Aurora staff asks council to weigh expanded notice, appeal options for development reviews

Senior planner Sarah While told the Planning & Economic Development Committee that city staff is reviewing Aurora's public-notice and appeal processes and will return with draft code language if the council directs staff to proceed.

Staff laid out the current baseline: mailed notices are sent to adjacent property owners (per county records) and to registered neighborhood organizations within one mile; applicants must mail notices and post signs at least 10 days before hearings; appeals can be filed by adjacent property owners within 10 days of a decision, while council call-ups require a majority vote.

"My name is Sarah While and I'm a senior planner in planning and business development department," While said, framing the work as an attempt to balance transparency with an efficient review process. She noted staff's research on peer cities across the Front Range and asked for early council feedback before drafting code amendments.

The research found wide variation: some cities use fixed buffers ranging from about 200 feet to 1,500 feet; others limit mailed notice for administrative approvals or include tenants in addition to owners. Aurora's current approach (adjacent owners plus registered neighborhood organizations within a one-mile radius) contrasts with cities that use narrower fixed-distance notice.

Council members probed the rationale and costs. "The one mile is just for registered neighborhood organizations," staff explained, noting the practice is meant to capture spread-out neighborhood groups and HOAs. Council Member Bergen asked about postage and staff time; staff said three project coordinators currently split the weekly mailing duties.

Brad Pierce, speaking as an HOA referral contact, urged that staff include the applicable approval criteria with supporting documents so neighborhood commenters can focus on the legal standards rather than unrelated concerns. "I think everyone would agree that it's much better to address comments made by the public early in the process," Pierce said.

Council members expressed mixed views on possible changes: some supported expanding mailed-notice buffers or posting signs earlier in the review to boost early participation; others worried about the cost and administrative burden of mailed notices or about signs remaining in place for projects that never advance.

On appeals, While summarized that Aurora currently directs appeals to city council and limits standing to adjacent property owners, while other jurisdictions sometimes assign appeals to appointed boards such as planning commissions or boards of adjustment. Several council members said they were reluctant to add another formal review layer that might duplicate code-based determinations.

Staff will pursue further research and return with options and cost estimates, including draft code language if the committee wishes. If the council moves forward, While said staff could target adoption of code changes by the end of 2026.

Next step: staff will research alternatives, costs and draft recommended UDO changes and return to committee and, later, to council hearings.