COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DRAFT (full text)

Town of Aurora 2025 Comprehensive Plan

2 Town of Aurora Acknowledgments The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and Town staff would like to thank all of the individuals and organizations who provided their input on the Aurora Comprehensive Plan Update. We greatly appreciate everyone who participated in the planning process with their comments and ideas for the Town’s future. Steering Committee Raymond Wrazen – Town Board Member/Steering Committee Chair Charles Snyder – Town Supervisor Dan Castle – Erie County Department of Environment and Planning Commissioner Susan Russell – Town Climate Smart Committee Member Dale Morris – Town Open Space Committee Member Bob Morgan – JRS Morgan Realty Angela Griffis – Town Planning Board Member Nancy Burkhardt - Town Zoning Board of Appeals Member This document was prepared with funding provided by the Erie County Municipal Planning Grant Program. This plan was prepared with assistance from LaBella Associates. Aurora Municipal Building I 575 Oakwood Ave, East Aurora, NY, 14052 I (716)-652-3280

Comprehensive Plan 3 Contents Acknowledgments.......................................................................................2 Introduction.....................................................................................................4 Community Profile........................................................................................6 Town History & Introduction........................................................................................................6 Regional Context...............................................................................................................................7 Review of Past Planning, Policy Actions & Initiatives.......................................................8 Demographics & Trends..............................................................................................................12 Land Use & Zoning.........................................................................................................................22 Housing & Neighborhoods.........................................................................................................30 Public & Municipal Services......................................................................................................38 Transportation Systems...............................................................................................................41 Recreational, Historical & Cultural Resources..................................................................47 Agricultural & Natural Resources...........................................................................................57 Community Engagement Process...................................................... 67 Policy Framework........................................................................................71 Action Plan.................................................................................................... 85 Appendices................................................................................................. 105 A: Climate Vulnerability Assessment..................................................................................106 B: Public Survey Summary Report........................................................................................131 C: Stakeholder Interview Summary Report......................................................................144

4 Town of Aurora Introduction What is a Comprehensive Plan & Why Do We Plan? A Comprehensive Plan is an official, long-range blueprint for a municipality’s future, created by its local government. It sets forth the community’s vision for growth and development, addressing land use, housing needs, infrastructure improvements, neighborhood revitalization, transportation, farmland preservation, climate resiliency, and natural resource protection. A well- crafted plan includes topical chapters, supporting maps and graphics, a vision statement, goals and objectives, findings and recommendations, and an implementation strategy that together provides a clear and practical guide for decision-making. While the Town of Aurora underwent a regional comprehensive plan with several adjacent communities in the early 2000s and has used that plan to help guide land use decisions, that plan was never formally adopted. Aurora continues to rely on zoning regulations first implemented decades ago, with incremental updates in the 2010s and recent adjustments to protect residential and commercial character. Recognizing the limitations of a piecemeal approach, the Town Board committed to creating a formal plan that provides a cohesive framework that will help guide growth and preservation. Developed through a robust community engagement process, the 2025 Comprehensive Plan reflects residents’ priorities of preventing sprawl, supporting small businesses, preserving open space and farmland, maintaining affordability, and preparing for future challenges such as infrastructure needs and climate change. By establishing a shared vision and clear strategies, the plan provides Aurora with the framework to proactively guide development, preserve its unique character, and ensure a vibrant, resilient future for the next 10 to 20 years. How to Use This Plan Comprehensive plans are intended to remain flexible and representative of the community’s changing needs, conditions, and emerging trends. The community and its leaders should be consistently reviewing the Plan’s vision, goals, and recommendations when making decisions on major changes to Aurora. However, the community should also be reviewing and updating the plan as necessary, so it remains consistent with the changes occurring in the community. This plan should be utilized to evaluate the merit of capital projects, development proposals, and regulatory changes such as updates to the zoning code. While some proposed projects and/or initiatives may align with the goals and objectives set forth in the plan, others may not and will require additional scrutiny. The guiding vision statement, goals, and recommendations in this plan do not cover every possible opportunity, issue, or decision the Town may have to make, but are meant as tools that will assist with the local decision-making process and are intended to serve as the foundation for the Town of Aurora. 1. Aurora’s Community Profile This section provides a snapshot of Aurora’s current conditions—covering demographics, housing, land use, natural resources, the economy, and more—to establish a clear baseline for planning. The Town should use the information included in this section as both a foundation for decision-making and a benchmark to track progress and adapt strategies over time.

Comprehensive Plan 5 2. Community Engagement Process This section documents how residents’ voices shaped the plan through surveys, workshops, and other outreach, ensuring that the Vision, Goals, and Recommendations reflect community priorities. By grounding the plan in public input, recommendations made in the plan are more likely to gain support and succeed in guiding Aurora’s future. The Town should refer back to this section when seeking to better understand the community’s perspective on a given issue, opportunity, or potential project. 3. Policy Framework This section outlines the plan’s Vision, Goals, and Recommendations, establishing a clear framework to guide land use, development, infrastructure, and preservation decisions. The Town should use it as the roadmap for aligning policies, zoning updates, and investments with the community’s long-term priorities. 4. Action Plan This section details how the Town will put the plan’s recommendations into action by identifying time frames, responsibilities, and potential funding sources. It should be used as a working guide to prioritize investments, track progress, and ensure the plan remains a practical tool for shaping Aurora’s future.

6 Town of Aurora Community Profile The following chapter summarizes the existing conditions and current trends in the Town of Aurora. This inventory and analysis will provide the community with baseline data on important demographics, economic trends, land uses, housing, natural resources, and much more in and around the Town. The knowledge gained from this community profile helped define the goals and informed the recommendations needed to meet the community’s vision. This information will also serve as a benchmark that residents can use to measure progress and analyze changes in their community over time. TOWN HISTORY & as Underground Railroad stations. West Falls, INTRODUCTION originally called Crockershire, and later Florence, was founded in 1849 with the establishment of a A Brief History of Aurora post office. The hamlet, named after waterfalls on Cazenovia Creek, was a vital stop on the plank road The history of the Town of Aurora extends back trade route connecting Springville and Buffalo. It thousands of years, well before the arrival of the once hosted a passenger and freight station, four Seneca Nation. One of the Town’s most significant hotels, general stores, and taverns. Blakeley and prehistoric sites is the Sinking Ponds Wildlife South Wales, though smaller, contributed to the Sanctuary, located within the Village of East Town’s rural economy and community life, the latter Aurora. Named for the 26 sunken footbridges of which is home to the Grow School – a renowned that connected Elma to Aurora, the sanctuary college prep boarding school for students with was inhabited during the Archaic era by the language-based learning disabilities. Meadowwood people. Archaeological excavations in the 1960s and 2010s uncovered tools, bowls, and By the late 19th century, Aurora was known as the settlement foundations dating back to 4,000–1,000 “horse racing capital of the world” due to breeding BCE. programs at Hamlin and Jewett Farms. The Jewett Stock Farm featured the world’s only mile-long The Town of Aurora was officially established in covered racetrack until its dismantling in 1917. 1818 after separating from the Town of Willink, Today, Strawberry Banks Farm continues the Town’s though Revolutionary War veteran Joel Adams had equestrian tradition. already settled there in 1804. The Town includes five hamlets—Jewettville, Griffins Mills, West Falls, Despite its rural nature, Aurora has a rich legacy. Blakeley, and South Wales—along with the Village It contains both eligible historic districts and of East Aurora. These communities developed along sites, along with several National Register-listed both branches of the Cazenovia Creek, utilizing structures in the Village, including the Roycroft its hydropower for mills that supported economic Campus, a landmark of the Arts and Crafts growth. Jewettville’s brickyards even supplied movement. As Aurora looks to the future, it can materials for Buffalo’s streets until the last kilns were leverage its history for growth. Revitalizing its removed in 1977. hamlets can support small businesses, tourism, and residents’ daily needs; Griffins Mills’ social justice The Hamlet of Griffins Mills played a key role in legacy can inspire community engagement; and the area’s abolitionist movement, with Quakers West Falls’ trade history highlights the value of from Orchard Park, Mennonites, and other activists strong infrastructure. By preserving its heritage using the Griffins Mills Presbyterian Church (built while fostering sustainable growth, Aurora can in 1812) as a meeting place and nearby homes balance progress with its deep-rooted past, ensuring a vibrant and resilient future.

Comprehensive Plan 7 Regional Context The Town of Aurora is in the Western New York (WNY) region, centrally located within Erie County, and the broader Buffalo-Niagara Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). While the Town is characterized by its rural charm and close-knit community, it also benefits from convenient access to major regional amenities and employment centers. A defining feature of Aurora is the Village of East Aurora, which serves as both the cultural and economic hub of the Town. The Village is renowned for its historical significance as the cornerstone of the American Arts and Crafts movement, particularly through the Roycroft Campus, which continues to attract visitors and artisans from across the region. Aurora is well-connected through several key transportation corridors, including U.S. Route 20A, New York State Route 240, and the Route 400 expressway. These thoroughfares facilitate easy travel to the City of Buffalo and other neighboring communities, making Aurora an attractive residential option for commuters. The Town also benefits from its proximity to regional transportation hubs such as the Buffalo- Niagara International Airport and the Buffalo Exchange Street & Depew Amtrak Stations, further enhancing connectivity to both national and international destinations. Aurora’s strategic location within the Buffalo- Niagara MSA makes it an ideal bedroom community for those who work in larger municipalities but seek a quieter, more rural environment. The Town offers a balance between accessibility and tranquility, providing residents with a high quality of life while maintaining strong ties to the economic and cultural opportunities of the greater Buffalo region.

