Victoria council interviews applicants for planning commission; three seats to be filled

At a City of Victoria workshop, council members interviewed applicants and incumbents for open seats on the city’s planning commission. Council members said they will appoint three regular members and several alternates at the next regular council meeting.

Mallory Shower, an applicant and Victoria resident, said “the decisions this commission makes around zoning and land use will impact how this community looks decades down the road.” Ryan Graham, an architect who works with public entities, said thoughtful planning “creates environments and public spaces that people want to gather, connect, and allow communities to thrive.” Mark Exousian, who identified himself as an architect and real-estate developer, urged the commission to “never say no until you hear all both sides.”

Candidates' remarks focused on a handful of recurring themes: managing rapid growth in Carver County and Victoria, preserving mature trees and the city’s small‑town character, ensuring consistent application of zoning and ordinances, and preparing for a long-range comprehensive-plan update that several speakers said is coming. Incumbent commissioners who applied to remain on the panel said they want the commission to do the detailed technical work and bring clear recommendations to the council.

John Iverson, an incumbent planning commissioner, said the commission’s work “is all about details and it’s all about the size of the trees,” reflecting candidates’ emphasis on design details and preservation. Robert “Bob” Bean, a former mayor of Shorewood who applied, described past experience leading infrastructure projects and joint‑powers agreements as relevant to Victoria’s expected growth. Other applicants — including Jamie Cornell, Jared (an incumbent), Aaron (an incumbent who previously served as an alternate), and Mallory Shower — described backgrounds in construction, municipal finance, facility planning, and city government and said those backgrounds would inform their review of variances, rezoning and code updates.

Council members asked applicants how they would handle disagreement on the commission and whether they would make controversial decisions when required. Applicants generally described using professional, evidence‑based discussion, listening to neighbors’ concerns, and relying on the city’s code and staff analysis to form recommendations. Several candidates said consensus is the goal but acknowledged that the commission is ultimately a body of individual votes.

Mayor McMillan closed the workshop by reminding applicants that the council will make official appointments at its next regular meeting and encouraging those not selected to engage with other advisory committees such as parks and recreation or the senior advisory committee. A council member moved to adjourn the workshop; a second was offered, the council conducted a voice vote and the motion carried.

The workshop provided council members with short public summaries of each applicant’s experience and priorities. The council and staff noted the forthcoming comprehensive‑plan update and invited broad community participation in that process.