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Planning commission recommends preliminary approval for West Creek Village development with conditions
Summary
The commission recommended City Council approve the preliminary plat, annexation and rezoning for the 89-acre West Creek Village, which proposes 50 single-family homes, 18 twin homes and 56 townhomes, with conditions on shoreland impervious limits, tree replacement and future street extension.
The Victoria Planning Commission recommended City Council approve preliminary plat, annexation, comprehensive-plan amendments and preliminary zoning requests for the West Creek Village residential development, an approximately 89-acre proposal that would add single-family homes, twin homes and townhomes to the city’s southern growth area.
City planner Brian McCann summarized the plan and the requested adjustments to future land-use guidance and zoning: conservation residential areas would protect wetlands and West Chesca Creek, while other sections would change from low to medium density to accommodate a mix of products. The developer proposes 50 single-family homes, 18 twin homes and 56 townhomes.
City engineer Cara Garin reviewed transportation and stormwater matters: Creekide Lane is proposed as a neighborhood collector that would not allow private driveways, several private streets are planned in sensitive areas, and staff negotiated a gated emergency-only access stub to County Road 10 with Knox-box locks for first responders. Garin said Carver County has reviewed and is comfortable with the emergency access provided it remains for emergency use only; the access would be removed once a permanent public intersection to County Road 10 is available.
Staff also noted tree-preservation requirements: the applicant proposes to remove about 34.6% of the site’s trees, triggering a tree-replacement obligation (roughly 789 replacement plantings under city standards). Shoreland lots north of Creekide Lane must meet DNR and city shoreland impervious limits per lot.
The applicant’s representative, Josh Metzer of Lenar, said the team has iterated plans for more than a year and hopes to start grading this summer if approvals proceed. A nearby property owner raised questions about gate security, construction traffic routing and how long the emergency gate would remain; staff replied gates will use Knox locks and construction access is expected via Creekide Lane and existing county routes, with final details addressed during final plat and the development agreement.
Commissioners debated deviations from standard lot sizes and setbacks, impervious-surface maxima outside shoreland (a proposed 55% cap on certain lots), pedestrian safety on collector roads, stormwater controls and whether a smaller minimum lot area would set an undesirable precedent. After extended discussion the commission voted to recommend approval with the conditions listed in the staff packet.
The recommendation will go to City Council for final action; staff noted detailed stormwater and grading plans will be reviewed at the final-plat stage and that public infrastructure improvements will be covered by the development agreement and associated security.
