A subdivision in eastern Fountain known as Mesa Ridge has been reimagined this year to feature more multifamily housing and a different site for businesses.
Developers are expecting to build about 1,800 homes and 21 acres of commercial development south of Mesa Ridge Parkway and west of Marksheffel Road inside the existing Fountain city limits, plans show.
The Fountain City Council approved both a new plan for the property in March and new metro districts needed to finance the infrastructure across 471 acres in September. But it will take some time before work starts on the property.
"This is a very long-term project," Tim Seibert, senior vice president of Norwood Development Group, told the Fountain City Council. He estimated that construction could start in two years but that could be pushed back, he said in an email.
The subdivision of about 530 acres was first annexed in 2005 and the latest iteration for the remaining property proposed by Norwood will increase the amount of property set aside for multifamily homes, change the layout for the proposed school sites and proposes a smaller but less geographically challenging site for new businesses.
While Fountain is working to secure water to support long-term growth, the Mesa Ridge property will be served by Widefield Water and Sanitation District, which has agreed to provide water for up to 2,114 units on the property. Under the cap, there are 1,860 units yet to be built, Seibert said.
Commercial development is also key for the community to help raise revenue for city operations and Fountain councilmembers raised questions about plans for new businesses.
The approved plan envisions a business center of about 20 acres near Mesa Ridge Parkway and Marksheffel Road. It is smaller than a 36-acre parcel south of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Powers Boulevard previously envisioned for businesses, but not as steep and could potentially go in sooner because it is closer to existing utilities connections, Seibert said.
"We think it will serve the community better," he said.
The plan also now sets aside 36 acres for apartments — up from 28 acres. The approved map of the area shows 481 more apartments that could be built north of C&S Road and east of Cross Creek Regional Park.
A planned 30-acre site for an elementary school, middle school and high school are set aside for Widefield School District 3 and will now be bisected by a road separating the elementary school site from the middle and high school site to help with traffic circulation, Seibert said
Cross Creek Regional Park directly west of the project satisfies the city requirements for the subdivision to set aside park land, said Kristy Martinez, the planning manager for Fountain. But some pocket parks could be added to the neighborhood plans as it builds out, Seibert said.
The property will eventually be bisected by an extension of Powers Boulevard running from the northwest to the southeast, but it is unknown when the Colorado Department of Transportation will build the new connection. The result: that portion of the property will be greenspace for an unknown amount of time, Seibert said.
In September, the city approved three new metro districts that can issue up to $65 million in debt to finance the subdivision, city documents said.
The first bonds totaling $5.1 million to fund the project could be issued in December 2026.
Under the approved metro district plan, up to 45 mills could be added to property tax bills of new residents. If the full 45 mills was added to the property taxes of a $560,000 home in the new subdivision could potentially pay $4,964 in property taxes annually compared to the $3,162 owed if the district did not exist, a presentation to the Fountain City Council showed.
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