Said Allen Brockmeier, who spoke of the regional park constructed at County Road 44, "Hindsight is always better than foresight.  I think we have to look at future generations.  Maybe all these sharp people should form a group and look more for the future than for ourselves.  I thank you very much for your time.  God bless you and good luck."

After the public spoke, Mayor Jerry Bohn said, "This has to go through the review of three boards and we are the people to start the process.  We make a decision first, and then it's reviewed by all the other agencies.  They'll consider the water quality and the fish and they will make the recommendation or deny the permit."
Regarding the possibility of opening wide the channel and turning Virginia into a bay of Lake Minnetonka, he said, "I have a problem with creating rights for people who don't have them now and maybe taking rights away from others.  But to make the channel a little safer is worthwhile."  He made a motion to choose the option that would permit a channel with safe but limited, access.
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "That changes a lot of things for these folks.  I don't have enough information."  Richard questioned the significance of Victoria having to pick one or the other option at this time.  "We've got 18 months to sit back and review and get informed," he added.
Councilmember Terry Bishop agreed, "I'm not a hydrologist.  I'm not a water quality expert.  I'm not an engineer," he stated, yet all these areas are part of mak-ing an informed decision.  He suggested the City of Victoria submit application for more than one channel option and see how things play out.
Councilmember Kim Roden agreed, "as long as we wouldn't be interested in paying the extra dollars, the extra half million" [for a large culvert].  People have appeared before us, residents of Lake Virginia, saying they couldn't afford the extra taxes … I'm not advocating that the people of Victoria pay for this."
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, a resident on Lake Minnetonka, "I'm with Kim.  Smithtown Bay is a relatively low usage bay.  We have the advantage of not having the big party boats.  Lake Virginia is also a beautiful lake that we could have more access to.  Regardless, I've heard that there will never be great access be-tween the two lakes because of the water flow.  And I agree with Richard Tieden that more information is needed."

Bill Moore, project manager working for the Metropolitan Council, thought it possible for Victoria to apply for the three options at this time, maintaining access of some sort between the lakes.  He said the DNR and the LMCD can then tell Victoria and the Met Council what they need to finish the review. 
"Then we can explore other options if there are other options out there," he said.  "This permitting process, however, is the mechanism they use.  We can't get them to give us any direction until we make an application."
It is the Watershed District that ulti-mately issues the permit.

FIVE-ACRE PARCELS AT BAVARIA ROAD
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING
Scott Carlston of Eden Prairie re-ceived permission for a minor subdivision of ten acres into two 5-acre lots at Bavaria Road in Victoria and rezoning from agricultural to residential.  The property, which once belonged to Flygares, is just north of the Vanderlinde property.
Mr. Carlston further identified the piece as directly across from Greenway at the Park, which once belonged to Jim McMahon.
He also referred to nearby property, a perimeter of land that lies in Chaska along its boundary with Victoria.  It's been called the Green Belt and earmarked at one time by Chaska for little or no devel-opment.
Stated Scott, "All of a sudden Chaska's Green Belt is becoming devel-oped where it's not supposed to be de-veloped.  I'm putting renters in the [Flygare] house for the time being as I try to figure it all out."  He said he'd be satis-fied to just do the same things as others are doing in that location, which is sub-dividing into 5-acre lots, at least for the time being.
Council approved the rezoning.  Then Mark Vanderlinde came to the podium as co-owner of adjacent property just south of Steve Carlston's.  "Does this set a precedent?" asked Mark.  "This is actually what we've been trying to do with our 21 acres, subdivide it into four 5-acre lots.  We'd like to put a package together like this, if that's what you're looking for."
Mayor Jerry Bohn stated, "It's kind of what the Comprehensive Plan will sup-port.  That would be a consistent plan.   It looks like the current council would support that type of plan … In 2008 there will be a review of the Comprehensive Plan."
City Planner Eric Zweber pointed out that since Vanderlinde's had made initial inquiries some time ago, Bavaria Road is no longer a county road.  "Now it's a local road and we have our own accesses," he said.

THE HAMLETS OF LAKESHIRE
A "DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT" PROPOSAL
Rachel Igel and husband Dave Igel, are part of a company called Green Space LLC that is proposing a new development along County Road 11, south of 86^th Street.  The site area includes 25.54 acres that lie in Victoria city limits (across from Deer Run) and a larger contiguous acreage that lies in the city limits of Chaska.
The developer hopes to combine the parcels in Victoria and Chaska into one development that would bring in around 200 new homes.  Success of the entire proposal means Victoria, Chaska, and Laketown Township will have to work together.
Several possibilities were noted.  It is possible that part of the township that was slated to be annexed to Chaska, could be annexed to Victoria.  It is possible that Victoria could supply sewer and water regardless of the property's legal location.  It is possible that part of 86^th Street could be abandoned.  It is possible that the Vic-toria parcel will be developed separately from the Chaska parcel.
Speaking of the combined vision for the two parcels, Mayor Jerry Bohn stated, "This is quite a dramatic development."  It is proposed to include a horse park, orchard, picnic tables, a pavilion and other amenities normally not part of develop-ment proposals in Victoria.

Click here to continue  "Hamlets of Lakeshire."