Council approves easement vacation, right‑of‑way code amendment and directs staff on downtown land sale

At its regular meeting the City of Victoria approved several non‑controversial land‑use and administrative actions and authorized closed‑session direction on a downtown land sale.

Easement vacation: Associate Planner Travis Brierly presented a request to partially vacate a rear drainage and utility easement at 6525 Hawk Point Lane to allow installation of a backyard swimming pool. Staff and the city engineer confirmed stormwater controls remain adequate after earlier grading changes and reported no utilities would be affected in the portion requested for vacation. The council opened and closed a public hearing with no comments and adopted Resolution 2025‑58 approving the partial easement vacation.

Right‑of‑way code amendment: Council considered an amendment to Chapter 22 (section 22‑167) to change an internal review benchmark from a strict 10‑day review to issuance within a "reasonable amount of time" after a completed application. Staff and the city attorney noted state law imposes a 90‑day limit for certain small‑cell wireless requests but not for traditional utilities; the ordinance (469MC) and a resolution (2025‑60) authorizing summary publication were adopted.

Closed session: The council voted to close part of the meeting under Minnesota Statute 13D.05 to discuss land sale terms for Downtown West Phase 2 (parcel IDs cited). After closed session council reported it gave direction to staff and legal to work on developer agreement terms and sale points.

All motions on these items carried by voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.