8 Town of Aurora REVIEW OF PAST PLANNING, POLICY 3. Preserve and promote recreational opportunities ACTIONS & INITIATIVES • Improve and maintain existing recreational Regional Comprehensive Plan Towns of Aurora, facilities and increase opportunities for Elma, Holland, and Wales and the Village of East diverse recreational activity in the Town. Aurora • Promote bike paths and interconnections between recreational facilities within the The Town of Aurora prepared its first Town and the region. comprehensive plan in 1981 and last completed a • Provide increased and easily accessible comprehensive plan in 2004 as part of the Regional recreational opportunities to address the Comprehensive Plan for the Towns of Aurora, Elma, needs of the Town’s youth. Holland, and Wales and the Village of East Aurora. The plan was funded by Erie County as part of a 4. Provide for economic development larger program seeking to encourage communities to work in a regional and cooperative manner • Designate sufficient areas to allow for a to capitalize on opportunities and jointly resolve measured amount of commercial and common issues. Although never officially adopted, industrial growth, at an appropriate size the plan has provided the Town with an extensive and scale, that is compatible with the inventory of existing conditions in the town along character of the surrounding community. with various recommendations that have helped • Effectively plan for new commercial guide the Town with their planning, policy actions, business in a manner that promotes and initiatives since. In the plan, six overarching new business but manages its growth to goals and their preceding strategies were identified prevent sprawl. for the Town of Aurora. Some key strategies • Provide for a diverse economy that offers for each of the goals from this previous plan to opportunities to workers of all skills. consider today include: • Encourage and promote opportunities for start-up businesses and local 1. Preserve community character entrepreneurial efforts. • Preserve the rural character of the 5. Protect environmental resources Town through proper planning and development. • Preserve natural habitat areas to maintain • Preserve and enhance existing cultural biological diversity and properly manage resources, including the library facilities. wildlife populations. • Preserve historic resources and promote • Protect groundwater aquifers, surface architectural development styles waters, and watershed lands such as consistent with the character of these wetlands and significant upland areas that resources and the area. recharge potable water sources. • Protect groundwater resources from the 2. Properly manage future growth and impacts of failing septic systems. development • Preserve and protect important scenic viewsheds and resources. • Encourage the use of alternative • Encourage the use of and provide development techniques that manage the incentives for alternative energy sources density and adverse impacts of residential to conserve natural resources. development, and control sprawl. • Provide adequate and accessible 6. Maintain and enhance the existing locations for affordable housing within the transportation system overall pattern of development, especially for the elderly. • Provide for a more pedestrian friendly • Properly plan development to preserve transportation system. areas identified as important open space, • Promote safe roads for automobile stream corridors, wildlife habitat and travel with pathways to effectively corridors, and farmland. accommodate bicycles, horses and • Allow for the provision of adequate pedestrians. infrastructure that addresses public needs • Increase land use density around without encouraging excessive growth. shopping and activity centers to promote • Promote the development of a diversity of pedestrian activity and alleviate traffic housing alternatives to accommodate all congestion. age groups and incomes.

Comprehensive Plan 9 Other Planning Initiatives Since the Town’s participation in the 2004 Regional Plan, several other planning projects and initiatives have taken place at the local, county, and regional level. These previous plans were taken into consideration and helped inform the development of this comprehensive plan update. 2010 Town of Aurora Open Space Plan In 2007, the Aurora Town Board formed the Aurora Open Space Committee with the mission of defining, inventorying, and evaluating the Town’s priority open space resources. With the goal of preserving an additional 1,500 acres of open space land in the Town from development, the committee published the Town of Aurora Open Space Plan in 2010. Components of the Open Space Plan included informing the public about the importance of open space and how it can be preserved, identifying parcels with high open space value, developing a program for conservation measures, and identifying sources of funding for preservation. Overall, the plan identified nine distinct groupings of parcels covering approximately 4,000 acres of land for conservation. 2019 Erie County Parks Master Plan Update First completed in 2003, the Erie County Parks Master Plan 2019 update sought to identify ways to preserve, enhance, and improve the nearly 10,000-acre park system the County manages. The Town of Aurora is home to one of the County’s “heritage parks’, the 457-acre multi-purpose Emery Park. The plan called out three overarching park priorities: (1) preserve and enhance heritage areas and special park features, (2) reduce lawn mowing, and (3) relocate the disc golf holes to prevent damage to natural features. To accomplish these three priorities, the plan recommends 91 actions items for Emery Park. 2021 Southern Tier Trail Feasibility Study In 2021, several trail and mobility advocacy groups partnered together to study the feasibility of constructing the 80-mile Southern Tier Trail which would connect residents across 20 cities, towns, and villages throughout Erie and Cattaraugus County together, providing safe and convenient access to recreational opportunities. The process included an inventory of existing conditions, community engagement to gather input on how the trail would be best used, and ultimately a list of 23 project recommendations which would collectively see the full 80-mile trail completed. Two project recommendations were identified in the Town of Aurora, the West Falls Railroad Corridor and the West Falls to Colden Railroad Corridor. The West Falls Railroad Corridor would span 3.1 miles connecting the Hamlet of West Falls northward to the already active Orchard Park Corridor. The West Falls to Colden Corridor would span 4 miles and would connect the Hamlet of West Falls southward to the Town of Colden.

10 Town of Aurora 2022 Erie County Multi Hazard Mitigation Plan – Town of Aurora An update to the County’s original 2015 plan, the focus of the plan is to identify actions that would help reduce long- term risks caused by hazards or disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, or wildfires. Each participating jurisdiction was provided with a profile overviewing their community and the risks they face, along with a list of recommended actions they can take to mitigate those risks. Overall, two hazards were identified as high risk for Aurora, flooding and utility failure. To address these risks and others, four recommended actions were provided for the Town to undertake: 1. Conduct a vulnerability assessment for each school to determined improvements needed to mitigate future hazards. 2. Conduct a study to determine where a potable water facility could be built in the Town. 3. Install two generators at each emergency facility in the Town. 4. Work with the Count to conduct outreach to flood-prone properties in the Town. 2023 Town of Aurora Complete Streets Policy Adopted in 2023, the objective of the policy is for the Town to ensure they are creating safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation networks that accommodate the needs of all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, farmers and other businesses. Inspired by New York State’s 2011 Complete Streets Act which requires all federal and state funded transportation projects to design roadways for all users; the Town’s policy also requires locally funded projects to do the same. State of the Region: Western New York Strategic Plan There are ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) across New York State, each designed to empower local officials to address the most pertinent needs in their communities. The Town of Aurora falls within the Western New York (WNY) region, regional priorities identified in the WNY that should be considered with the growth of Aurora into the future include: (1) Catalyze Private Investment in Our

Comprehensive Plan 11 Walkable Commercial Corridors, (2) Support Revitalization of Community Anchors, Waterfront Areas, and Tourism Assets, (3) Invest in Infrastructure and Resources That Connect Our Region, and (4) Foster and Promote a Regional Culture of Entrepreneurship. 2025 New York Forward – West Fall Falls Strategic Investment Plan In 2024, the Town of Aurora was awarded, on behalf of the Hamlet of West Falls, one of the two NY Forward (NYF) program grant awards for the Western New York REDC region. The $4.5 million NYF program was created with the intent of invigorating and enlivening downtown areas in New York’s smaller and rural communities by funding public and private sector development and improvement projects. In 2025, New York State awarded seven projects in West Falls with portions of the $4.5 million award, including: • Expand Programming Capacity of the West Falls Center for the Arts ($1,245,000) • Expand Capacity at the Blueberry Treehouse Farm ($784,000) • Transform Veterans Park, West Falls-Colden Library and West Falls Community Playground into Local Destinations ($758,000) • Reinvent the West Falls Depot ($725,000) • Building Access to West Falls by Converting a Rail Corridor into a Multi-Use Trail ($420,000) • Preserve the Dog Bar ($392,000) • Celebrate Local Flavor at the Florence Market ($176,000) Erie County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Plan Update The 2025 Erie County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, an update to the 2012 plan, sets new priorities and goals for land use in Erie County and its agricultural industry. Emphasized in the plan are goals to protect and preserve existing farms and farmland through a variety of means, enable and support new farm and farm-related businesses, protecting the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, improving the public’s awareness of agriculture, and developing the agricultural economy at large. Based on the Erie County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, focus areas for the Town of Aurora include: • Protecting and preserving high-value agricultural land, particularly by encouraging or allowing solar farms on non-agricultural parcels and by providing succession planning resources to existing farmers. • Encourage agricultural parcel owners to participate in the Agricultural District program. • Review zoning codes and building codes to address farm friendliness, such as policies regarding standard farm practices, on-farm businesses, additional (non-farm) businesses on agricultural parcels, etc.

