As the hearing progressed, the mayor pointed out that only three trees would be lost with an urban section street.  "We're interested in getting rid of gravel roads," he said.  "We need special equipment to maintain them.  From a city-wide perspec-tive, I believe we should build 20-year road designs.  Your road takes more main-tenance.  People complain more.  We're simply responding to your petition."
Stated Hartwood resident Gary Eck-und, "The petition was brought around the neighborhood by a young lady because of the dust issue and drainage water.  It was a simple issue of dust control and water in the basements.  But this doesn't solve those issues."
Close to 20 Hartwood residents, some spouses included, spoke against the pro-ject.  Some of the comments were:
"This $8,000 would cost my kid his college education.  I'm unemployed right now."
"There's a manhole out there that's never been looked at.  Maybe that's why there's a drainage problem."
"How much would it raise the value of my property?"
"We bought there because we liked the looks of the neighborhood.  I'll speak for myself, I don't want the project."
"We're all strapped.  I don't know that we're ready for this."
"We feel a blacktop road is not nec-essary.  Don't be misled by that petition."
"Hindsight is always 100%.  I think people signed that petition with the wrong intent.  Most of us like the neighborhood just as it is."
"We purchased our home because of the dirt road and mature trees.  If neces-sary, please consider a one-way street.  It would save trees that are in jeopardy be-cause of this."
"I'd love to see pretty streets, but I'm not interested at this time."
"Why don't you just rebuild the dirt road?"
"It should be up to the people who live in this neighborhood to make the de-cision, not you."
"We never had water problems until those three houses across the road were built.  And our lots are bigger and our driveways longer than in other parts of the city so the street doesn't have to accom-modate parking.
"I'd be for this road if the price was right."
"I've got water in my yard, not on the road."
"We like it the way it is because it's not a cookie cutter neighborhood."

The person in favor of the blacktop project said, "The road is a muddy pothole road.  If the road isn't a gravel road, that doesn't make it a cookie cutter neighbor-hood."

After residents had been heard, Coun-cilmember Dave Lindgren stated, "I'd be very reluctant to vote in favor of this now, but keep in mind that some day you'll want the road done, and it's only going to get more expensive."
Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "Generally, it's the people who are against a project who come to these meetings.  The 13 families here tonight don't necessarily represent your neigh-borhood."  Some residents who were present said that more than 13 families were represented that evening.  There are a total of 30 families in the Hartwood neighborhood.
Continued Richard, "People came to us very upset about your road ... The city cannot pay to fix your road.  We're try-ing to come up with a fair way to do it ... Eventually you're going to want this road done.  Our only response now is to add more gravel when you call.  You're still a minority of the neighborhood.  My con-cern is the petition.  It was signed and legal.  We have to do something with the road.  It'll continue to be a problem ... It's a difficult problem.  It's a real dilemma."
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "Our city engineer has said the road can-not continue to be properly maintained.  But I am not convinced we have the information to necessarily say the water drainage will be taken care of.  I agree with Councilmember Lindgren that you'll be back again.  I'm just not convinced that this project will solve the problem."
The problems remain unsolved.

SETTING ASIDE "TALL TREES ADDITION"
AS SEVERAL ISSUES COME TO THE TABLE
After lengthy discourse with the de-veloper and nearby residents on August 14th, councilmembers voted unanimously to table action on the proposed Tall Trees Addition by Springbrook Corporation.
Located in the far northeast corner of the Victoria city limits, the 2.5-acre parcel is currently undeveloped.  The proposal was to create five single family lots.  Planner Mark Kaltsas reported that the Planning Commission recommended approval, but only with the elimination of the north lot which overlaps a drainage area.  The Commission said that having only four lots, instead of five, would also save more trees.
A rain garden is being proposed in-stead of a nurp pond for drainage.
State Howard Kyllo of Springbrook Corporation, developer of the property, "We're trying to bring a little gem of a development to your city.  The product here is not big houses, but not-so-big houses with lots of detail on the outside and rich inside as well."
"These lots are not only adequate," he said, "but overkill for the only the size houses we're proposing.  The rain garden is designed to handle stormwater and will be able to take a 100-year storm."
"We're proposing to plant 54 trees of the largest caliper possible," he continued.  "We're taking out 36 trees from a pretty damaged tree-area.  We think you'll have a much improved tree area."
He said the homes will probably range in price from $400,000 to $600,000.
Councilmember Terry Bishop com-mented on the Planning Commission's concern that the rain garden couldn't handle the water.  "It's an issue," he said.  "I haven't heard the answer yet."
City engineer Jack Griffin said he has a problem when drainage easements spill onto private property.
Agreed Mayor Jerry Bohn, "If you can't put the drainage on an outlot, you're just creating problems for us in the future.  There's nothing to prevent the next property owner from filling that swale in."

Click here to continue.