Long-Term Planning in Victor Gardens

The Master Board would like direct and active input from interested residents about the future of our community.  Ideally this committee would plan for Victor Gardens' future, including goal setting, new building and beautification projects, long term maintenance, Neighborhood Activity Center policies, etc. 

The Board is also looking for volunteers to serve on our current Landscape Committee.  Even if you'd like to volunteer to report problems in one specific area (a fountain or a small common area for example), every volunteer counts. 

Residents interested in serving on these Committees should attend the Victor Gardens Community Association's (Master) next meeting Sept 29, 6:00pm at Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center.

Thanks for a Great Movie Night!

Thanks to Shloe, Stacy, Roger and Kevin for a great movie event last night. Everyone had a great time!

Reminder: Friday Night is Movie Night!

Movie Night in Val Jean ParkThe weather's looking promising for Friday's Movie Night in Val Jean Park. Join us for another cinema under the stars event! Share conversation, snacks and a cup of lemonade with your neighbors.  The kids can burn off energy in the playground and soccer fields for their own pre-show entertainment.  Bring your lawn chairs & blankets - the feature begins at sunset!


Rio - About the Movie
Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly and lives in Moose Lake, MN. Blu thinks he's the last of his kind, but learns about another Macaw in Rio de Janeiro. The adventure begins as he searches for Jewel, his female counterpart. Will he have the courage to fly and thwart the kidnappers who are hot on their trail?   Rated G.

• Friday, September 9 at 7:30 pm 
• Val Jean Park
• Lemonade and snacks provided
• Rain Date: Saturday, Sept. 10  (check victorgardensnews.org for weather updates)

See you there!

Park Grass Looking Good

Goetz Landscape and the City of Hugo have worked together towards major improvements in the condition of our parks over the last two years.  This successful public/private partnership continued this week with the Master Board authorizing Goetz Landscape to core aerate park turfgrass and another application of herbicide and fertilizer. Val Jean Park's grass is looking great and is in great condition for Friday's Movie Night.

City of Hugo Adopts New Commercial & Industrial Design Standards

According to the August 18th edition of The Citizen written by Deb Barnes,

New Commercial, Industrial Design Standards Adopted

At its Aug. 1 meeting, the Hugo City Council approved a resolution implementing new commercial and industrial design guidelines developed by the Planning Commission.

Council also amended the city’s Zoning Ordinance to include a requirement that commercial and industrial construction standards incorporate the city’s new design guidelines by reference.

Both the Economic Development Authority and the Planning Commission agreed, a staff memo stated, that there was a way to create design guidelines to encourage quality architecture in Hugo without discouraging businesses to locate in the city.

Standards largely consist of pictures of buildings that do, and do not, incorporate desired design elements. Those elements are: four-sided design; wall and roof projections, faced details and windows; varied but compatible building colors; dei ned entry areas; integrated signage; utility and equipment screening; and architecturally compatible lighting and rooftop drainage systems.

The document makes exceptions for the expansion of existing commercial and industrial uses that do not currently have access to public utilities, with the idea that adhering to more stringent requirements would make future redevelopment of those sites more dii cult once utilities are extended.

Heritage History Lab Returns to Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park

According to KMSP-TV, 

Anoka County Parks and Recreation is encouraging schools to sign up for the Heritage Living History Lab this fall.

The outdoor living history program, which takes place at the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve, lets students experience Minnesota history through eight different time periods.

The eight stations are led by presenters dressed in period costumes and teach students about milling, mining, and lumbering, which is this year’s topic.

According to a statement from the nature center, the program serves approximately 250-300 students in grades 1-7 every day.

The program will be offered for 15 days beginning Set. 14. For more information or to register, call 651-429-8007.

Girl Escapes Abduction Attempt in White Bear Township

According to Friday's St. Paul Pioneer Press:

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

Girl, 17, escapes abduction attempt

A man tried to abduct a 17-year-old girl in White Bear Township on Thursday afternoon but she was able to get away, according to Ramsey County law enforcement officials.

The girl was approached in the area of U.S. 61 and County Road J as she was biking, according to authorities. The suspect was described as about 30 years old, heavy-set, with a beard and no mustache. He was wearing a dark green baseball cap.