12 Town of Aurora Key Demographics & Trends The following Section is an overview of demographic trends in the Town of Aurora. To assist in the evaluation and the understanding of current issues, comparisons are made to the Towns of Orchard Park and Concord, as well as the entirety of Erie County. Orchard Park was selected as a comparison community as it is a neighboring Southtown community to Aurora which also includes a village. However, alternative to Aurora, Orchard Park has embraced sewer expansions and strip commercial development. The Town of Orchard Park experienced much of their population growth during the second half of the 20th century as many households at the time left the City Buffalo, following the national trend of suburbanization. The Town of Concord was also selected as a comparison community as it is also an Erie County Southtown with a village within it; however, its rate of population growth and rural/agricultural setting more closely align with the Town of Aurora. Throughout this section, Community, County, and State data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census, American Community Survey (ACS), IMPLAN, Envision Tomorrow, data. NYSED, NYSDOL, and Cornell’s Program on Applied Demographics (PAD); In some instances, there are slight discrepancies in dataset years between areas of investigation. The closest years are provided for comparison purposes. While conclusions drawn from this dataset should take into consideration data collection methods, these data sources are the most current and accurate statistics available.

Comprehensive Plan 13 Population Trends As of 2020, the estimated population for the Town of Aurora was 13,934, this includes the Village of East Fig. 1: Town of Aurora Population Trends Aurora (5,998). Historically, from 1900 to 1970, the Town experienced an increase of 10% or more every decade with the greatest shift in population occurring from 1950 (9,271) to 1960 (12,888). During this time the Town saw a 39% population increase. Since 2000, the population of the Town has remained essentially the same. So, while the Town is certainly not growing like it was throughout the 20th century, it is not experiencing a decline in its overall population either. Across Erie County, the population was 954,236 as of 2020 and experienced a population increase of 0.4% since 2000. During this time, the Town of Concord saw a -2.4% decline while the Town of Orchard Park saw a 7.4% increase. Projecting out to 2040, the County is expected to see a decline of 0.9%. Similar trends are expected for Aurora (-1.0%) and Orchard Park (-1.2%) while Concord is expected to see an increase (+2.4%). % Change ‘00- Projected % Projected Population Location 2000 2010 2020 ’20 Change ‘20-’40 2040 Town of Aurora 13,996 13,782 13,943 -0.6% -1.0% 13,810 Town of Concord 8,518 8,494 8,316 -2.4% 2.4% 8,513 Town of Orchard 27,637 29,054 29,686 7.4% -1.2% 29,323 Park Erie County 950,265 919,040 954,236 0.4% -0.9% 945,891 Age Trends Under 18/% Under 65/% Median Location While the population size of Aurora is not Pop. Pop. Age changing significantly, its median age is. As of Town of 2022, the median age of an Aurora resident is 50.3, 2,911/21% 3,190/23% 50.3 Aurora an increase of 22% since 2000. Comparatively, the median age across Erie County is 40 while the Town of 5,978/20.1% 7,199/24.3% 47.2 Concord median ages for the Towns of Orchard Park and Concord are 47.2 and 46.9 respectively. Town of 1,718/20.7% 1,785/21.5% 46.9 Orchard Park The 45-64 age group is the largest age group in Aurora, making up 33.8% of the total population. Erie County 189,431/19.9% 188,291/19.7% 40.0 However, following the Town’s median age trends, the over 65 age group is expected to become the largest age group by 2028 (27.8%). By 2028, Fig. 2: Town of Aurora Age Trends the over 65 age group is expected to see a 55.3% increase in their population compared to 2010 proportions. The 20-34 age group is expected to see a 33.8% increase during this time too; however, it will only represent 14.6% of the total population. Aurora’s median age is rising faster than the rest of the County’s, yet the comparison communities (Orchard Park & Concord) have similar shares of residents under 18 and over 65. Taken altogether, Aurora is an aging community, albeit not significantly more than other southtown communities in Erie County. Moving forward, the Town should plan to accommodate its aging population as the 65+ age group will be the dominant population by 2028. The Town must also plan to welcome new young families to help offset the population’s aging.

14 Town of Aurora Household Composition There are an estimated 5,508 households in the Town of Aurora, meaning the number of households have remained effectively the same since 2010 (5,504). While the number of households has remained the same, the average size of both owner- and renter-occupied Fig. 3: Town of households has decreased. Aurora Household The household composition of Aurora differs when Trends compared to the rest of Erie County. While married- couple households are the dominate household type throughout all comparison communities, the percentage of married-couple households in Aurora is much higher than all other communities. Conversely, the proportion of single-parent households in Aurora is also significantly greater than the proportion in Concord and Orchard Park. Coupled with the fact that only 26.3% of households in Aurora have a child under 18, it suggests that a significant number of married-couple households are empty-nesters. As such, there is likely demand for day cares and other child-care related services to assist the 733 single-parent households in the Town. Town of Orchard Household Type Town of Aurora Town of Concord Erie County Park Married-Couple 3,322 60.3% 6,958 55.0% 2,041 55.3% 165,430 40.3% Single-Parent 733 13.3% 1,200 9.5% 222 6.0% 70,141 17.1% Non-Family 143 2.6% 829 6.5% 173 4.7% 31,694 7.7% Household Single Household 1,310 23.8% 3,670 29.0% 1,254 34.0% 143,175 34.9% TOTAL 5,508 100% 12,657 100% 3,690 55.3% 410,440 100% Households with 1,451 26.3% 3,082 24.4% 938 25.4% 101,900 24.8% Children Under 18 Education & Race Nearly 50% of Aurora residents over the age of 18 have a bachelor’s or advanced degree, compared to just 35.8% of the entire Erie Fig. 4: Town of Aurora Education Trends County population. Furthermore, just 3.6% of adult Aurorans have not completed high school. Compared to 7.4% of residents across all of Erie County. Examining school enrollments, students in the Town of Aurora area primarily attend school at the East Aurora Union Free School District (EAUFSD). The EAUFSD covers the entirety of East Aurora, the majority of Aurora, and portions of the Towns of Colden and Elma. Other portions of the Town of Aurora fall within the Iroquois, Holland, Orchard Park, and Springville-Griffith School Districts. As of the 2024 school year, there are 1,669 students across three schools in the East Aurora School District. Since the 2013 school year, the district’s overall student population has decreased by 8.2% (1,818 in 2013). While

Comprehensive Plan 15 year over year student populations fluctuated between -6.7% and +6.9%, the average change in the student population each year for the last decade was -0.7%. The total number of kindergarten students in the district is 11.9% larger today than it was 10 years ago, however, the total number of 6th - 8th and Fig. 5: East Aurora School District Enrollment Rates 9th – 12th graders have both decreased by more than 10%. The EAUFSD’s latest annual student enrollment report projects a reversal of the school district’s declining population trends with an increased student enrollment of 1,698 by the 2027/2028 school year. The report anticipates kindergarten enrollment to decline by 4.9% and 9th-12th grade enrollment to decline by 8.8% by 2027/2028. However, 6th-8th grade enrollment and 1st-5th grade enrollment are projected to increase by 18.3% and 2.5% respectively, over the same period. In addition to the school district, there are six private schools in the Village of East Aurora and Town of Aurora. These include The Aurora Waldorf School, The Grow School, and the Guiding Earth Montessori School, East Aurora Montessori School, Mandala School, and the Immaculate Conception School. None of these private schools offer full K-12 education and instead specialize in specific student populations or methods of education. East Aurora Aurora Guiding Earth East Aurora Immaculate The Grow Mandala Grade School Waldorf Montessori Montessori Conception School School District School School School School Pre-K N/A N/A 19 19.7% 0 0% 7 28% 28 87.5% N/A N/A 0 0% K 116 6.1% 23 45.3% 0 0% 4 16% 4 12.5% 5 25% 11 7.5% 1-5 613 37.9% 53 18.8% 0 0% 14 56% N/A N/A 11 55% 80 55.2% 6-8 390 23.6% 22 0% 19 17.6% 0 0% N/A N/A 4 20% 54 37.3% 9-12 529 32.4% 0 16.2% 89 82.4% 0 0% N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0% TOTAL 1,648 117 108 25 32 20 145 The Town of Aurora lacks diversity, especially Race Town of Aurora Erie County when compared to the rest of Erie County. According to the 2020 Decennial Census, 95.2% White 13,274 95.2% 693,563 72.7% of the Town of Aurora identify as White. 3.1% identify as two or more races, and just 1.7% of Black 41 0.3% 134,795 14.1% the population collectively identify as Black (0.3%), American Indian (0.3%), Asian (0.6%), American 35 0.3% 5,594 0.6% Indian Pacific Islander (0.01%), or Other (0.5%). Comparatively, across Erie County, 72.7% of Asian 82 0.6% 46,384 4.9% the population identifies as White. Three other Pacific race groups have populations at or above 5%, Islander 1 0.01% 280 0.03% including Black (14.1%), Asian (4.9%), and two or more races (5.4%). The County’s racial diversity Two+ Races 434 3.1% 51,816 5.4% is likely due to the more urbanized areas such as the City of Buffalo and Lackawanna, as well Other 76 0.5% 21,804 2.3% suburban areas like Cheektowaga and Amherst.

