Metro Districts Should Represent the People

I have lived in a metro district in the Sterling Ranch neighborhood of Littleton since 2018. The developer of the neighborhood set up a Community Authorization Board (CAB) that governs the metro districts in the neighborhood. Simply put, the developer has strategically set up the metro districts to retain full control until all metro districts are built out.

Before any houses were built the CAB took away all TABOR protections for any future houses to be built in the area and gave full control to the CAB. The CAB then set up Metro District 1 to have 6 votes while Metro Districts 2-7 only have 1 vote each. The developer will retain all 6 votes for Metro District 1 indefinitely and retains control of the other Metro Districts until houses are built in the other Metro Districts. If the developer decides not to build out one of the Metro Districts, they can retain FULL control of the CAB…forever. The CAB is able to take on any debt they want and pass on the bills to residents without any way for the residents to have a say.

Some examples…the CAB has an agreement for water utility owned by the same family as the developers that control the CAB. This allows the developing family to charge residents for water, via the CAB, and reap the benefits for all profits. Other services such as trash, landscaping, internet, snow removal, etc. – there is no method for residents to officially have a say. Future amenities like parks, clubhouses, or other developments can be promised but if the CAB changes plans, residents have no recourse. Strict rules can be set about home outdoor lighting yet the development has the brightest intelligent streetlights of any development in the Denver area.

I have no doubt the developers/CAB have good intentions to build out Sterling Ranch – but primarily only with their vision and profits in mind. There needs to be a significant change so that residents are heard and properly represented, and the CAB can make informed decisions and be held accountable. They need to remember who they are building this neighborhood for…the families growing up and living here.