Share Your Opinion: Two Most Important Issues

The Board Advisory Group proposed a meeting at Hugo City Hall (please see the other 1/11/08 post).   In addition to the Board, developers, and builders explaining their future plans for Victor Gardens, the Board Advisory Group agree that two topics must be addressed at the meeting.  At the request of a few homeowners, I’ve posted this topic and welcome your opinion and discussion.  Feel free to add your comments.

Priorities:

1. 1. Address budget problems - plan for responsible spending.

2. 2. Ensure high architectural and landscape standards, regardless of builder.

Board Advisory Group Requests City-Hosted Meeting

Following last night’s Board Advisory Group meeting, the following letter was sent to Bryan Bear, the City of Hugo’s Community Development Director. 

To:

Bryan Bear

Community Development Director

City of Hugo

14669 Fitzgerald Ave, N.

Hugo MN  55038

Dear Bryan,

Our neighborhood's homeowner-led Board Advisory Group met last night to discuss some of what's been happening in Victor Gardens recently.  The meeting's participants resolved to request that the City of Hugo mediate issues between homeowners, builders, developers and our Board of Directors.

Homeowner representatives of Victor Gardens Board Advisory Group requests that The City of Hugo host a public meeting of Victor Gardens homeowners, Victor Gardens Board members, and other decision makers to discuss the future of our neighborhood.  The focus of this meeting should be working towards resolving Victor Gardens budget issues and ensuring high architectural standards in future building.  Although it is difficult for our Group to determine exactly who all those decision makers are, they certainly include:

1. Homer Tompkins of CPDC

2. Pete Scherer of POA-Scherer

3. Len Pratt of POA-Scherer and Pratt Homes

4. Rottland Homes/David Bernard Builders

5. Ryland Homes

6. The Beard Group

Other important meeting participants should include:

1. Mayor Fran Miron

2. Council Person Becky Petryk

3. Community Development Director Bryan Bear

4. Hugo's City Attorney

5. Chuck Schneider of Community Development Inc. (VG's master association management company), 

6. Homeowners and their representatives on the Board Advisory Group.

Homeowners, through their Board Advisory Group have determined two priorities that must be addressed at this meeting.  

1. 1. Victor Gardens budget problems  

2. 2. Ensuring high architectural and landscape standards in future Victor Gardens building.

It has been reported that The Beard Group (Victor Gardens newest proposed landowner), will be closing on 26 VG lots in the near future. It is important that homeowners are informed about Beard Group's intentions as soon as possible. A meeting will serve this purpose, in addition to addressing the two significant homeowner concerns stated previously.

We would appreciate your thoughts on this idea.  The Board Advisory Group felt that the City of Hugo's invitation would likely lead to a productive results for everyone involved.  Homeowners would be happy to offer more background information on these issues before the proposed meeting.  Members of the Group could make themselves available to discuss the situation with you.

Respectfully, 

Mark Vlker

Single Family Village Liaison to Victor Gardens' Board of Directors

Member of the Board Advisory Group

CC: Residents of Victor Gardens via open letter on http://victorgardensnews.org website

More Known About The Beard Group

In Homer Tompkins’ previous email he describes VG East’s new owner as “The Baird Group”.  It’s now believed that Mr. Tompkins spelling was incorrect - and he was describing Hopkins, MN based The Beard Group, Inc.

This developer has been active in the area in the past.  In a brief Google search, a search for The Beard Group returned a few local results

1. Eminent domain discussion:

2. http://www.yourneighborhoodnews.net/Archive/HugoEdition/19Sep07/Owners.html

4. Ryland Homes connection:

5. http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Economic_Development_Authority/EDA%20Minutes/081505.htm

7. Oneka Shores project:  

8. http://www.beardgroupinc.com/port_oneka.htm

10. Oneka Shores concept plan:

11. http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/General_Government/minutes/cc082106.htm

1. Click here for a link to The Beard Group, Inc ‘s website

Remaining Lots in the Single Family Village

The Board Advisory Group is asking questions about the new owner of remaining of VG East lots in the Single Family Village.  I have not been provided answers to most of those questions, but in an attempt to clarify things - I compiled the following map of remaining Victor Gardens East Single Family Village.  The map includes remaining CPDC, Ryland Homes & Pratt owned lots.  I believe it to be correct based upon the information that I’ve been given.  The map may not be 100% accurate, but it’s pretty close.  Also, it’s uncertain whether the areas near the wetlands (colored in aqua) will be owned by the new owner, or someone else.  