16 Town of Aurora $ % 2000 2010 Change Location Change Household Income & Employment (IA) (IA) ‘00-’22 ‘00-’22 The median household income (MHI) for the (IA) Town of Aurora as of 2022 when adjusting Town of Aurora $63,550 $66,009 $29,987 47.2% for inflation is $93,537. When adjusting for inflation, the Town of Aurora has seen a Town of $59,762 $75,158 $40,813 68.3% Orchard Park 47.2% increase in their median household income (MHI) since 2000. During this time, Town of $40,891 $46,977 $18,469 45.2% the Town of Concord saw a similar 45.2% Concord increase in their MHI. However, Concord still Erie County $38,567 $46,816 $31,477 81.6% lags Aurora’s MHI by more than $30,000. Erie County saw an 81.6% increase in their MHI but still lags Aurora by more than $20,000. Fig. 6. Town of Aurora Median Household Income Bracket Trends Despite outpacing Erie County’s MHI, Aurora still lags Orchard Park’s MHI by over $7,000. Examining Aurora’s Median Household Income by income brackets, the greatest change in the number of households for each bracket was observed in the > $200K income bracket. In 2010, 6.2% of households in Aurora were making $200,000 or more. As of 2022, 17.9% of all households make over $200,o0o. Despite significant shifts in this income bracket, most households in Aurora still make between $50K-$99K (31.6%). 2010 2022 % Industry Employment Trends Change # % # % Employment Sectors Education, Health, & As of 2022, there are 6,935 employed 1,795 26.4% 2,267 32.6% 26.3% Social Services residents in the Town of Aurora. The major Manufacturing 1,138 16.7% 879 12.6% -22.8% employment sectors for residents include Education, Health & Social Services (32.6%), Professional & 807 11.9% 682 9.8% -15.5% Manufacturing (12.6%), Professional & Administrative Administrative (9.8%), Arts, Entrainment & Food Arts, Entertainment, Services (9.24%), and Construction (8.9%). 442 6.5% 641 9.2% 45% and Food Services Construction 426 6.3% 618 8.9% 45.1% Retail Trade 478 7% 558 8% 16.7% Finance, Insurance, 390 5.7% 434 6.2% 11.3% and Real Estate Public Administration 181 2.7% 323 4.6% 78.5% Other 418 6.2% 217 3.1% -48.15 Wholesale Trade 204 3% 116 1.6% -43.1% Information 96 1.4% 104 1.5% 8.3% Transportation and 345 5.1% 93 1.3% -43.1% Warehousing Agriculture 76 1.1% 3 0.04% -96.1% TOTAL 6,769 100% 6,935 100% 2.0%

Comprehensive Plan 17 2010 2022 Industry Median Median % Industry Wages Wage Wage Change The median yearly wage by industry in the Town (IA) (IA) of Aurora varies widely, ranging from $13,658 for Agriculture $48,905 N/A N/A accommodation & food service jobs to $132,139 for wholesale trade jobs. When adjusting for Construction $73,824 $79,717 8.0% inflation, the median individual income in the Manufacturing $75,750 $96,481 27.4% Town of Aurora was $88,832 in 2022, which indicates that three industry sectors have a Wholesale Trade $66,890 $132,139 97.5% higher median wage than the town-wide median Retail Trade $58,391 $28,228 -51.7% wage: Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, and Finance, Insurance & Real Estate. Since 2010, the Transportation & Warehousing $74,659 $69,002 -7.6% median individual has seen a 39.7% increase in their yearly income, only three industry sectors Information $55,699 $63,924 14.8% have seen a greater increase in their median Finance, Insurance & Real wage: Wholesale Trade, Finance, Insurance & $62,058 $109,967 77.2% Real Estate, and Arts, Entertainment, and Food Estate Services. Professional & $84,567 $87,571 3.6% Administrative Education, Health & Social $64,036 $66,343 3.6% Services Commuting Patterns Arts, Entertainment, and $9,712 $15,782 62.5% Most of the employed residents of Aurora work Food Services outside of the Town. As of 2022, an estimated Public Administration $73,258 $67,278 -8.2% 5,781 residents leave the Town of Aurora to get to their place of employment, while just 1,274 Other $30,290 $41,214 36.1% residents both live and work inside the Town. An Median Individual Income $63,585 $88,832 39.7% additional 5,971 workers who live outside of the Town of Aurora work within it. Since 2012, the number of residents who also work in Aurora has decreased by 6%. With only 18.1% of the resident workforce working within the community, the private automobile is the preferred method of commuting as 77.4% of residents drive alone and an additional 4.6% carpool. Only 3.0% of residents in Aurora walk, bike, or use rideshare to get to their place of employment while, an estimated 15% work from home. The majority of the Town’s workforce (82%) is employed outside of the Town, with an average commute time of 25 minutes. Most residents (50.1%) travel 10-25 miles to work, however, some residents commute 25-50 miles (4.8%) or even greater than 50 miles (8.3%). The most common places of employment for Aurora residents include the City of Buffalo (18.9%), the Village of East Aurora (14.5%), and the Towns of Cheektowaga (5.0%) and West Seneca (4.4%). As for areas of employment within the Town of Aurora, jobs are mostly concentrated in and around the Village of East Aurora, as seen on the map below. Other centers of employment can be found along the primary transportation corridors for the Town, such as NYS Route 20A, the Aurora Expressway, and Davis Road.

18 Town of Aurora Economic Projections Commuting Characteristic # % Since 2000, unemployment trends in Mode of Transportation Aurora and Erie County have closely mirrored those of New York State. Car/Carpool 5,552 82% Aside from the temporary spikes Work From Home 1,016 15% caused by the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, all three Walk, Bike & Rideshare 446 3% areas have experienced declines in Travel Distance unemployment since 2012. <10 miles 2,447 36.8% Since 2003, Erie County has 10-25 miles 3,333 50.1% experienced a slightly stronger increase in total business 25-50 miles 316 4.8% establishments, growing by 9.9% >50 miles 553 8.3% compared to the 7.0% growth across the WNY region. However, this growth Place of Employment was not uniform across all industries, City of Buffalo 1,255 18.9% as five of the 21 sectors in Erie County saw declines. East Aurora 965 14.5% Cheektowaga 335 5% The most significant decreases in establishments occurred in Mining, West Seneca 290 4.4% Wholesale Trade, and Manufacturing. Other 3,804 57% In contrast, notable gains were recorded in the Management of Companies, Transportation & Warehousing, Unclassified, Administrative & Waste Services, and Fig. 7: Unemployment Trends Government sectors. The employment projections by industry provide a clue into which type and the approximate square footage (sq ft) of additional building space that will be needed in the future. The annual gross demand in the Town of Aurora (Census Tracts 138, 139 & 140) is estimated to be over 30,022 sq ft across all industry sectors over the next decade. • The Manufacturing sector is expected to grow the most, comprising 74% of the demand for the area. • The Accommodation & Food Services, and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation sectors will drive the next greatest annual gross demand for additional space: 7,664 sq ft and 3,354 sq ft respectively. • Based on these employment statistics and knowledge of the regional and local economies, LaBella performed an economic and real estate market analysis for the following market sectors: office and industrial.

Comprehensive Plan 19 Average Employment Gross Annual Industry sq ft per Demand (sq ft) Employee 2020 2030 Change Wholesale Trade 750 544 440 -104 -7,793 Educational Services 300 159 115 -44 -1,315 Government 300 63 49 -14 -423 Finance & Insurance 250 176 160 -16 -405 Other Services 300 149 137 -12 -349 Information 300 22 29 7 207 Professional, Scientific, & 300 234 249 16 472 Technical Services Health Care & Social Assistance 300 901 927 26 786 Construction 500 242 267 25 1,256 Transportation & Warehousing 500 12 44 31 1,556 Retail Trade 300 567 658 91 2,724 Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 500 31 99 67 3,354 Accommodation & Food Services 300 651 906 255 7,664 Manufacturing 1,000 1,628 1,851 223 22,287 TOTAL 5,379 5,931 +552 30,022 Office Market Industrial Market • The office market remains strong • Unlike the office market, demand for across the Western New York region new industrial space remains strong but is slightly weaker within the Town in both the Western New York region of Aurora study area (Census Tracts and the Town of Aurora study area 138, 139, and 140). Based on projected (Census Tracts 138, 139, and 140). The employment trends in office-oriented WNY region is projected to require industries—Information, Finance & approximately 1.25 million sq ft of Insurance, Government, Other Services, industrial space annually, with an Educational Services, Health Care & estimated demand of 17,306 sq ft per Social Assistance, and Professional & year within the Town of Aurora. Business Services—LaBella estimates • Based on projected employment an annual demand of more than 1.96 trends in industrial-focused sectors— million sq ft of office space. Manufacturing, Construction, • Within the Town of Aurora, office space Transportation & Warehousing, and demand is projected to decline by 1,027 Wholesale Trade—LaBella estimates a sq ft annually. Over a 10-year period, total demand of 19.6 million additional this translates to a total demand for sq ft of industrial space across WNY approximately 19.6 million sq ft of new over the next decade. Of this, more than office space across WNY, while the Town 173,000 sq ft would be needed in Aurora of Aurora study area is expected to see alone. a net reduction of 10,275 sq ft. When selecting targeted industries for attraction and retention, key factors to consider include the number of jobs, total wages generated, and the average wage of workers. Economic development efforts should generally prioritize industries that create the most jobs and contribute significantly to overall economic growth. The following list serves as a catalog of potential industries, allowing economic development agencies to strategically determine their areas of focus.

