Town Board minutes — March 23, 2026

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Town of Aurora | Town Board Meeting | March 23, 2026

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Aurora (hereinafter the “Town Board”) is
considering the adoption of the Town of Aurora 2025 Comprehensive Plan (hereinafter the
“Plan”) pursuant to New York State Town Law §272-a; and

WHEREAS, the adoption of a comprehensive plan by a town board is classified as a Type I
Action pursuant to Section 617.4(b)(1) of 6 NYCRR §617.4, as it involves the adoption of a
municipality’s land use plan; and

WHEREAS, as a Type I Action, the proposed adoption of the Plan is presumed to be more
likely to require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement than an Unlisted
Action, and requires coordinated review among involved agencies; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board is the only agency with the authority to adopt a comprehensive
plan for the Town of Aurora pursuant to Town Law §272-a, and is therefore the only involved
agency for this action; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board, as the only involved agency, hereby declares itself Lead Agency
for purposes of conducting the environmental review of the proposed action in accordance
with 6 NYCRR Part 617; and

WHEREAS, in compliance with the requirements of SEQRA and 6 NYCRR Part 617, the Town
Board caused to be prepared a Full Environmental Assessment Form (“Full EAF”), Parts 1, 2,
and 3, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed the Full EAF, the Plan and all supporting documents,
and has considered the relevant areas of environmental concern in making its
determination of significance; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has considered the criteria for determining significance set forth in
6 NYCRR §617.7(c); and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has taken a “hard look” at the potential environmental impacts
of the proposed action and has provided a reasoned elaboration of the basis for its
determination, as set forth herein and in Part 3 of the Full EAF; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board finds that the proposed action is a policy-level planning
document that does not, by itself, authorize or approve any specific development,
construction, or physical activity; that each subsequent implementing action will be subject
to its own site-specific SEQRA review; and that the Plan, on balance, is designed to promote
environmental protection, resource conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable growth
patterns.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Aurora, Erie County,
New York, as follows:

Section 1. Lead Agency Designation. The Town Board of the Town of Aurora hereby declares
itself the Lead Agency for purposes of the environmental review of the adoption of the Town
of Aurora 2025 Comprehensive Plan pursuant to SEQRA and 6 NYCRR Part 617.

Section 2. Type I Classification. The Town Board hereby confirms that the proposed action -
adoption of the Town of Aurora 2025 Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Town Law §272-a, is
classified as a Type I Action under 6 NYCRR §617.4(b)(1).

Section 3. Negative Declaration. Based upon its thorough review of the Full Environmental
Assessment Form (Parts 1, 2, and 3), the Plan and all supporting documents, the criteria for
determining significance set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.7(c), and all other information and
analyses relevant to the proposed action, the Town Board hereby determines that the
proposed action will not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts and hereby
issues a Negative Declaration.

Section 4. Basis for Determination. The Town Board’s determination is based upon the
following reasons supporting this determination of non-significance:
  (a) The Plan is a policy and planning document that does not authorize, approve, fund,
  or directly undertake any specific development project, construction activity,
  physical alteration, or land disturbance. No environmental impacts will directly result
  from the adoption of the Plan itself.
  (b) All future actions undertaken to implement the Plan’s recommendations, including
  but not limited to zoning amendments, subdivision approvals, site plan approvals,
  special use permits, and capital projects, will be subject to independent, site-
  specific SEQRA review at the time each action is proposed.
  (c) The Plan is designed to promote the protection and conservation of the Town’s
  natural resources, agricultural lands, open spaces, and wildlife habitats, and
  includes a Climate Vulnerability Assessment recommending adaptation and
  resilience strategies.
  (d) No significant adverse impacts to air quality, water quality, noise, traffic, solid waste,
  vegetation, wildlife, historical or archaeological resources, community character,
  energy use, or human health will result from the adoption of the Plan.

Section 5. Filing and Distribution. The Town Clerk is hereby directed to:
  (a) File the Negative Declaration and the completed Full Environmental Assessment
  Form in accordance with 6 NYCRR §617.12;
  (b) Publish notice of the Negative Declaration in the Environmental Notice Bulletin
  (ENB) maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental
  Conservation, or transmit such notice to NYSDEC for publication;
  (c) Maintain copies of the Full EAF, this Resolution, and all supporting environmental
  documentation in the files of the Town Clerk; and

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