 To download a clearer version of the map, please click here.

Questions of Victor Gardens Future

The Board Advisory Group recently asked questions of CPDC regarding the future development and the state of Victor Gardens Community Association (the master HOA).  With discussion of a new owner, “The Beard Group”, these questions are just as relevant now as they were before.  The Board Advisory Group is interested in finding answers to these questions.  Below you’ll find a outlined list.  Homeowners are encouraged to add to or discuss anything you see below by using the “Comment” features.

1)Questions about Victor Gardens East’s new owner “The Beard Group”

a)What other residential developments has the Beard Group been recently involved with?

b)Are there plans to build houses by individual builders or all one builder?

c)Who will control the VG Architectural Review Committee?

d)How does the new ownership affect the VGCA?

i)Does the new owner affect the makeup of the Board of Directors?

ii)Who will have controlling interest on the Board of Directors?

iii)What changes will be made with new ownership? 

iv)Who will control the VGCA budgets?

v)Will Community Development Inc. remain as community managers?

e)Does the new ownership affect the percentage of lots "sold" (in regards to homeowner control of the VGCA)?

f)How does the new owner view the original vision of VG’s “master plan”?

i)Will the new owner follow or modify this plan?

g)Will the new owner complete the construction of the developer’s unfinished projects? 

i)Permanent Postal Stations for residents on Grantaire Lane?

ii)Landscaping, irrigation, park structures, benches on Grantaire Lane’s cul-de-sac?

iii)Trail connection (over a bridge) between Grantaire Lane lots and Pratt’s Creekside Villa lots?

iv)Street connection of Garden Way & Val Jean Blvd. near wetlands/pond area.

h)Does the new owner have a marketing plan to sell lots and build appropriate homes?

i)Is there a budget for marketing?

(1)Sales Office/Brochure Boxes?

(2)Website update?

(3)Builder Signs?

(4)Lot ID signs?

(5)Advertising?

2)Questions about CPDC's current involvement in Victor Gardens.

a)Does CPDC only own 14 unsold lots in the Single Family Village?

b)Does CPDC still own other properties within the overall VG site?

3)Questions about CPDC’s future involvement in Victor Gardens

a)Will the current financial health of CPDC affect VG in the near future?

i)Please address how financial status of CPDC’s other developments might affect VG. (Towne Lakes, Inspiration, Glendalough, Mayo Woodlands, Harmony Village, etc)

(1)Is VG in better or worse financial shape than those other developments?

(a)Example: Recent news reported foreclosures and Sheriff’s auction in Inspiration.  Is VG’s remaining 14 lots next?

(2)Are more defaulted CPDC loans in VG's future? 

b)Will CPDC still be represented on VGCA’s Board of Directors?

4)Questions for VGCA’s Board of Directors about the VG’s future

a)Homeowners are concerned about the current housing market’s effect on the future character and value of VG:

i)Who will control the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) in the next year?

ii)How will the ARC scrutinize new homebuilding and landscaping?

(1)Which architectural and landscape guidelines will be used going forward in the remainder of VG’s Single Family Village? 

(a)The “West of Clearwater Creek” standard?   -or-

(b)The “East of Clearwater Creek” standard? 

b)Homeowners are concerned about VGCA’s budget issues:

i)How will the Board prevent unpaid invoices causing vendors to stop servicing VG?

(1)Will the City turn off VGCA’s water?

(2)Will Early Bird stop mowing common areas? 

(3)Will the pool be cleaned, etc?

ii)What are the Board’s plans for paying off old debts?

(1)Negotiate with vendors?

(2)Payment Plans?

iii)How will the Board adjust the budget for next fiscal year?

(1)Increase income with “developer contributions” & financial help from builders?

(a)Does the Board intend to ask the new VG East owner to make “developer contributions”?

(b)Does the Board intend to ask Pratt, Ryland, David Bernard, etc. plan to make “developer contributions”?

(2)Will the Board have to cut amenities next year?

(a)Pool?

(b)Neighborhood Activity Center?

(c)Annual plantings / garden budget?

(d)Fountains?

(e)Mowing?

(f)Snowplowing?

(g)Other?

c)What is the status of townhomes not currently under a sub-association?

i)Will those units be consolidated into an existing sub-association or begin another sub-association?