20 Town of Aurora 2023 Sub-Sector Industry Total Average Employment Wages Wage Existing Strengths Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing 40 $3,715,332 $93,882 Electrical Equipment and Appliances 145 $18,518,107 $127,346 Chemical Manufacturing 96 $12,166,454 $126,170 Beverage & Tobacco Product Manufacturing 41 $1,936,725 $47,578 Miscellaneous Manufacturing 112 $9,446,750 $84,455 Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, & Miscellaneous Retailers 93 $2,962,808 $31,801 Nursing and Residential Care Facilities 150 $7,978,395 $53,230 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 119 $9,827,033 $82,349 Food Manufacturing 141 $9,738,183 $69,266 Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers 79 $5,952,655 $75,159 Performing Arts and Spectator Sports 12 $4,689,170 $389,412 Nonmetallic Metal Product Manufacturing 38 $3,166,313 $82,467 Accommodation 69 $2,382,898 $34,427 Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers 53 $2,705,982 $51,352 Primary Metal Manufacturing 28 $2,551,377 $91,819 Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing 12 $979,305 $84,622 Plastics & Rubber Products Manufacturing 32 $2,859,460 $90,527 Credit Intermediation & Related Activities 84 $8,956,453 $107,144 Building Material & Garden Supply stores 51 $2,642,143 $51,582 Paper Manufacturing 40 $2,982,709 $75,298 Emerging Strengths Construction of Buildings 2 $128,129 $64,064 Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries 22 $669,904 $31,058 Real Estate 30 $2,257,079 $74,868 Motion Picture & Sound Recording Industries 2 $87,195 $43,598 Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers 2 $76,599 $38,299 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 17 $1,729,472 $104,478 Personal and Laundry Services 43 $1,806,766 $42,085 Telecommunications 2 $180,178 $90,089 Petroleum & Coal Products Manufacturing 2 Insf. Data Insf. Data Rental and Leasing Services 12 $733,262 $62,561 Textile Product Mills 2 Insf. Data Insf. Data Agriculture & Forestry Support Activity 2 Insf. Data Insf. Data Museums, Parks, and Historical Sites 2 $96.885 $48,442 Utilities 2 Insf. Data Insf. Data Hospitals 2 Insf. Data Insf. Data Wood Product Manufacturing 2 $116,830 $58,415 Financial Investment & Related Activity 2 $300,825 $150,413 ISPs, Search Portals & Data Processing 1 Insf. Data Insf. Data Warehousing & Storage 1 Insf. Data Insf. Data Existing Strengths – Industries that currently have a large employment share (relative to the U.S.) and have strong regional growth over time. Emerging Strengths – Industries that currently have a relatively low employment share but have shown strong regional growth over time.

Comprehensive Plan 21 Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing strengths or assets in the Town needs or gaps in the Town that limits that can be further leveraged and future development or the Town from supports the potential for new achieving the plan’s vision statement development, business creation, or and goals. achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. High Out-Commuting Rate: More than four in five employed residents leave Aurora for Growth Potential in Manufacturing & work. Such out-commuting can reduce local Industrial: The WNY region is projected to spending power during weekdays and limit need 1.25 million sq ft of industrial space employer incentives to locate within the annually; Aurora alone could see demand Town. for 17,306 sq ft per year. Leveraging available Declining Younger Population & ‘Brain sites for light manufacturing or advanced Drain’: Aurora’s median age continues to industry can diversify the Town’s economic rise, and the share of 20–34-year-olds is base. comparatively small (14.6% projected by Rising Senior Demographics and Service 2028). Furthermore, while the EAUFSD Demand: With a projected 55.3% increase in expects modest improvement in some the 65+ population by 2028, there is a market grades, overall enrollment has dropped 8.2% for health care, senior living, and support since 2013, echoing a slow decline in younger services—potentially creating local jobs and families. Without concerted efforts to attract investment in these sectors. or retain young adults, the Town risks a narrowing labor force and reduced family- Growing White Collar Workforce: Nearly half oriented services. of Aurora’s adult residents hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree, compared to just 35.8% Incomplete Support for Multi-Generational countywide. Additionally, 15% of Aurorans Living: While Aurora has rising senior work remotely from home. This skilled talent demographics, younger families, and single- pool can attract knowledge-based employers parent households, limited housing styles while the Towns rural character can be seen and intergenerational programming mean as attractive for remote workers. these groups often compete for resources and suitable living arrangements. Retaining & Attracting Young Families: Encouraging modest-density housing options (e.g., duplexes, townhomes, courtyard homes) around the village, near schools, and walkable hamlets can appeal to younger households, bolstering school enrollment and local services.

22 Town of Aurora Land Use & Zoning Land use information and development Commercial regulations show how the community has developed historically, how land is being 1.9% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are used today, and how it may be developed or classified as commercial land use. Commercial redeveloped in the future. In the Town of Aurora, land uses are found scattered throughout the the land use patterns and zoning regulations Town; however, these uses are more frequently depict a rural community with historically built- found along NYS Routes 240, 20A, and 16. These up hamlets, while the Village of East Aurora acts routes are regional travel corridors, allowing as the area’s economic and cultural center. these businesses to benefit from a local and regional customer base. Historically built-up Existing Land Use places throughout the Town, such as the Hamlet of West Falls, also have pockets of commercial Residential land uses. Commercially classified parcels vary widely by parcel size, with some parcels as small 77.9% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are as a tenth of an acre where others exceed 61 classified as residential land use, making it the acres, however, most do not exceed 7 acres in most common land use type in the Town. Most size. Overall, commercial land uses cover 1.4% of residential land uses are single-family homes all landcover in the Town (297 acres). (96.7%), followed by parcels where there is more than one primary residential dwelling Public Services (1.7%), duplexes and triplexes (1.5%), seasonal residences (0.02%), apartment buildings (0.01%), 0.8% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are and one manufactured home park which is in the classified as public service land uses. Generally, hamlet Blakeley. Residentially classified parcels these parcels are used for energy transmission vary widely by parcel size, with some parcels as and railroad lines. The only active railroad small as a tenth of an acre, while others exceed line remaining in the Town is the Buffalo and 100 acres. Overall, residential land uses cover Pittsburgh Railroad which is owned by railroad more land area than any other land use in the company Genesee & Wyoming. Overall, public Town at 61.7% (12,857 acres). service land uses cover 0.5% of all landcover in the Town (109 acres). Vacant Community Services 17.5% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are classified as vacant land use, making it the 0.7% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are second most common land use type in the Town. classified as community service land uses. These While vacant land is prevalent throughout the parcels are evenly distributed across the Town, Town and some vacant parcels are the size of a however some of the larger community service typical single-family lot, most vacant parcels in parcels include the World Mission Society of God the Town are either heavily forested or actively seminary (114.5 acres), the East Aurora School used as farmland. Vacant parcels with these District High School (98.2 acres), and the Grow characteristics help contribute to the rural nature School (62.7 acres). Overall, community service of the Town and in preserving its natural assets. land uses cover 2.0% of all landcover in the Town Development strategies for the Town’s smaller (417 acres). Properties classified as community vacant parcels should focus on those most services are generally exempt from real property immediately outside the Village of East Aurora, taxes. thus helping to reduce sprawl and the need for expanded water/sewer infrastructure. Overall, vacant land uses cover 24.4% of all landcover in the Town (5,072 acres).

Comprehensive Plan 23 Agriculture 0.3% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are classified as agricultural land uses. Historically, farming was an important component of the land use, character, and economy of Aurora; however, much of that land has been converted to residential uses over the past several decades. Prominent agricultural land uses still present in the Town include the Strawberry Banks Farm (equestrian breeding facility), several nurseries and garden centers, and a few remaining family farms. Overall, agricultural land uses cover 2.4% of all landcover in the Town (508 acres). The true total number of agricultural parcels and the total land area they cover cannot be determined as a significant portion of actively farmed land in the Town is classified as vacant. Recreation & Entertainment Four parcels, or 0.1% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are classified as recreation & entertainment land uses. These land uses include the Bob-o-Link Golf Club, the East Aurora Country Club, The Blueberry Treehouse Farm, and the Quaker Aurora Tennis Club. Overall, recreation & entertainment land uses cover 0.5% of all land cover in the Town (106 acres). Parks classified as Parks and Forested Land uses make up 0.8% of all parcels and cover 7.0% of all land cover in the Town (1,458 acres). For information on parks and other parcels dedicated to recreational uses, refer to the Recreational, Historical, and Cultural Resources Chapter. Industrial There is only one parcel throughout the entirety of the Town of Aurora that is classified as an industrial land use, the IRR Supply Center, which is a distributor of parts for plumbing, heating, and cooling systems. Within the Town’s only industrial zoning district along Ellicott Rd, near the intersection of Davis Rd, there are a number of industrial-like businesses such as Twinco, Team Fabrication, and a manufacturing plant for Moog. However, according to New York State tax parcel codes, these businesses are considered commercial as they are classified as storage and/or distribution facilities, or office buildings.

