Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force

Share Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force on Facebook Share Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force on Twitter Share Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force on Linkedin Email Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force link

Thank you for visiting the community engagement tool for the Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force. 

Pursuant to HB23-1105, this project has now concluded.  On behalf of the Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Division of Real Estate, we want to thank you for your interest and participation.  

Metro District Community


What Do You Think About Your Metropolitan District?


On August 7, 2023, HB23-1105 became law in the State of Colorado. It created two different task forces to explore issues and prepare written reports on a wide array of issues affecting Colorado homeowners. The Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force is one of those.


The Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force will convene to study communities that are governed by the board of a metropolitan district and the issues confronting residents of those communities. Specifically, the Task Force members will examine metropolitan districts':


  • Authority to levy taxes
  • Foreclosure practices
  • Communications with homeowners regarding metropolitan district processes
  • Homeowners’ rights and responsibilities
  • District’s governance policies, including voting and election policies.


The Task Force will also review the process by which a metropolitan district could transition from a metropolitan district that enforces covenants and collects assessments into a Common Interest Community governed under article 33.3 of Title 38.


If you work or reside in a metropolitan district, the Task Force would like to hear from you. This engagement tool has been developed for the HB23-1105 task force so that people like you can engage with the Task Force directly. You can participate in several different ways on this site (see both below and to the right).


All responses collected will be used to inform a report in 2024 which will be presented to the Colorado General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, and the public.


What Do You Think About Your Metropolitan District?


On August 7, 2023, HB23-1105 became law in the State of Colorado. It created two different task forces to explore issues and prepare written reports on a wide array of issues affecting Colorado homeowners. The Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force is one of those.


The Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force will convene to study communities that are governed by the board of a metropolitan district and the issues confronting residents of those communities. Specifically, the Task Force members will examine metropolitan districts':


  • Authority to levy taxes
  • Foreclosure practices
  • Communications with homeowners regarding metropolitan district processes
  • Homeowners’ rights and responsibilities
  • District’s governance policies, including voting and election policies.


The Task Force will also review the process by which a metropolitan district could transition from a metropolitan district that enforces covenants and collects assessments into a Common Interest Community governed under article 33.3 of Title 38.


If you work or reside in a metropolitan district, the Task Force would like to hear from you. This engagement tool has been developed for the HB23-1105 task force so that people like you can engage with the Task Force directly. You can participate in several different ways on this site (see both below and to the right).


All responses collected will be used to inform a report in 2024 which will be presented to the Colorado General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, and the public.

Comments/Considerations On The Task Force's Interim Report

Share Your Metropolitan District Stories.

Share your story and help the Task Force better understand your experiences, questions, and comments about your Metropolitan District, whether those are positive or negative. Please keep your concerns, complaints, ideas, or advice respectful and productive so that the Task Force can consider your experiences with Metropolitan Districts in Colorado.  

Thank you for sharing your Story with us. It will be provided to the Metropolitan District Homeowners' Task Force for consideration.  

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Attorney General to Appoint an Special Prosecutor to deal with the Abuses in MD on Facebook Share Attorney General to Appoint an Special Prosecutor to deal with the Abuses in MD on Twitter Share Attorney General to Appoint an Special Prosecutor to deal with the Abuses in MD on Linkedin Email Attorney General to Appoint an Special Prosecutor to deal with the Abuses in MD link

    Attorney General to Appoint an Special Prosecutor to deal with the Abuses in MD

    by Liam in Broomfield, 12 months ago

    I am surprised and disappointed with the lack of comments for the committee to review. This goes to show how deep the Metropolitan District problems are hidden in multiple bond refinancing and the issuance of interest rate swaps and collateral requirements for older bond offerings, with proceeds of new bond offerings.

    I refer the committee to Julia A. Beckett’s 1995 Dissertation on Bankruptcy of Developer District Governments in Colorado. There is no need to investigate further than Ms. Beckett’s Dissertation and come up with consumer, and homeowner protections against this once “Cottage Industry”, where to lawyers are the play writers... Continue reading

  • Share Profiting off the backs of the residents on Facebook Share Profiting off the backs of the residents on Twitter Share Profiting off the backs of the residents on Linkedin Email Profiting off the backs of the residents link

    Profiting off the backs of the residents

    by Beltalowda, 12 months ago
    We have been a resident of Sterling Ranch, located near Roxborough State Park, since the early summer of 2020. It seemed like a great community and location to raise our young kids in. Let us start with the positives: our neighbors are great, we like the location in Douglas County, and enjoy the amenities of our house. Unfortunately, this is all tarnished by the shady and possible illegal practices of the developers and owners.


    Before a single house was built, resident TABOR rights were voted away by the owners/developers. Metro Districts that were established were setup in such a way... Continue reading

  • Share Taxation without representation on Facebook Share Taxation without representation on Twitter Share Taxation without representation on Linkedin Email Taxation without representation link

    Taxation without representation

    by Christian, 12 months ago

    The story from Thompson River Ranch can be found in this short YouTube video clip.

