By Kevin Stearns in Timnath — Oct 16, 2025

Timnath Town Council Regular Meeting 10/14/25

by Linda Burrous

This meeting is available on the Town’s YouTube channel:

Key Points

Attempt to develop a gated community in Timnath fails
Citizen’s Academy graduates 18 civic-minded residents
Town Council plus two citizen organizations support the Rec Center
Tolls coming on I-25 sometime in December

Announcements

Mayor Axemacher publicly announced that “Wellington is Better” (at football this year), in response to the loss Timnath suffered at the September 26th game between the two rivals. This announcement was payment of a bet he made on the game.

The Mayor also announced that he has had PULSE broadband installed and that it is twice as fast as the internet from his previous provider.

The Mayor will be at Starbucks, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., on 10/21/25 for Council Chats.

Timnath’s Citizens Academy graduating class of 2025 participants were presented with plaques and celebrated for completing the annual 7-week civic engagement program. This popular program educates residents on the governance of Timnath by interacting with the town’s staff and council members. The next opportunity to join will be July of 2026.

Public Comment

Representatives from community organizations “Together for Timnath” and “Guide our Growth” spoke in support of the proposed Recreation Center and encouraged residents to Vote Yes on ballot item 3A. Ballots need to be in by November 4 at 7:00 p.m. A drop box is located outside the Town Center Building.

John Garvey complimented town staff on retrofitting Main Street streetlights with more amber lights. Garvey and neighbors are impressed with the quality of light and hope the trend continues as replacements are needed.

Laurie Garcia Sander, State Representative for House District 65, attended the meeting to introduce herself and said she is attending a variety of local public meetings in her district to see what issues are being discussed to help her better represent our district.

Councilmember Laake reported that 11 people showed up at her Council Chat to discuss trails, civic engagement and the Main Street lighting.

Councilmember Holt reported that 2 Timnath High School students have qualified for State tournaments in golf.

Holt attended the Farmer’s Market in Timnath for the first time and remarked on how great it was. The “Main Street Board” had a table, informing the public on their work.

Councilmember Jenkins participates in the I-25 coalition that includes several towns along the I-25 corridor from the Wyoming border to Denver. He announced that the Toll Lane will become active sometime in December. In response to the many accidents seen near Mead, which is still under construction, numerous speed cameras are being installed. Also, he said, camera “pucks” will be embedded in the road to track speeding vehicles long before they reach the cameras.

Mayor Pro-tem Wagner is proud of the deliberate and thoughtful way the budget process has worked and encouraged everyone to watch last week’s budget work session here:

Wagner also reminded everyone that Saturday, October 18th is Fall Clean Up Day at Timnath Community Park. Residents can use large trash dumpsters, recycle bins and drop off Goodwill donations from 8-12.

Minutes for the Regular Town Council Meeting of September 23, 2025 were approved.

Regular Business

Council approved a resolution to support Question 3A on the current ballot (5-0).

Under the “Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act” the town would not be allowed to advocate for any ballot issue once the ballot language is set. The exception, used here, is if the council passes a resolution supporting the issue.

The council encouraged residents to go to Timnath.org/reccenter to gain factual information on the proposal to build a rec center.

Council resolved to allow a waiver of setback requirements of sideyards in the proposed Whitewing subdivision at Timnath Manor (No. 63, Series 2025). However, the Resolution to Approve the Whitewing subdivision final plat (No. 64, Series 25) was Indefinitely Postponed later in the meeting.

Several design components were not in accordance with the town’s requirements for development, such as; insufficient access (one road only), lack of connectivity (as a closed gate community), and insufficient open space (20% of development). Though the planned park would be considered open to the community as a whole, it cannot be accessed except by bicycle or on foot because Buss Grove Rd. has no parking.

In addition to these shortcomings council members questioned whether a closed gate community was in accordance with the sentiment and specifics outlined in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan (TCP). That plan regularly refers to Timnath being an open community, connected by trails and roads and will include community parks and open spaces for use by all residents.

Chad Kemper, Senior Planner for the Town, noted that until the 2015 update to the Land Use Code, gated communities were prohibited. Gated communities are not mentioned in the current Land Use Code and he has operated without that guidance.

Scheduling of first reading and setting a public hearing for two Ordinances (No. 18 and No. 20, series 2025) involving Timnath’s Land Use Code was approved and scheduled for October 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. The proposed changes are as follows:

Ordinance No. 18 amends the Land Use Code to clarify and ensure compliance with state legislation and better align with best practices. Specifically,

Building color
Definition and use of compact parking spaces in long-term parking lots
Process and criteria used in Planned Development Overlays (PDO)

Specific changes may be found under Item 7.c, Exhibit A here.

Ordinance No. 20 is intended to clarify enforcement and penalties for Land Use Code Violations. The ordinance will also transfer authority for enforcement from the Town Manager to the Community Development Director/Town Planner.

Specific changes may be found under Item 7.e., Ord 20, here.

First reading and public hearing for an Ordinance (No. 19) to adopt Building Codes promulgated by the International Code Council were scheduled for October 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

The International Codes were updated in 2024 and include the following:

International Building Code
International Residential Code
International Fuel Code
International Plumbing Code
International Mechanical Code
International Existing Building Code
International Property Maintenance Code
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
International Energy Conservation Code

The updated codes include the State’s standards of Electric Ready, Solar Ready and EV Ready.

Ordinance (NO. 16) approving the Timnath Landing Zoning Map Amendment No. 1., was approved (5-0).

Portions of the single residential (R-2), medium density residential (R-3), and commercial/mixed use (CMU) zone districts established in the southeast quadrant of the Timnath Landing Subdivision need to be rezoned to assure all lots are contained within a single zone.

Staff report, maps, neighborhood meeting observation and staff report are detailed under Item 8.a here.

Questions to Consider

Will the Town reinstate the prohibition of gated community developments to the Town’s Land Use Code?
How will Land Use Code infractions be enforced?

Members Present

Robert Axmacher, Mayor; Luke Wagner, Mayor Pro Tem; Councilmember Bill Jenkins, Councilmember Jeramie Holt, Councilmember Lisa Laake

Next Town Council Meeting: October 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

From the website: Timnath is a home-rule municipality and a Council/Town Manager form of government. The Town Council sets the policy and the Town Manager directs the daily operations of the Town. Timnath’s Town Council consists of five members – four Council members that are all at-large, that is they are not elected based on council districts. In addition, the Mayor is also elected at-large. Council terms are four years and staggered.

*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.