24 Town of Aurora E xi sti n g L an d U se Town of Aurora 400 1 187 78 Miles Willardshire Road d ille Roa rv te Por 20A Jewett Holmwood Road Laph Davis Road am R oad ad er Ro Sweet Road Grov Underhill Road ad l Ro Mil Center Street 240 W Branch Cazenovia Creek Blakeley Road Emery Road Boies Road E Branch Cazenovia Creek Legend Town of Aurora Agricultural Industrial Recreation & Entertainment Village of East Aurora Commercial Parks & Forested Land Residential Community Services Public Services Vacant Land

Comprehensive Plan 25 Zoning Districts & Residential 2 District (R-2) Regulations The residential 2 district (R-2) covers Residential Districts approximately 519 acres (2.4%) of land within the Town. Parcels regulated by this zoning district Agriculture District (A) can be found around the Village of East Aurora, as well as the Town’s more historically built-up The agricultural district is the most expansive areas, such as the Hamlets of West Falls and zoning district in the Town as it covers Jewetville. Permitted uses within this zoning approximately 14,589 acres (67.1%) of land within district include any uses permitted in the R1 the Town. The zoning district covers the majority district, two-family dwellings, professional home of lands that are not immediately adjacent to offices, and dwellings for up to three temporary a roadway. Permitted uses within this zoning roomers. Regulations for this district cover district include one- and two-family dwellings, maximum height, building size, minimum lot size, agricultural pursuits, and seasonal cottages. and setbacks. Regulations in this district cover maximum height, building size, minimum lot size, and Residential 3 District (R-3) setbacks. The residential 3 district (R-3) is the least Rural Residential District (RR) expansive zoning district in the Town as it covers approximately 13.4 acres (0.1%) of land. The rural residential district is the second Parcels regulated by this zoning district are largest zoning district in the Town as it covers found almost exclusively in the Hamlet of West approximately 3,941 acres (18.1%) of land within Falls, aside from one small outpost north of the the Town. Parcels regulated by this district are Village of East Aurora. Permitted uses within those up to 300’ from the road rights-of-way this zoning district include any uses permitted in the Town. Permitted uses within this zoning in the R2 district, multi-family dwellings (3+ units district include one- and two- family dwellings, or townhouses), rooming houses, and nonprofit places of worship, public and private schools, institutions with a special use permit. Regulations parks, home occupations, day cares, and bed- for this district cover maximum height, building and-breakfasts. Regulations in this district cover size, minimum lot size, and setbacks. maximum height, building size, minimum lot size, and setbacks. Commercial Districts Single-Family Residential District (R-1) Commercial 1 District (C-1) The single-family residential district (R-1) covers The commercial 1 district (C-1) covers approximately 2,174 acres (10%) of land within the approximately 19 acres (0.1%) of land within the Town. Parcels regulated by this zoning district are Town. Parcels regulated by this zoning district well represented throughout the Town, however, can be found in small groupings along the Town’s the largest expanse of this district is found along major thoroughfares such as NYS 16, 78, and 240. the Town’s northern boundary, around the Village The purpose of the zoning district is to provide of East Aurora. Permitted uses within this zoning areas or centers for shopping and service- district include single-family dwellings, places of oriented uses that are easily accessible to the worship, schools, parks, home occupations, day neighborhoods which they serve and are not cares, and bed-and-breakfasts. Regulations in intended to draw customers from considerable this district cover maximum height, building size, distances. Permitted uses within this zoning minimum lot size, and setbacks. district include professional offices, goods and retail services, and any uses permitted in the R-2 district. Various other commercial uses are allowed by a special use permit.

26 Town of Aurora Commercial 2 District (C-2) The commercial 2 district (B-2) covers approximately 169 acres (0.8%) of land within the Town. Like the C-1 district, parcels regulated by the C-2 district can be found along the Town’s major thoroughfares. The purpose of the zoning district is to provide areas in the Town where business offices and businesses may be located which include activities that may draw clientele from all areas in the Town and from outside the Town. Permitted uses within this zoning district include those allowed by right and special use permit in the C-1 district as well as other commercial uses that have a higher intensity of patronage and generation of potential nuisances. Regulations for this district cover maximum height, building size, minimum lot size, and setbacks. Commercial 3 District (C-3) The commercial 3 district (C-3) covers approximately 332 acres (1.5%) of land within the Town. Parcels regulated by this zoning district are largely concentrated along the Town’s border with the Town of Orchard Park, along NYS route 240. The purpose of the zoning district is to provide areas in the Town where businesses, medium-sized retail, and industrial and manufacturing facilities may be located, which include activities that may draw clientele from all areas in the Town and from outside the Town. Permitted uses within this zoning district include any uses permitted in the C-2 district along with manufacturing facilities, food processing, junk yards, and adult-use cannabis establishments. Overlays West Falls Hamlet Overlay Recognizing that the Hamlet of West Falls is an existing built-up area consisting of mixed-uses at a higher density than the rest of the town, the Town of Aurora’s zoning ordinance includes a zoning overlay for the hamlet with the intent to preserve the character and quality of the area while encouraging service-oriented uses focused on meeting the needs of customers within West Falls. The overlay district covers properties contiguous to Bridge St and Route 240 from the southern border of the Town of Aurora to Behm Road. Overall, approximately 119 acres (0.5%) of land within the Town falls within the overlay district. The overarching objectives the overlay are: (1) emphasizing redevelopment of existing properties, (2) permitting the conversion of residential structures to office and commercial space, (3) focusing projects at the pedestrian scale, (4) citing parking to the side or rear of buildings, (5) buffering development that adjoins sensitive land uses, (6) architectural standards that improve the image of the area, and (7) the prohibition of franchise architecture. All uses permitted within the overlay are the same as those of the underlying zoning district. In addition to the regulations of the underlying zoning district, additional regulations include architectural standards, building standards, and landscaping standards.

Comprehensive Plan 27

28 Town of Aurora Land Utilization by Zoning District To determine how effective the Town’s zoning regulations are at producing the desired land uses within each zoning district, an analysis was conducted to determine what types of land uses fall within each zoning district and how frequently they occur. Based on the analysis of land use distribution, it is not surprising that single-family residential is the most common land use across nearly all zoning districts, even for residential zoning districts whose intentions are to allow higher density residential uses. For instance, the R-2 zoning district was established to allow for single-family and two-family housing, however, two-family housing only makes up 2.6% of all residential land uses in the district. Similarly, the R-3 district is intended to allow multi-family housing, however, only 7.1% of housing types in the district are multi-family and an additional 7.1% are two-family homes. Another misalignment between the Town’s zoning districts and land use distribution is within their C-3 district. The purpose of the zoning district is to provide areas in the Town where businesses, medium-sized retail, and industrial and manufacturing facilities may be located. However, 0% of the land uses within the district are considered industrial land uses. Most businesses within this district include “Other storage, warehouse and distribution facilities”. Zoning Districts R-1 R-2 R-3 R-R C-1 C-2 C-3 Residential 74.7% 81.5% 82.4% 66.5% 56.3% 39.8% 11.8% Single-Family 98.6% 96.7% 85.7% 98.4% 88.9% 82.2% 50.0% Two-Family 0.4% 2.6% 7.1% 1.6% 11.1% 13.3% 50.0% Multi-Family 0.5% 0.7% 7.1% 0.1% 0.0% 4.4% 0.0% Commercial 0.3% 0.9% 5.9% 1.7% 18.8% 34.5% 52.9% Land Uses Community 0.9% 0.9% 0.0% 0.9% 0.0% 1.8% 8.8% Services Public Services 0.5% 0.3% 0.0% 1.6% 0.0% 0.9% 2.9% Industrial 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.3% 0.9% 0.0% Parks & Forest 0.75 1.2% 0.0% 2.3% 0.0% 2.7% 0.0% Rec & 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.9% 0.0% Entertainment Vacant Land 22.8% 15.2% 11.8% 26.1% 18.8% 18.6% 20.6% Agricultural 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.0% 2.9% Note: Land Use utilization could not be determined for the Agricultural District as this district is not bound by parcel lines and overlaps with parcels that are included in several other districts.

