Development Review Process

Development Review Process

Victoria is a thriving community that is growing by leaps and bounds. The city council and staff work hard to help developers bring their projects to life while balancing the current and future needs and goals of the community.

To help ensure development projects are reviewed in a timely and efficient manner, all proposals must follow the process described below.

Required Applications & Checklists
Residential Development Process

Pre-Application Meeting
Developers should schedule a meeting with community development staff to kick off any proposed development project. This is an opportunity to discuss the project, zoning and land use requirements, potential challenges and timelines.

During the pre-application meeting, staff will help determine if the developer should submit their application under standard zoning, or if it will require the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Both processes follow the same steps outlined below, but have may have different requirements.

Sketch Plat (Concept Plan)

Standard Zoning Requirements: Municipal Code Chapter 107–Article III
PUD Requirements: Zoning Code Section 32-5-Article 2
Application Fee: $500
Required Escrow: $1,500

Once a developer has met the requirements outlined in the pre-application meeting, they can submit a Sketch Plat. A complete sketch plat application will be heard by the Planning Commission and City Council no more than 60 days from the date of application. Once an application is officially accepted, city staff will do the following.

  1. Begin review of the application and provide comments as necessary.
  2. Schedule a neighborhood meeting to discuss the project prior to the Planning Commission meeting.
  3. Schedule the sketch plat to be heard by the Planning Commission, which includes a public informational meeting, and then the City Council.
Please note there is no approval or denial at this phase. The Planning Commission and City Council can only provide feedback and guidance on the project. If a development chooses to go forward the next step is preliminary plat.

Preliminary Plat

Standard Zoning Requirements: Municipal Code Chapter 107–Article IV
PUD Requirements: Zoning Code Section 32-5-Article 3
Application Fee: $500 plus $10/lot
Required Escrow: $2,500 - $8,500, depending on number of lots

Once a developer has completed the sketch plat process, they may submit a Preliminary Plat. Prior to submitting a preliminary plat application, a developer must do the following.

  1. Meet with community development and engineering staff to discuss the specifics of the project and application requirements.
  2. Review engineering standards.
A complete preliminary plat application will be heard by the Planning Commission and City Council no more than 120 days from the date of application.  Once an application is officially accepted, city staff will do the following.

  1. Schedule the preliminary plat to be heard by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the preliminary plat and make a recommendation to the City Council for approval or denial, and may include conditions.
  2. Once heard by the Planning Commission, schedule the preliminary plat to be heard by the City Council.
If approved, the project can move forward to the final plat phase. If denied, the developer can make changes and resubmit the preliminary plat following the same procedures outlined above.

Final Plat 

Standard Zoning Requirements: Municipal Code Chapter 107–Article V
PUD Requirements: Zoning Code Section 32-5-Article 4
Application Fee: $400 plus $5/lot
Required Escrow: $1,000

Once the preliminary plat has been approved by the City Council, the developer may submit a Final Plat. A complete final plat application will be heard by the City Council no more than 60 days from the date of application. The final plat may also be heard by the Planning Commission if staff deems additional review is beneficial.

Prior to final plat approval, the developer must do the following.

  1. Submit complete construction documents (including required development agreement).
  2. Present a final plat that is consistent with the preliminary plat.
Approved final plats must be filed with Carver County. Upon denial, developers may make changes and resubmit the final plat following the same procedures above.

Minor Subdivision Process
Property owners proposing a minor subdivision or lot split creating four or fewer lots should contact community development staff to review their project prior to filing a formal application.

Minor Subdivision Platting: Municipal Code Chapter 107--Article VIII
Application Fee: $500
Required Escrow: Varies

Commercial Development Process
Commercial property developers should contact community development staff to review permitted and conditional uses and requirements for commercial development in the central business district.

Contact Us
Jenn Brewington
Community & Economic Development Director
jbrewington@ci.victoria.mn.us
Phone: 952-443-4219

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