City Council Minutes

Pursuant to due call and posted notice thereof, the City Council Workshop of the Victoria City Council was called to order at 5:07 p.m. by Mayor Hershberger Thun in the Council Chambers at 7951 Rose.

Members Present: Mayor: Mary Hershberger Thun; Councilmembers: Jim Paulsen, Kim Roden, and Rick Tieden.

Absent: Tim Amundsen.

Staff Present: David Urbia, Interim City Administrator; Cara Geheren, City Engineer; Mike Norton, City Attorney; and Holly Kreft, City Planner.

Others Present: Matt Crowe, CEI Ventures; Jon Peterson, Winthrop & Weinstine; Unsie Zuege, Chanhassen Villager; Sue Orsen, The Victoria Gazette; and others.
 

Mr. Urbia indicated the purpose of the workshop is to provide CEI Ventures with the opportunity to present the most recent updates on their proposal. No Council action is required.

Matt Crowe, CEI Ventures, provided an overview of the project’s development agreement. He also outlined project benefits to the community.

Councilmember Tieden arrived at 5:14 p.m.

Mr. Crowe noted all of the meetings held with community groups have been very positive. He noted a number of grants CEI may apply for in this project. He estimated the development costs of the project, pointed out the estimated City and County property taxes, and displayed a number of conceptual drawings.

Discussion was held regarding a traffic study done on the site.

Councilmember Roden expressed excitement about the project and recommended an effective process to work out the details.

Mr. Crowe outlined the vision statement of the project as well as brand strengths and brand attributes. He discussed the vision of a boutique hotel on the site.

Councilmember Tieden expressed support for the concept but suggested caution in building the housing portion of the project in the current market.

Councilmember Roden noted the developer’s agreement calls for additional details by the May 1^st deadline.

Mr. Crowe noted this is a work in progress, and things will continue to evolve until something is signed by a developer.

Discussion was held about assisted living, apartment complexes, and condominiums.

In response to a question by Councilmember Paulsen, Mr. Crowe indicated CEI Ventures has not done development on precisely this scale, but the core team in the development package has. Mr. Peterson noted he has worked on the redevelopment of the Apache Mall project in St. Anthony. He did all the financing and worked with Dominion.

In response to a question by Councilmember Paulsen, Mr. Crowe stated he interviewed 10 different senior housing groups and apartment groups. Presbyterian Homes was not interested in doing the site, and there are no signed commitments yet.

Councilmember Paulsen noted the City does not have the money to do the infrastructure the proposal calls for.

Discussion ensued regarding what materials are needed by the Council and staff as well as CEI Ventures to proceed.

Mayor Hershberger Thun commented she has spoken with other developers who have signed agreements with other communities, and they have indicated it can take up to three years to finalize some aspects of large developments.
 

The workshop adjourned at 6:01 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Allison Burr
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.