The Vista: Welcome Home!
Vision: We envision a community that offers an inspiring lifestyle and quality of life, and is a desirable place in which to live and enjoy the benefits of family, friends and community.
Mission: Our mission is to enhance and preserve the quality of life and sense of community through effective and efficient management of the Association, enforcement of rules and covenants to preserve property values, and support initiatives and capital improvements that benefit the greater good of the community.
History: A new subdivision known as Lone Tree opened in northern Douglas County on Memorial Day weekend 1982. The first resident had moved in and the second and third arrived a few days later. By the fall of 1982 approximately nine residents lived in Lone Tree. During that time the Park Meadows Metropolitan District was formed. An election was held in early fall in which about nine people (several representing developers) cast ballots. The formation of the district passed by one vote, putting the district $8 million in debt (nearly one million per current resident).
As more residents arrived they began asking questions about amenities that were repeatedly advertised but didn't exist. Brochures touted scenic biking and jogging trails and acres and acres of wide-open spaces. The only visible trail started behind the Lone Tree Information Center (where the Lone Tree Civic Center is now located) and stopped just before reaching Sweetwater Road, near the intersection of Sweetwater Rd and Lodgepole Trail. That was the extent of the trail system. There were no parks and there were no plans to provide any within Lone Tree.
Recognizing that parks were an important part of a community the association pleaded with the developer to provide parks, trails and open space as promised. Finally, after a meeting with the developer, the association received a letter from the developer telling them that if they promised to never oppose him before the county again, he would build a park just before he left Lone Tree. Instead, representatives of the association appeared at the next Lone Tree public hearing in Castle Rock with the developer’s offer in hand, along with brochures from the Lone Tree Information Center, advertising acres and acres of wide open spaces and scenic biking and jogging trails winding throughout the development of Lone Tree. They made sure the Douglas County Commissioners understood that Lone Tree residents purchased their homes based on these advertised incentives that were not being realized.
Mission: Our mission is to enhance and preserve the quality of life and sense of community through effective and efficient management of the Association, enforcement of rules and covenants to preserve property values, and support initiatives and capital improvements that benefit the greater good of the community.
History: A new subdivision known as Lone Tree opened in northern Douglas County on Memorial Day weekend 1982. The first resident had moved in and the second and third arrived a few days later. By the fall of 1982 approximately nine residents lived in Lone Tree. During that time the Park Meadows Metropolitan District was formed. An election was held in early fall in which about nine people (several representing developers) cast ballots. The formation of the district passed by one vote, putting the district $8 million in debt (nearly one million per current resident).
As more residents arrived they began asking questions about amenities that were repeatedly advertised but didn't exist. Brochures touted scenic biking and jogging trails and acres and acres of wide-open spaces. The only visible trail started behind the Lone Tree Information Center (where the Lone Tree Civic Center is now located) and stopped just before reaching Sweetwater Road, near the intersection of Sweetwater Rd and Lodgepole Trail. That was the extent of the trail system. There were no parks and there were no plans to provide any within Lone Tree.
Recognizing that parks were an important part of a community the association pleaded with the developer to provide parks, trails and open space as promised. Finally, after a meeting with the developer, the association received a letter from the developer telling them that if they promised to never oppose him before the county again, he would build a park just before he left Lone Tree. Instead, representatives of the association appeared at the next Lone Tree public hearing in Castle Rock with the developer’s offer in hand, along with brochures from the Lone Tree Information Center, advertising acres and acres of wide open spaces and scenic biking and jogging trails winding throughout the development of Lone Tree. They made sure the Douglas County Commissioners understood that Lone Tree residents purchased their homes based on these advertised incentives that were not being realized.
Douglas County stopped all development in Lone Tree until the developer found a way to provide what had been promised to the residents of Lone Tree. Unfortunately, The Charter and The Vista were too far along in the development process and did not have trails included in their neighborhoods. Instead the developer constructed the trail along the golf course running along Lone Tree Parkway. This associated negotiated trails through the Cypress Green neighborhood from Sunningdale to Lincoln Ave and another trail running through Terra Ridge, which included a small pocket park. We asked that these be located within the neighborhood for ease of accessibility for all those residents. All of this eventually became a reality thanks to the assistance of South Suburban Parks & Recreation District. They were very supportive of our efforts, and without their cooperation, we would not have been able to accomplish the open space that we have today. South Suburban was also responsible for obtaining and funding the trail, which runs north from Sweetwater Park to County Line Road. This association also drew up plans that suggested a trail under the power lines to the west as well as between Lone Tree and Acres Green. After many years these too became a reality.
Three years later there was still no park, and the homeowners’ association continued its complaints to Douglas County Commissioners. Finally a public hearing was called to begin the process of calling the Letter of Credit. It was only at that time that the developer seriously began the process of building Sweetwater Park. Within the year the park was completed, four years later than anticipated, and it is now a well-used park by many Lone Tree and Acres Green residents. Certainly it was a time consuming process for the association but ultimately worth the effort. Many mistakenly believe that Sweetwater Park is in the City of Lone Tree. That property was given by the Acres Green developer to the school district for a possible school site. When it wasn't needed we requested the school district to release it and allow it to be developed into a park.*
In 2005, the Charter and the Vista neighborhoods mutually decided to divide up the association and each neighborhood form their own HOA. This was due in large part to the very different sizes of each neighborhood. The Vista has only 58 homes and The Charter is much larger. The board members representing the Vista at that time felt that we could better serve our homeowners if we could focus just on our community. Our homeowners in the Vista are very active in the city. We have had several former city council members who resided in the Vista as well as many individuals who have volunteered their time on the various committees and commissions at the city level requiring resident input.
We are proud of our little neighborhood and love being in the City of Lone Tree.
Three years later there was still no park, and the homeowners’ association continued its complaints to Douglas County Commissioners. Finally a public hearing was called to begin the process of calling the Letter of Credit. It was only at that time that the developer seriously began the process of building Sweetwater Park. Within the year the park was completed, four years later than anticipated, and it is now a well-used park by many Lone Tree and Acres Green residents. Certainly it was a time consuming process for the association but ultimately worth the effort. Many mistakenly believe that Sweetwater Park is in the City of Lone Tree. That property was given by the Acres Green developer to the school district for a possible school site. When it wasn't needed we requested the school district to release it and allow it to be developed into a park.*
In 2005, the Charter and the Vista neighborhoods mutually decided to divide up the association and each neighborhood form their own HOA. This was due in large part to the very different sizes of each neighborhood. The Vista has only 58 homes and The Charter is much larger. The board members representing the Vista at that time felt that we could better serve our homeowners if we could focus just on our community. Our homeowners in the Vista are very active in the city. We have had several former city council members who resided in the Vista as well as many individuals who have volunteered their time on the various committees and commissions at the city level requiring resident input.
We are proud of our little neighborhood and love being in the City of Lone Tree.
* Excerpts used with permission from The Charter HOA (http://thecharterhoa.com/)