Triview Newsletter — February 2025
District Considers Higby Road Development Project
As you know, the Town of Monument and Triview Metro District continues to grow and is now home to over 12,000 residents — a 16% increase since the 2020 census. With this growth, we’ve all noticed an increase in traffic on our roads. One road in particular, Higby Road, has experienced a significant surge in traffic. To address these challenges and enhance safety, the Triview Metro District is considering a ballot measure this May to fund the redevelopment of Higby Road. This project aims to widen and improve the safety of Higby Road for the benefit of district residents, Lewis-Palmer High School students and staff, and the entire community.
Why is the Redevelopment Necessary?
- Increased traffic on Higby Road has led to more speed and safety issues, particularly near Lewis-Palmer High School. The redevelopment project will address these concerns by:
- Adding two roundabouts at key intersections — roundabouts have been shown to reduce fatal and injury crashes by approximately 80%.
- Creating pedestrian crossings.
- Adding a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side and an 8-foot multi-use trail on the south side of Higby Road.
- Providing shared bicycle lanes and center islands to prevent dangerous left turns.
- Providing greater access in the event of a wildland fire.
How Will it be Funded?
The project would be funded by issuing $12.6 million in General Obligation Bonds. This bond issuance would not raise taxes or increase the authorized tax rate. The estimated annual debt payments of approximately $768,000 would be made using revenues generated from three existing revenue streams including sales tax revenue, the operations and maintenance mill levy approved by voters, and developer contributions.
What About Property Taxes?
Even if the ballot question passes, Triview Metro District plans to continue to decrease its property tax rate, as it has done in the past five years. The mill levy has been reduced from 35 mills to 20.5 mills, saving residents approximately $2,000 over the last five years for a home valued at $600,000.
Community Support
The Triview Metro District has a strong track record of community support. The majority of residents approve of the District’s performance, with 84% satisfied with its service provision and 81% approving of its efforts to maintain and improve streets and roads. Furthermore, 63% of voters support the potential ballot measure to redevelop Higby Road according to a recent survey of residents. The results of the public survey are available on our website.
Cost Savings
The cost for construction has more than tripled since 2021 and will continue to increase if the project is delayed. By moving forward now, the Triview Metro District can save residents money in the long run. Additionally, the developers and builders of the south side of Higby Road will pay the district back for half of the redevelopment costs, helping to pay off the bonds.
Get Involved
The Triview Metro District is committed to helping residents understand the benefits and need for the redevelopment of Higby Road. We invite the community to get engaged and learn more at www.triviewmetro.com.
2024 Highlights
A Milestone Year for Renewable Water in Triview
We’re thrilled to announce that the Northern Delivery System (NDS) officially became operational in August, marking a significant step toward ensuring adequate renewable water for Triview’s future. This milestone is the result of years of dedicated planning, permitting and construction, as well as strategic investments in water rights and infrastructure.
The NDS, a 16-inch pipeline connected to Colorado Springs Utilities’ (CSU) distribution system, delivers renewable water to approximately 3,005 single-family equivalent units consisting of homes, apartments and businesses in our district. As a result of Forest Lakes’ Metropolitan District’s participation in the project, Forest Lakes residents will benefit from the NDS as system upgrades continue. With nearly 4,000 acre-feet of reservoir storage and access to renewable water rights, the NDS ensures a reliable, sustainable and cost-effective water supply for our growing community even as water becomes more scarce and expensive in our state.
To celebrate this achievement, we held a grand opening in August at the pump station that transfers treated water from CSU’s Highway 83 reservoir to district storage tanks. We’re proud that our hard work will pay dividends for decades to come. Having a plentiful supply of water will help protect home values in our district and continue to make us a desirable place to live and work.
New District Park Opened
In addition to our convenient location, the Triview Metro District is a desirable place to live because of our abundant parks and open space. That is why we were excited to open our newest park, Sanctuary Park, this past May.
Spanning eight acres, the park offers trails, a five-acre artificial turf field perfect for soccer, lacrosse and other sports, and a picturesque, covered pergola ideal for hosting events. Sanctuary Park is the 11th park in our district, and it was made possible through a collaboration between Classic Homes and Triview Metro District. It is funded by parks and open space fees collected through home-building permits. If you haven’t had a chance to visit it yet, we encourage you to stop by. We think you will be impressed.
Triview Board Approves 2025 Budget
The five-member Triview Metro District Board of Directors unanimously approved the district’s 2025 budget at its Nov. 21, 2024, meeting. The district was able to keep the mill levy the same as in 2024 at 20.5 mills. With the NDS completed, there are a few projects planned for 2025. We will install a shade structure at the Train Park for $30,000. We are also purchasing a new dump truck/snowplow for $280,000 so that we can continue to provide outstanding snow removal services. The district administration office’s lease is expiring, so we are planning to build a new building at the intersection of Terrazzo Drive and Baja Drive. This building will house our administrative functions and our Utility Operations Department. We are also planning to install an augmentation station for our recently decreed Arkansas Valley Irrigation Company water right. Work will also begin on our new tank located at our B-Plant Water Treatment Facility.
The full, adopted budget is available on our website, but below is the high-level overview: