Colorado Springs City Councilman Keith King’s change of heart and Councilman Tom Strand’s return to town combined Monday to ensure reconsideration of a new metro district the council nixed last month.

The district for Tuscan Foothills Village would finance public improvements for 2.3 acres of apartments and 14.82 acres of townhomes planned along the west side of Centennial Boulevard south of Chuckwagon Road.

The district would levy 30 mills of property tax to pay for infrastructure, plus 10 mills for operations and maintenance.

The 5-4 vote Monday only ensures reconsideration, as supported by King, Strand, Council President Merv Bennett, Council President Pro Tem Jill Gaebler and Councilman Larry Bagley. Opposed are Councilwoman Helen Collins and Councilmen Don Knight, Bill Murray and Andres “Andy” Pico.

Murray will miss the Sept. 26 hearing and Sept. 27 vote on the district.

In August, Collins said the city has more than 80 special districts. “I vote no on all of them. To me, you’re double-taxing the people who live there.”

Knight said the developer only has to tap into existing utilities and build a street to Centennial, so a metro district shouldn’t be needed.

But Gaebler called Tuscan Foothills Village “a classic infill project,” which the city is trying to encourage to deter more costly sprawl.

Meanwhile, other developers delayed consideration of their district proposals in light of the obvious council distaste in August. Theirs, too, would levy 30 mills, plus 10 mills for operations. The council will vote Oct 11 on:

– The Mountain Valley district, to support 141 homes to be erected on about 37 acres on the east side of Marksheffel Road south of Dublin Boulevard.

– The Silver Hawk district, to serve 70 homes on about 14.75 acres west of Powers Boulevard and south of the Hancock Expressway.