The man tried to grab the girl, authorities said, but she was able to pull away and bike to safety.

The man was driving a gray Ford pickup, described as an older model, with no topper.

The case is under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Ramsey County sheriff's office at 651-266-7320.

Master ARC Meeting set for Sept 14.

The Master ARC will  meet again with Hans Hagen Homes at 7:00pm on Wednesday, Sept.  14 at Victor Garden's Neighborhood Activity Center.  Hans Hagen Homes has submitted plans for ARC's consideration.  They are interested in building on 22 lots within Victor Gardens Single Family Village.

"Rio" Movie Night in Val Jean Park set for Sept. 9, 7:30pm

Rio, Rated G. 

Friday, September 9, 7:30pm in Val Jean Park. 

Snacks and lemonade will be provided. Bring your lawn chairs & blankets.  Rain date: Saturday, Sept. 10.  

New Pool Furniture Arrived

New furniture arrived at the pool today. Enjoy!

Thanks Volunteers!

Thanks to the Events Committee and all the volunteers who organized, planned, set up, and carried off a great National Night Out Event last night!  It was great to see so many familiar faces and welcome new friends to our neighborhood.  Thanks also to the Washington County Sheriff's Department, Hugo's Fire Department, EMS, Hugo's Mayor and City Council for joining us!

Neighborhood volunteers are the reason for the success of this and all the other activities that the Events Committee plans.  The Committee always welcomes help and new ideas.  To join this active group please directly contact Events Committee Chair, Julie Bixby via email: eventsbyjulie@gmail.com

Hans Hagen Homes Submits New Plans for ARC Review

At tonight's National Night Out event a number of neighbors asked me about all the survey stakes on most of the open lots within VG's Single Family Village.

Here's a bit of history before the explanation of the survey stakes: Around the time of CPDC's (VG's initial developer) foreclosure, these lots were sold to a company named Victor Gardens Mainstreet Holdings, LLC (VGMH).  A division of The Beard Group, named Neighborhood Development Partners, paid dues on, marketed, controlled and sold a few of VGMH's lots.  Prior to our Single Family Village Annual Meeting this spring, VGMH's lots were sold. Terry Forbord of Mountain Asset Management took over responsibility for the lots.

VGMH's open lots - to be built by Hans Hagen Homes

 
For a number of months and years other builders including Hartman Homes, Colfax Companies, and Homes by James placed signs on some of VGMH's lots in the hopes of attracting customers. At various times, the signs raised speculation that new building efforts were underway. In the end, Colfax Companies and Homes by James never submitted any proposals to the Master Architectural Review Committee (ARC) and no homes were built by them. A year or so ago Centex Homes abandoned their effort to build on those same lots. 

Getting back to the surveyor's stakes: In recent weeks the boundaries of these VGMH lots were staked out and identified by surveyors. Currently the VGMH's lots are in the process of being sold to a builder new to Victor Gardens. After requesting a copy of Victor Gardens building Requirements and Guidelines Hans Hagen Homes submitted, for the Master ARC's consideration, four new home plans.  Hans Hagen Homes carefully followed the ARC's adopted submission procedures. Their submitted plans are now being reviewed individually by the ARC's members. The Committee will discuss these plans (as a committee) with each other and together with Hans Hagen Homes at its next meeting, August 8.  The Master ARC's eight-person membership is made up of the same members of the Master Board.  Each of Victor Gardens sub-associations has one representative on the Master Board & ARC- except the SFV, which has two representatives due to its large size.

Upon successful approval of plans, Hans Hagen Homes is expected to pull permits and start building.  After the initial few homes are built they hope to continue building on the remaining VGMH lots.

In addition to the VGMH lots described above there are other, open SFV lots owned mostly by Alliance Bank and a few by Pratt Homes.  These are mostly located near Cosette Lane, Victor Hugo Blvd. and a few along Garden Way between Poet's Green and Arbre Park.  The last remaining SFV lot east of Clearwater Creek is nearing completion with its builder, Capstone Homes (formerly Minks Custom Homes).