Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5, 2006

MINUTES

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on September 5, 2006, at 7951 Rose in the Council Chambers.
 

Chair Simanton opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Members Present: Chair, Gordy Simanton; Commissioners James Donadio III, Bud Hiivala, William Mead VI, and Tom Vogt

Members Absent: None

Others Present: Holly Kreft, Director of Planning; Angie Perera, Assistant Planner; City Councilmember Rick Tieden; and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

A motion was made by Mead, seconded by Donadio, to adopt the agenda as presented. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

B. Introduction – Holly Kreft, Director of Planning

Ms. Kreft stated she was previously with the City of Belle Plaine as a Community Development Director for five and a half years. She was in planning and economic development.
 

#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Minutes of August 15, 2006, Planning Commission Meeting

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Donadio, to approve the minutes. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

B. Review Minutes from August 24, 2006, City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

None.
 

A. Request by City Administrator for direction on future plans for the City owned properties located at 6735 Smithtown Road and the adjacent Outlot A of South Lake Virginia.

1. Agenda Statement No. 06-25
2. Exhibits

Ms. Perera showed a map of the two parcels the city owns. She stated the smaller one is 0.21 acres or 8,712 and the minimum for a buildable residential home must be 17,500.

Ms. Perera stated the City received the parcel as a tax forfeiture property with provisions in the deed for park use only. If it were to be used as a buildable lot it would need to be reverted back to the state which would involve attorney fees of approximately $15,000 based on what the City has done in the past. The parcel is around $100,000.

Chair Simanton said Met Council is using this area where there is an interceptor coming in and asked if there was part of this that would be taken by them. Ms. Perera stated no, they just need to store their equipment on the parcel and in return they are looking at doing park improvements for the City. Chair Simanton asked how much equipment there would be or where the equipment would be located. Ms. Perera said she is not sure.

Chair Simanton asked if there was still a vacated well in the corner. Ms. Perera said she is not sure.

Councilmember Tieden stated he is the liaison for the Park and Recreation Committee and the Met Council will use the tennis courts as a staging area for when they lay the pipe. He noted that the tennis courts will be ruined. Councilmember Tieden said the Committee has come up with some good ideas. He said there are a lot of trees and a steep hill.

Councilmember Tieden suggested having a joint meeting.

Councilmember Tieden stated this is a unique situation because Met Council is willing to help and there is some money available from them.

Commissioner Vogt asked if the park is currently being used and if the tennis courts are usable. Councilmember Tieden responded yes, it is an active park. Chair Simanton said there is a tot lot, basketball court and two tennis courts.

Commissioner Donadio asked if they had feedback from the nearby residents. Ms. Perera said not that she knows of. Councilmember Tieden talked about it being a neighborhood park, city park or a community park.

Commissioner Mead asked how long Met Council will use this. Councilmember Tieden said a couple years.

Commissioner Vogt asked if Met Council is going to destroy trees or use the open area. Councilmember Tieden said that is one of the questions they have. Ms. Perera stated with all the trees it is a good separation buffer.

Ms. Perera said the intent is to create a buildable lot and sell it off in the future.

Commissioner Mead clarified that this parcel was inherited because someone defaulted on taxes. Ms. Perera said yes and it could be combined into one parcel.

Chair Simanton talked about an analysis that the Park and Recreation Committee did and asked which classification this one falls under. He thought it would be a neighborhood park the way it is constructed right now. He said he is curious to see what their recommendation is for this. Chair Simanton stated he questions the way it is sized right now and it being on the north side of Highway 7, there are not a lot of people that can get to this park. They would need to have more access points.

Commissioner Donadio asked if it would be possible to use some of the money to connect the trail along Highway 7 to the Regional Trail. Ms. Perera said she could check on that.

Chair Simanton mentioned that there could also be an opportunity for a transportation hub for busses for the western suburbs.

Councilmember Tieden stated there are quite a few tennis courts for the City and people are looking for winter activities.

Councilmember Tieden talked about the different soils and dealing with the pipeline.

Commissioner Vogt stated that a sliding hill is a big deal and referred to the Waconia sliding hill.

Chair Simanton stated they need to find out from the Park and Recreation Committee how they classify this park and with the size if that is where they want to keep it or if they want to make it bigger. Once that has been determined it would give a better idea on the use.

Commissioner Donadio reiterated that he is curios to see if a trail connection can be made on the north side of Highway 7 as part of the money received. This would connect the whole neighborhood to that trail. Councilmember Tieden said he recalls some complications with the trail connection.

Ms. Perera asked about a joint workshop meeting. Chair Simanton said he didn’t think this project was big enough and suggests they go back and hear the thoughts from the Planning Commission and have one of the Park and Recreation representatives come to the Planning Commission meeting to give an overview. Ms. Perera said they wanted it to go to the City Council at the September 14^th meeting. Councilmember Tieden said there are pressing issues about moving ahead with Met Council.

Commissioner Hiivala stated they don’t have enough information and the Park and Recreation Committee should give a recommendation.

Commissioner Vogt asked if Met Council wants to use the facilities. Ms. Perera said it is a convenient location.
 

Councilmember Tieden stated he has already presented the update.
 

A. Communications.

Ms. Perera handed out a public hearing notice from the City of Chaska on the Chevalle development.

Councilmember Tieden said the major concern has been the use of County Road 11 and nothing has been resolved.
 

A motion was made by Donadio, seconded by Vogt, to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.