Victoria City Council approves final plat for 165-unit Victoria Ridge apartment building

The City of Victoria Council convened on April 28, 2025, to address significant developments in local infrastructure and residential planning. A key focus of the meeting was the ongoing challenges related to the management of rights-of-way for telecommunications providers, which has become increasingly complex due to the unprecedented number of companies seeking to establish services in the area.

City Attorney discussions highlighted the ambiguity in state law regarding rights-of-way, enacted in 1997, which allows cities to declare congested rights-of-way. This could potentially limit the number of providers allowed to operate in a given area. The attorney emphasized that while the city has the authority to manage these situations, practical challenges remain, particularly in balancing resident preferences for different service providers.

The council also reviewed a proposal for the Victoria Ridge Second Edition residential development, which includes a new 165-unit apartment building with a 20% affordable housing component. The proposal involves a PUD amendment to modify parking standards, reducing the required parking spaces per unit from 1.89 to 1.77. The council discussed the implications of this density, which exceeds the typical guidance for residential developments but was previously approved in earlier phases of the project.

The meeting concluded with a motion to direct staff to negotiate franchise terms with the telecommunications companies, reflecting the council's commitment to addressing the complexities of infrastructure development while ensuring that resident concerns are prioritized. The council's proactive approach aims to navigate the challenges posed by rapid growth and infrastructure demands in Victoria.