Tonight's ARC Meeting is Cancelled

Tonight's ARC Meeting is Cancelled.   It will likely be rescheduled in the next few weeks.

Master ARC Welcomes New Liaison, Speeds Up Approval Process

Over the last few months, Victor Gardens Master ARC has been working closely with an experienced architectural consultant to improve and speed up the review process.  As a result, an ARC Liaison is now builders first point of contact with the ARC. The Liaison will usher builders through the initial review process and be available for questions. Also, the ARC has a new 4-step process found within updated application forms:

Application Package for New Home Construction

- click link below to download the file - 

• Application Package for New Home Construction (pdf)

Victor Gardens ARC Liaison

Teresa St. Amant

St. Amant Designs, LLC

11325 Harrison Road

Bloomington, MN 55437

Phone: (952) 693-8475

Fax: (925) 432-1368

Email: teresa@stamantdesignllc.com

Pratt Homes Creek Side Villas Transitioned to Residents

Pratt Homes transitioned control of their Creek Side Villas at Victor Gardens Homeowners Association (sub-association) to the homeowners on March 20.  The new homeowner board has not decided yet who will represent them at the master level yet but they are aware of the April 9 meeting and will be sending someone to the meeting.

Dangerous Trees Will Be Removed

There are some large dead/dying cottonwood trees on Master Association property near Val Jean Blvd. and Victor Hugo Blvd.  The size of the trees, along with their condition and proximity is a concern for nearby homes and children playing in the area.  The Master Board has tasked Treecology to trim and remove the affected trees.  Work will start on Monday, March 31st.

Vacant Lots North of Frenchman Road

The Master Association has been contacted by attorneys representing DK Resource Group.  They are the group that bought Outlot A and B and Lot 1 Block 1, VG North Village 5th Addition.  Those are empty, foreclosed lots north of VG's clock tower.  They have written that they do not intend to join the VG Association.  In the letter, they describe the interest in converting those properties into single family homes.  They have also asked the Board to consider allowing use of VG's amenities for their future residents, for a fee. 

Help with Easter Egg Hunt

Does your family love the Easter Egg Hunt?  Can you give an hour of your time to help make it happen?  We need your help filling and "hiding" the eggs!

Sunday, April 6th at 6:00pm Pool House.  Egg filling... there are 1,800 eggs.  We could use some extra hands!  Kids are welcome if they are willing to help! 

Saturday, April 12th 2:30 at Arbre Park.  Setting up tables, prizes, and "hiding" the eggs.  Adults only please.

If you can help please contact Lisa at john3995@umn.edu or 651-353-2619 (call or text).  Please give an hour of your time to help... there are a lot of kids who look forward to this event every year!

Mark your Calendars!!!

What is happening this year in your neighborhood?
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Saturday, April 12th - 4:00 at Arbre Park
Easter egg hunt and petting zoo.  The egg hunt will start promptly at 4:00 for all age groups.  Please bring a bag or basket for your goodies.  Following the egg hunt plan to stay to enjoy the petting zoo.  Bring quarters for animal feed.  We ask you to be patient.  Not every child will be able enjoy the animals immediately following the egg hunt but everyone will get a turn.  The petting zoo will run from 4:15-5:15. 

Friday, May 2nd - Movie in Val Jean Park
Friday, Sept 12th- Movie in Val Jean Park
Movie (TBD) will begin at dark.  Bring your blanket and lawnchairs and enjoy some treats and an outdoor movie.

Tuesday, June 10th - 6:30-7:30 at Activity Center
Wednesday, July 16th - 6:30-7:30 at Activity Center
Thursday, August 21st - 6:30-7:30 at Activity Center
Root Beer Floats & Sundaes.  Enjoy a cool treat on your way to the pool or after sports practice.  Please remember that all food must be enjoyed outside of the pool enclosure.

Monday, July 21st - 6:30 at Arbre Park
Family fun for all ages.  30 minute show by Captain Curly followed by balloon sculptures.

