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City planner outlines comprehensive-plan update and implications for parks in City of Victoria
Summary
City planner Brian McCann briefed the Park and Recreation Committee on the City of Victoria's comprehensive-plan update, saying regional requirements raise the minimum housing-density target to 3.5 units per acre and forecasting roughly 4,000 new households by 2050; staff and consultant Bolton & Menk plan public outreach and a parks review beginning in fall 2027.
Brian McCann, the city planner, told the City of Victoria Park and Recreation Committee on July 20 that the city is beginning a decade-scale comprehensive-plan update and that the parks-and-trails chapter will be a primary focus for the committee.
McCann said the comprehensive plan is the city's long-range vision for roughly 20 years and listed the main elements it covers — land use, housing, transportation, parks and trails, utilities, economic development, natural resources and community facilities. "This is our long range vision," he said, and added that the document guides daily decisions about infrastructure and development.
The key new requirement McCann flagged comes from the Metropolitan Council: a minimum residential density of 3.5 units per acre for this cycle. "With this upcoming cycle, we have to have at least 3.5 units per acre," McCann said, noting that the previous (2040) cycle required about 3 units per acre. He illustrated the change: on a 20‑acre site, the higher minimum could mean planning for about 10 additional households than under the earlier standard.
McCann read Metropolitan Council forecasts showing Victoria's population (about 10,500 in 2020) is expected to nearly double by 2050, households are projected to increase by roughly 4,000 over the next 25 years, and employment could nearly triple. He said the Metropolitan Council provides the regional data and that the council's requirements are tied to state statute.
Committee members pressed on the city's ability to set a lower local density. Tammy Leonetti (committee member) asked whether the city could refuse the higher minimum; McCann replied that the Metropolitan Council oversees regional sewer and growth planning and that, if the city did not comply, the council could withhold additional sewer capacity. "If we don't comply with the Metropolitan Council's plan, they can turn off any additional sewer capacity," McCann said, tying growth capacity to infrastructure approvals.
McCann described how amendments work if a proposed development does not exactly match the plan: cities submit comprehensive-plan amendments (often minor amendments) to the Metropolitan Council; Victoria staff have submitted such amendments under the 2040 plan and McCann said the city has not yet had one rejected so long as the amendment aligns with the council's overarching policies.
On community engagement, McCann said the city has contracted Bolton & Menk to help with the update and plans several public touchpoints: open houses, a community survey, an advisory committee and outreach at summer events such as farmers markets and concerts. "We're going to have a few open houses as well as a community survey," he said, and asked committee members to act as community representatives for parks and trails.
McCann provided a planning timeline that aims for a final implementation of the plan by spring 2028 and said the parks-and-recreation chapter should be ready for committee review by next fall. He told members the review will include planning for parks and trails in areas likely to be annexed into the city and work to close trail gaps.
Amanda Cahill, who presented the committee's 2026 work plan to the city council last week, summarized three focus areas: public engagement for park projects, attention to west and south growth areas (including water-access priorities), and exploring nontraditional park spaces. She said a public survey remains open through the end of the month and that the committee will review results in August.
Committee members asked several follow-up questions about coordination with other agencies: McCann said staff will work with Carver County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (for state highways), local watershed organizations (Minnehaha Creek and the Carver County Watershed Management Organization) and the 3 Rivers Park District on trails and regional features. He also said some playground-equipment bids are currently being sought, though final procurement details have not been settled.
The meeting closed after routine business; the committee adopted the agenda, approved the June 15 minutes and adjourned by voice votes.
What comes next: staff and Bolton & Menk will roll out engagement opportunities and the committee should expect a parks-and-trails draft for review next fall as staff develops the comprehensive plan toward the spring 2028 implementation target.