Comprehensive Plan 29 What We Heard Key Issues & opportunities Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and “Opportunities” represent “Issues” represent either vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, existing strengths or assets existing needs or gaps in the stakeholder interviews and focus in the Town that can be Town that limits to future groups, and two public workshops. further leveraged and development or the Town Regarding land use and zoning, supports the potential for from achieving the plan’s Community members strongly valued new development, business vision statement and goals. Aurora’s rural character and voiced a clear preference for preserving open creation, or achieving the space, managing growth carefully, plan’s vision statement and and updating zoning to reflect today’s goals. Infrastructure Limitations for housing and business needs. Future Growth: Expanding residential and commercial • Preserve Rural Character and development could require Open Space: Residents support West Falls Hamlet Overlay significant investment in protecting farmland, forests, and District Encourages Thoughtful infrastructure, including water, scenic landscapes. Conservation Growth: The West Falls Hamlet sewer, and roads. The Town’s and open space were the top land Overlay offers a strong framework current rural land use pattern use priorities in the public survey. for maintaining historical character makes infrastructure expansion while promoting mixed-use costly, so strategic infill • Limit and Focus Development: development in a walkable development where infrastructure Most respondents want to limit new environment. This approach already exists should be development entirely or direct it to supports small businesses and prioritized to maximize efficiency specific locations, such as near the adaptive reuse of buildings. Similar and minimize costs. Village of East Aurora or in existing overlays could be considered for developed areas (i.e. hamlet of West other Hamlets and historically Traffic and Transportation Falls). Infill development and reuse built-up areas in the Town. Challenges Along Major of vacant parcels were preferred Corridors: With commercial over expanding into rural or natural Potential for Increased Housing uses concentrated along NYS areas Diversity in Higher-Density Routes 240, 20A, and 16, there Residential Zones: The R-2 and is potential for congestion and • Modernize Zoning: Many residents R-3 zoning districts were intended safety concerns, particularly and stakeholders called for to support a mix of housing if development increases. A updated zoning that supports types, but single-family homes lack of pedestrian and bicycle small-scale, context-sensitive dominate. Encouraging duplexes, infrastructure along these growth, allows accessory dwelling triplexes, and multi-family housing corridors’ further limits mobility units (ADUs), and enables mixed- through zoning adjustments or and access. use development in hamlets. incentives could provide more affordable housing options • Infrastructure & Environmental while accommodating changing Concerns: Residents stressed demographics. that future development should align with existing infrastructure to C-3 Zoning District as an avoid costly expansions. Concerns Underutilized Asset for Economic included increased traffic, loss Growth: The Town’s C-3 zoning of green space, and stormwater district covers 332 acres, yet there impacts. are no industrial land uses within it. This presents an opportunity to • Support Hamlet-Scale Growth: attract targeted industries such as West Falls and other hamlets were light manufacturing, technology, identified as appropriate places for or green energy businesses, which modest, walkable development could diversify the local economy that respects their historic scale and and provide new job opportunities. character.

30 Town of Aurora Housing & Neighborhoods A comprehensive assessment of local housing conditions is crucial for Fig. 8: Town of Aurora understanding how current residents live and for identifying strategies Housing Tenure to attract new residents to the Town of Aurora. Ensuring that the town remains accessible and appealing to a diverse population is key to its long-term vitality. This section examines Aurora’s housing landscape, including the age of its housing stock, housing types, tenure rates, and housing costs and affordability, as well as projections for future housing demand. To assist in the evaluation and the understanding of current issues, comparisons are made to the Towns of Orchard Park and Concord, as well as the entirety of Erie County. Housing Characteristics Fig. 9: Town of Aurora Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates & Decennial Census; Housing Stock Type Landmax Data Systems; Redfin Real Estate Brokerage Housing Tenure As of 2022, the Town of Aurora (excluding the Village of East Aurora) had an estimated 3,392 occupied housing units (95%) and 173 vacant units (5%). Of the occupied housing in The Town of Aurora, 2,617 of those units (89%) are owner occupied while 334 (11%) are renter occupied. Comparatively, both the towns of Concord and Orchard Park have higher percentages of renter-occupied units, making up approximately 26% of their housing stock, compared to just 11% in Aurora. Housing Stock Type The distribution of housing units in the Town of Aurora is heavily skewed towards single family housing which makes up 82.8% of all housing units in the Town. Large multi-unit homes (5+ units) are the second most common housing type, making up 7.4% of all units. In total, all multi-family housing (2 or more units) comprises 16.8% of all housing within the Town of Aurora. Orchard Park has a slightly lower percentage of single-family homes (8.9% fewer) compared to Aurora. The second most common housing type in Orchard Park is apartment complexes with 5 or more units, Fig. 10: Town of Aurora Housing Stock Age which represents 18.3% of all their housing, compared to just 7.4% of Aurora’s. In Concord, single-family homes constitute a smaller share of housing at 74%, followed by buildings with five or more units at 11.6%, and triplexes or quadplexes at 6.9%. Housing Stock Age Most homes in the Town of Aurora are over 65 years old, with 59.8% built before 1960. In contrast, fewer than 30% of homes in Orchard Park and 43.5% in Concord were built before 1960. Since 2000, only 6.1% of homes have been constructed within the Town of Aurora, including 180 units since 2010. Comparatively, 14% of Orchard Park’s homes and 13.2% of Concord’s homes were built after 2000.

Comprehensive Plan 31 Housing Sales Based on data collected from Town of Aurora Landmax, which compiles information SFH MFH Seasonal Mobile from public records (tax assessor, county deed records, etc.), there Count Avg $ Count Avg $ Count Avg $ Count Avg $ were 86 homes sales in the Town 2013 54 $294,905 1 $93,752 0 N/A 0 N/A of Aurora throughout 2023, a 56.4% 2023 85 $473,098 1 $426,769 0 N/A 0 N/A increase compared to the 55 home sales in 2013. Through both years, single-family homes were by and Erie County large the most common home sale SFH MFH Seasonal Mobile type, making up 98.2% of home sales in 2013 and 98.8% in 2023. Even after Count Avg $ Count Avg $ Count Avg $ Count Avg $ accounting for inflation, the average 2013 4,180 $171,379 387 $175,399 10 $61,376 3 $61,000 home sale price increased by 62.3% or $181,311 over this 10-year window. 2023 7,165 $307,300 886 $291,608 6 $82,608 7 $63,057 Compared to Erie County as a whole, the increase in home sales prices in Single Family Home Sales (Landmax) Multi-Family Home Sales (Landmax) Aurora outpaced the county, which saw only a 37% increase—equivalent SF Inflation MF Inflation Sale Price Sale Price to $85,064—over the same period. Sales Adjusted Sales Adjusted Over the five-year period from 2020 112 $354,281.40 $432,077.40 2020 1 $380,000 $463,443.49 2020 to 2024, the Town of Aurora 2021 134 $351,950.80 $401,017.80 2021 3 $300,00 $341,824.30 experienced a surge in real estate sales immediately following the 2022 142 $445,411.10 $487,440.57 2022 0 $0 $0 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic 2023 86 $458,913.40 $475,258.00 2023 1 $414,000 $428,745.00 (2021–2022), with 134 single family 2024 67 $480,618.30 $483,765.50 2024 0 $0 $0 home sales recorded in 2021 and 142 in 2022. Since then, the number of single-family home sales has Year Over Year returned to pre-pandemic levels, Year Count Average Cost ($) % Change with 86 sales in 2023 and 67 sales in 2024. In reviewing the most recent 2013 78 $240,947 N/A sales, there are clusters of activity 2014 83 $275,430 14.3% near the Village of East Aurora, with a particularly high concentration 2015 68 $281,895 2.3% of sales along Aurora Mill Road, 2016 95 $313,268 11.1% Milestone Drive, and Creekstone Drive. These sales mostly involve 2017 89 $313,845 0.2% newly constructed homes. When 2018 91 $345,569 10.1% comparing sales prices over this same 2019 93 $347,977 0.7% period—and adjusting for inflation— single-family home prices increased 2020 92 $360,561 3.6% by more than $50,000 on average. 2021 81 $399,854 10.9% In contrast, multi-family home prices remained relatively steady, ranging 2022 99 $489,262 22.4% from $341,000 to $463,000. However, 2023 64 $460,461 -5.9% there was considerable fluctuation due to the small number of multi- 2024 73 $481,702 4.6% family transactions (only five) during this span. Housing sales transactions for single-family homes were also compared against MLS data from 2013 to 2024. MLS Brokerage data is data collected and managed by real estate professionals (brokers and agents) who list properties for sale or lease. When excluding the Village of East Aurora, the following sales trends emerged. The Realtor MLS database recorded a higher total number of transactions in 2013; however, the average sales price was approximately 18% lower than that reported by the Landmax system. By 2023, the most recent year with data from both platforms, MLS recorded seven fewer transactions, with an average sales price 2.7% lower than that reported by Landmax. However, this data only includes transactions reported in the Realtor MLS database and does not account for private sales conducted independently. Year over year, MLS Brokerage data reported an average sale price increase of 6.8% for Aurora homes. Nationally, home sale prices typically increase by 3-5% annually; across Erie County, home sale prices increased by 6.3% on average each year.

32 Town of Aurora

Comprehensive Plan 33 Fig. 11: Town of Aurora Housing Value Housing Value Between 2000 and 2020, the median home value in the Town of Aurora rose 35.79% to $296,974. While this increase was lower than the statewide growth of 43%, it outpaced Erie County (+15.81%) and neighboring communities like Orchard Park (+18.26%) and Concord (15.19%). Housing Sales per Square Foot Using data from Redfin Real Estate Brokerage, the average cost per square foot of home sales for single-family and 2–4-unit multi-family homes was Fig. 12: Housing Sales per Square Feet analyzed from 2013 to 2023 for Erie County and New York State. As of 2023, it costs an average of $171.91 per sq ft for a single-family home and $89.79 per sq ft for a 2–4-unit apartment in Erie County. Since 2013, square footage costs for these types of homes have increased by 95% and 210%, respectively. Statewide, the average cost per square foot for a single-family home is $367 per sq ft, and for a 2–4-unit multi-family home, it is $318.17 per sq ft. Since 2013, costs across New York State have increased by 180% and 450%, respectively. Housing Affordability (Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Fig. 13: Monthly Mortgage Costs estimates & Decennial Census; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator; HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy) Monthly Mortgage Costs Since 2000, when adjusting for inflation (IA), the median mortgage in The Town of Aurora has decreased by 6.6%. Comparatively, in that same time, the median mortgage in Erie County has decreased by 17.5%; across NYS it has increased by 1.1%. As of 2023, the median mortgage (IA) in The Town of Aurora is $2,131 while across NYS the median mortgage (IA) is $2,563, a difference of $432. This likely due to a higher frequency of cash sales as the housing market has intensified throughout the region.

