Council approves service plan for Brickyard Metropolitan Districts 1–3

The Castle Rock Town Council on March 4 unanimously approved a consolidated service plan to enable the formation of Brickyard Metropolitan Districts numbered 1 through 3, a financing step in the redevelopment of the former Acme brickyard site west of I‑25.

Town staff and outside counsel told council the plan follows the town's model service plan and includes limits and contractual safeguards the town has used in recent years to protect residents. "We reviewed this plan and we feel it is absolutely consistent with our model," said a staff presenter.

The plan sets a maximum debt-service mill levy of 50 mills and an overall levy cap of 60 mills (inclusive of operations), subject to future adjustments if state assessment calculations change. It also includes a 35-year maximum debt-service imposition term for any single property and requires the district to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the town. The service plan document cites the Special District Control Act (Title 32, Colorado Revised Statutes) and the town's municipal code as the statutory basis for review.

Town attorneys and the district's counsel, Suzanne Meinzer of McGeady Becher, answered council questions about governance and public oversight. Council members pressed on local controls and the process by which property owners become eligible to serve on a district board; staff and counsel said state law determines eligibility and that residents become eligible electors once they are registered Colorado voters and either reside in the district or own taxable property there.

Council members reiterated town safeguards that have been added to recent service plans, including the requirement that any proposed district refinancing or new debt be submitted to council for review and comment. "No property in this town under our model service plan is going to pay that debt-service mill levy for longer than 35 years," a staff presenter said.

The presentation noted the Brickyard financing package anticipates multiple revenue sources beyond the district mill levy, including a proposed urban renewal area to capture incremental property taxes and public improvement fees levied by the developer.

Councilmember Bracken moved adoption of the resolution approving the consolidated service plan; the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. The town solicitor recommended approval without modification.

Council members and staff said they would continue public outreach and transparency efforts as the project moves to the special election and subsequent steps.

The approved service plan clears a legal and financial step that the developer will use to issue debt to build infrastructure on the Brickyard site. Further approvals and financing actions will return to council for review as required by the town's service-plan model and state law.