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OCN > 2604 > Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations Inc. – Monument, Triview officials share information

Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations Inc. – Monument, Triview officials share information

Highlights

  • NEPCO, representing 42 HOAs with over 10,000 homes and 20,000 voters in northern El Paso County, held its bi-monthly meeting on March 14 at the Woodmoor Barn to facilitate communication between HOAs and local government entities.
  • The meeting included Monument Town Council and Planning Department members and featured speakers Dan Ungerleider, Monument Planning Director, and Jason Gross, Triview board president, who discussed planning and services.
  • Fire preparedness was highlighted by Beth Lonnquist, emphasizing home hardening and fuel reduction to slow wildfire spread, including mowing grasses under 4 inches and removing dead trees and limiting combustible materials around homes.
  • Ungerleider provided an update on Monument's 2040 Comprehensive Plan, noting population growth, new neighborhoods, staff turnover, and a long-range policy for development decisions over the next 10–15 years.
  • Gross explained Triview's role since 1985 in providing public services to Monument, with 2,595 current water accounts and projected growth to 3,226 single-family homes, plus about 31 full-time employees; the wastewater and water services are governed via an Intergovernmental Agreement and annual contracts.
  • The Higby Road Improvement Project began in March and is due for completion in November, featuring two roundabouts, a center island, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks.

By Marlene Brown

The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) held its bi-monthly meeting on March 14 at the Woodmoor Barn. NEPCO currently has 42 member Homeowner Associations (HOAs) with over 10,000 homes and over 20,000 voters within northern El Paso County. NEPCO strives to provide meetings to facilitate communication between HOAs and state, county, and local government representatives.

A few of Monument’s Town Council and Planning Department members attended the meeting: Mayor Pro Tem Steve King and Councilmember Laura Kronick; Jenna Gorney, senior planner with the Monument Planning Department; and Assistant Manager of Triview Metropolitan District Steve Sheffield. The guest speakers were introduced: Dan Ungerleider, director of the Monument Planning Department, and Jason Gross, board president, Triview.

Beth Lonnquist, Red Rock Ranch HOA and board member of NEPCO, presented “Fire Preparedness.” Colorado is moving into wildfire season, and the spread of wildfires can be slowed by home hardening and reducing fuels to a fire’s spread with mitigation. Homes can be made fire-resistant by keeping the space between houses clear and limiting the presence of combustible materials. Keep grasses mowed under 4 inches, remove dead trees, and cut limbs up to 6 to 8 feet, she said.

As Ungerleider spoke of the Monument Planning Department, he focused on the town’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The last Comprehensive Plan was in 2017. Since then, the town has experienced population growth, development of new neighborhoods, turnover of staff in the Planning Department and in leadership at the town level. Monument has committed to a long-range policy to guide future development decisions over the next 10 to 15 years.

The plan will focus on core community issues related to land use, including transportation, economic development, housing, and growth in a meaningful way to reflect a small-town character. For more details regarding the Comprehensive Plan 2040, see www.monument2040.com.

Gross explained that Triview was formed in May 1985 to provide public services to Monument, including open spaces, roads, parks, and water. Currently, it has 2,595 water accounts. At full buildout, it is anticipated that there will be 3,226 single-family homes. Triview has 31 full-time employees, with Jim McGrady as the district manager.

Under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Monument, wastewater treatment services are provided by the Upper Monument Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, which is co-owned by Triview, Donala Water and Sanitation District, and Forest Lake Metropolitan District. Under an annual contract, services are provided to Forest Lakes Metropolitan District for water treatment, utility operations, and parks and open space maintenance. Go to triviewmetro.com for more information.

The Higby Road Improvement Project started in March and is expected to be complete in November. The project covers 5,500 feet of Higby Road from Jackson Creek Parkway to Harness Road, consists of two roundabouts, a center island, pedestrian crossings, and sidewalks on both the north and the south side of Higby Road. For more project information, detours, and closings, go to triviewhigbyroad.com.

Triview recently began moving to its new administration/utility building at 1641 Baja Dr. in the Terrazzo/Baja Planned Development.

Harold Larson, NEPCO board member, thanked the speakers for their informative presentations and adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

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The next NEPCO meeting will be on May 9 at 10 a.m. at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. For more information regarding future presentations and membership information for HOAs in the area, go to nepco.org.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

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