    Oakwood Homes has made it impossible for residents to join the board - or even apply for an election.

    https://youtu.be/eXg9gH4E5c0?si=WXFI7zv-jiySCfTC&t=71

  • Share Hands Tied By Metro District on Facebook Share Hands Tied By Metro District on Twitter Share Hands Tied By Metro District on Linkedin Email Hands Tied By Metro District link

    Hands Tied By Metro District

    by Kdeadwy, 12 months ago



    We have lived in Sterling Ranch (Littleton) for over 5 years. We have many of the same issues as others who have posted their stories. It is frustrating to have little say in how the rules are defined. Granted, they go through the motions to make it APPEAR as if the homeowners have input, but very few of the comments/recommendations are ever adopted. If the family that runs the development doesn’t agree, they have enough influence with the other non-residents on the board to have them voted down… the ratio of resident to non-resident board members is laughable.


    Our biggest... Continue reading

  • Share Perplexed on Facebook Share Perplexed on Twitter Share Perplexed on Linkedin Email Perplexed link

    Perplexed

    by Conniejohnston263, 12 months ago
    Windsor Gardens management or our Manager has not been forthcoming about borrowing money without homeowners knowledge. During pandemic the manager took out a PPP

    Loan in Windsor Gardens name, then went to our BOARD for approval. Homeowners were never allowed to ask what the moneys were used for since we continued paying HOA fees during the pandemic. Salaries were paid through our HOA FeesWe have NO transparency as to where the money was spent and our HOA fees increase yearly.Was the PPP Loan repaid?? As I know it was a large amount. Homeowners are not allowed to ask questions about... Continue reading

  • Share Developer not audited between plans and "as built" on Facebook Share Developer not audited between plans and "as built" on Twitter Share Developer not audited between plans and "as built" on Linkedin Email Developer not audited between plans and "as built" link

    Developer not audited between plans and "as built"

    by Harry, 12 months ago
    The developer of my district did a very poor job of laying out landscaping responsibilities and also tied irrigation systems billed to the district to areas not belonging to it including the City of Aurora, Cherry Creek School District, an apartment complex and some individual homes too. When the developer left control of the board, the new volunteer home owners received very little information about what the district owned and has spent several years trying to sort things out and correct past mistakes.


    Cities that approve districts formation should audit the "as built" to verify that the district only "pays... Continue reading

  • Share HOA denied request for handrail on Facebook Share HOA denied request for handrail on Twitter Share HOA denied request for handrail on Linkedin Email HOA denied request for handrail link

    HOA denied request for handrail

    by seniorgeek, 12 months ago

    I submitted a request to install a handrail just outside our property the steps on the HOA property. They denied my request sayin I can't have a handrail on HOA property.

    ADA act says I can and so does

    Colorado Revised Statutes 2021
    TITLE 38
    PROPERTY - REAL AND PERSONAL
    ARTICLE 33.3
    Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act

    I sent the following to the HOA

    "

    Modifications for owners with disabilities. Unit owners with disabilities may make reasonable modifications to a unit or to common elements of the community to make living spaces more accommodating to a disability.

    (g) Reasonable modifications... Continue reading

  • Share Commercial Interest Should Not Own Metro Districts on Facebook Share Commercial Interest Should Not Own Metro Districts on Twitter Share Commercial Interest Should Not Own Metro Districts on Linkedin Email Commercial Interest Should Not Own Metro Districts link

    Commercial Interest Should Not Own Metro Districts

    by jklingel, 12 months ago

    Sterling Ranch overall has been a fantastic community, but I have trouble trusting that the Community Authority Board (CAB) is really working in the residents’ best interest as opposed to the best interest of the community’s for-profit developer. The community developer set up the CAB structure - a collection of metro districts under a consolidated governing body - and granted itself incontestable control over the body by retaining control over a supermajority of the metro district seats. Residents have no decision-making parity, and per CAB members have no expectation of that parity for a minimum of 15 years, with the... Continue reading

  • Share Metro Districts Should Represent the People on Facebook Share Metro Districts Should Represent the People on Twitter Share Metro Districts Should Represent the People on Linkedin Email Metro Districts Should Represent the People link

    Metro Districts Should Represent the People

    by K&J, 12 months ago

    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... Continue reading

  • Share MD Task Force Members . . . on Facebook Share MD Task Force Members . . . on Twitter Share MD Task Force Members . . . on Linkedin Email MD Task Force Members . . . link

    MD Task Force Members . . .

    by MD and HOA Homeowner, 12 months ago

    Since there isn't yet a published agenda, here are some suggestions for your first agenda and for your work in general:

    • Review 1105 and agree to an outline of exactly what it is you're going to address in the time frame.
    • Establish governance agreements . . . what will be done by consensus, what will trigger a vote, etc. Get clear from the outset vs. "figuring it out as you go," and don't be directed by someone else.
    • Get your "advisory committee" on the FIRST agenda. Rep Titone put that language in the bill as the voice (and IMHO a... Continue reading