Water-mark, being similar in size and scope.