Tuesday, August 5th - 6:00 - 8:00 at Arbre Park
Night to Unite.  Dinner, games, bounce houses, fire and police visits, face painting and more!  Fun for all ages!

Other events... dates TBD
- Guys golf outing at Tanner's Brook (September)
- October Adult night - Olive Branch or Wine Tasting
- Adult Holiday party at Blue Heron (December)
- Flips Gymnastics (December)

Mark your calendars so you don't miss any of the fun.  Also consider giving an hour of your time to help!  All events are run by volunteers... we need your help!  When the same people run all the events they get burned out... and remember the other volunteers have families too and would like to spend some of the events with their own kids.  If you would like to volunteer or have an idea for an event please contact Kelly: Kelly_farrell@comcast.net or 651-238-6660 or Lisa: john3995@umn.edu or 651-353-2619.

Master Association Annual Meeting set for April 9

The members of Victor Gardens Community Association (also known as the Master Association) have been notified of VGCA's Annual Meeting.  It's also been on our Victor Gardens News Calendar for awhile.

April 9, 2013
6:00-7:30 PM
Victor Gardens Activity Center
14575 Victor Hugo Boulevard
Hugo, MN 55038

The member's packet is available here.  One minor error should be noted: Mark V. was not the Master Association's President last year or anytime before.  Josh B. is the Master Association's current President.

As with all these meetings, residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.  The homeowner forum is a good time to ask questions of your representatives on the Master Board, discuss concerns, etc.

SFV Garbage/Recycling Rules Change

In the interest of keeping the neighborhood looking its best, Victor Gardens Single Family Village's Board of Directors has adopted new garbage/recycling rules:

• Rules and Regulations effective May 1, 2014
• Garbage and recycling may not be placed outside before 4:00 p.m. on the evening prior to the morning pick-up, and cans should be put back in the garage by 10:00 p.m. of the pick-up day. 
• All garbage and recycling must be either bagged, canned or boxed to prevent it from blowing about and to prevent animals from gaining access to it
• A violation of this rule may result in imposition of a monetary fine if the violation is not cured within ten (10) business days of the notice of violation; if the violation remains uncured a second notice will be sent and if after an additional three (3) business days The Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowners Association Board may impose fines of $100/mo. or portion thereof.

This is a rules change that only applies to residents in VG's Single Family Village.  Other sub-associations rules may differ.

Victor Gardens Master ARC Simplifying Application Process + Street Views

Over the last few months, the Master Association's Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has been working to shorten the time required to approve home plans in the Single Family Village.  The ARC met twice with an expert in the field, Teresa St. Amant, of St. Amant Design and received valuable feedback.  As a result, the ARC is simplifying its documents while retaining the qualities we expect from a Victor Gardens home.  New documentation is being developed to eliminate redundancies, clarify areas of confusion, etc.  Also, moving forward Ms. St. Amant will provide services to the builder/landowner (at their expense) as a liaison to the ARC.  She'll check proposed new home designs, ensuring appropriateness before they are submitted to the ARC.  This will eliminate most of the back-and-forth that challenges some builders unfamiliar with Victor Gardens.  Everyone's goal is to maintain our high standards while dramatically reducing the application review timeline. 

A part of the ARC's new documentation will be a visual reference made up of numerous photographs.  The images, mostly taken from streets west of Clearwater Creek, show the four sided architecture, building forms, preferred styles, rooflines, details and color variety Victor Gardens Single Family Village is known for.   For builders, these homes have the most relevance because of their proximity to available homesites and various City of Hugo and ARC requirements.

If you're interested in seeing the photo reference, please follow this link:  Victor Gardens Street Views

A printable version is also available: Victor Gardens Street Views PDF

Master Association Annual Meeting set for April 9

Victor Gardens Community Association's Annual Meeting is scheduled April 9, 2014.  The meeting will be held at VG's Neighborhood Activity Center at 6:00pm.

Single Family Village Annual Meeting set for Tuesday, April 29

Victor Gardens Single Family Village Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at Hugo's Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th St N, Hugo, MN 55038.