34 Town of Aurora Monthly Renter Costs Fig. 14: Monthly Renter Costs Since 2000, when adjusting for inflation (IA), the median gross rent in The Town of Aurora has increased by 0.65%. Comparatively, in that same time, the median gross rent in Erie County has increased by 16.7%; across NYS the gross rent has increased by 31.05%. As of 2023, the median gross rent (IA) in the Town of Aurora is $1,087 while across NYS the median gross rent (IA) is $1,646, a difference of $559. Owner & Renter Cost Burdens While housing affordability in Aurora has generally improved over time, a significant number of residents, particularly renters, still experience housing cost burdens. The HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI) is the median family income calculated Fig. 15: Town of Aurora Housing Cost Burdens by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a given jurisdiction. These values are used by HUD to determine fair market rent rates and income limits for HUD funded programs. The Town of Aurora is a part of the Buffalo- Cheektowaga Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), for which HUD calculates the median family income to be $96,900, $18,120 less than the median family income in The Town of Aurora ($115,020) Also maintained by HUD, the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy dataset (CHAS), provides information on household income, housing affordability, and housing cost burdens. CHAS data is expressed as a percentage of HAMFI spent on housing costs. For renters, housing costs include the cost of rent and utilities. For homeowners, housing costs include the cost of mortgage payments, utilities, association fees, insurance, and real estate taxes. Households spending less than 30% of their total income on housing are considered to have “affordable” housing costs. Households spending 30% to 50% of their income on housing are “cost- burdened,” and households spending more than 50% are considered “severely cost burdened”. As of 2021, 30.7% of renters and 11.7% of homeowners in Aurora are living in housing that is unaffordable.

Comprehensive Plan 35 Fig. 16: Town of Aurora Housing Cost Burden by Income Cost burden by Income When examining cost-burdened households by income, the most significant housing affordability challenges are found among households earning 50% or less of Aurora’s HAMFI, with 634 households experiencing cost burdens. At the over 100% HAMFI level, a notable 285 owner-occupied households are also cost-burdened. No renter households earning 80-100% or more of Aurora’s HAMFI are cost-burdened; however, cost burdens are observed among owner-occupied households at all income levels. Housing Problems Approximately 31% of renter-occupied rental units throughout the Town of Aurora have at least one recorded housing problem. Comparatively, only 12.8% of owner-occupied units have a recorded housing problem. Housing problems include incomplete kitchen facilities, incomplete plumbing, there is more than one person per bedroom, or the housing cost burden is greater than 30%. Fig. 17: Town of Aurora Housing Problems by Tenure No Housing Problems At least one Housing Problem

36 Town of Aurora Future Housing Demand Under a high-end growth scenario, the There are an estimated 2,840 single-family Town will need 245 future incremental and 230 multi-family homes in the Town of Aurora. Of the 2,840 single-family homes, units. Under the low-end growth 2,223 are on standard large lots (>7,000 sq ft) and only 617 are on small lots (<7,000 scenario, projected demand is for 164 sq ft). The Envision Tomorrow Balanced additional units. Housing Model was used to project the additional housing units needed by 2040 under both high-end and low-end growth scenarios. High Estimate Under the high-end growth scenario, the Fig. 18: Town of Aurora Future Housing Demand - High-End Envision Tomorrow Balanced Housing Model predicts that to accommodate the Town’s new households, there will need to be 245 future incremental units. These new units don’t only include new builds but also may include vacant building rehabilitations or the conversion of single-family homes to higher densities (i.e. duplexes). Most of these households (65%) are projected to be large lot single family homes. To provide a balanced and sustainable supply of housing, the model has projected that there will need to be 161 new large-lot single- family homes, 48 small-lot single-family homes, 24 townhomes, and 12 multi-family units. Low Estimate Fig. 19: Town of Aurora Future Housing Demand - Low-End Contrastingly, under the low-end growth scenario, the Envision Tomorrow Balanced Housing Model projects a demand for 164 additional housing units—one-third fewer than in the high- end growth scenario. These units are not limited to new construction but may also include rehabilitated vacant buildings or the conversion of single-family homes into higher-density housing (e.g., duplexes). As with the high-end growth estimate, the majority (65%) of these households are expected to be large-lot single- family homes. To ensure a balanced and sustainable housing supply, the model forecasts the need for 108 new large-lot single-family homes, 32 small-lot single- family homes, 16 townhomes, and 8 multi-family units.

Comprehensive Plan 37 What We Heard • Affordability Concerns: Rising home prices and limited rental availability were Throughout the planning process, residents and frequently cited. Residents worry that younger stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged generations and local workers are being to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision priced out of the community. for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and • Focus Housing Near the Village and focus groups, and two public workshops. Regarding Infrastructure: Community members Housing & Neighborhoods, residents expressed prefer concentrating on new housing near concern about the availability and affordability of the Village of East Aurora or within existing housing in Aurora, with an emphasis on maintaining neighborhoods, where infrastructure and community character while expanding options for amenities already exist. all life stages. • Support for Accessory Dwelling Units • Need for Diverse Housing Options: Many (ADUs): There was strong support for allowing emphasized the need for senior housing, ADUs as a way to increase affordability, affordable rentals, and “missing middle” housing support multi-generational living, and help types like duplexes and townhomes to support seniors age in place. aging residents and young families. Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing needs strengths or assets in the Town that can or gaps in the Town that limits future be further leveraged and supports the development or the Town from achieving potential for new development, business the plan’s vision statement and goals. creation, or achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. Limited Housing Diversity and Choice: Over 80% of Aurora’s housing stock consists of single-family Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) & “Missing homes, leaving few options for renters, seniors, or Middle” Infill: Updating zoning to permit ADUs moderate-income households seeking multi-family, by right, and encouraging duplexes, triplexes, or duplex, or townhouse units. cottage courts would expand lower-cost options Affordability Pressures & Cost Burdens: Although without large-scale development, accommodating inflation-adjusted mortgage costs have declined seniors, young families, and single professionals. overall, an estimated 31% of renters and 11.7% of Housing Rehabilitation & Preservation Programs: homeowners still spend more than 30% of their Significant amount of existing housing in Aurora is income on housing, impacting lower-income over 65 years old. A local revolving loan fund or residents most acutely. grant program could help maintain these structures, Lack of Senior-Friendly Housing: With Aurora’s improve energy efficiency, and keep housing median age rising, many older adults have difficulty affordable for existing homeowners, preventing finding accessible, single-floor living or assisted- displacement and preserving neighborhood living facilities; this lack of senior options can force character. longtime residents to relocate elsewhere. Targeted Senior Living Near Infrastructure: Aging Housing Stock & Rehab Needs: Most homes Encouraging senior-friendly or assisted-living in Aurora are over 65 years old, often requiring developments within or adjacent to sewer service costly maintenance or energy efficiency upgrades areas near the Village could reduce sprawl, ensure that can strain homeowner budgets and limit overall easy access to essential services, and help older housing quality. adults age in place. Workforce Housing Close to Jobs: Incentivizing mixed-use or higher-density housing near commercial corridors and employment centers would allow teachers, service workers, and first responders to live closer to workplaces, bolstering Aurora’s workforce and local economy.

38 Town of Aurora Municipal & Public Services An inventory of municipal and public services within the Town demonstrates all the amenities Police & Fire Department that make the community a desirable place to live as well as helping call out any gaps that exist The Town of Aurora, in conjunction with the Village of East which could be targeted for improvement in the Aurora, is served by the East Aurora/Town of Aurora Police future. Various services are provided throughout Department. This department is dedicated to protecting the Town of Aurora; however, some services are life and property, enforcing laws, preventing crime, limited or may not exist due to the rural and low- and providing emergency services to the community. density character of the community. Additionally, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office may provide support and assistance within the Town of Aurora as Community Services needed. The Town of Aurora offers a variety of community Fire protection services in the Town are provided by the services to support residents of all ages. The East Aurora Volunteer Fire Department. This all-volunteer Aurora Municipal Building houses essential organization is committed to delivering professional services, including the Town Clerk’s Office, emergency fire, rescue, and EMS services to residents. which manages records, permits, and licenses Additionally, the West Falls Volunteer Fire Company and such as marriage certificates, dog licenses, and the South Wales Volunteer Fire Company serves areas handicap parking permits. The Building & Code within the southern part of Aurora. Enforcement Department oversees zoning regulations and ensures compliance with safety Town Roads standards, while the Assessor’s Office maintains The Town of Aurora Highway Department provides a property records and tax assessments. variety of road maintenance services across the Town, The Town of Aurora Senior Center offers a including but not limited to repairing and paving roads, range of services and programs to support the mowing roadsides, trimming and cutting down dead trees, well-being of residents aged 55 and older. The cleaning out ditches, installing new culvert pipes where center provides a Nutrition Lunch Program, they are needed, chipping branches, and picking up chunk offering hot, nutritious meals on weekdays at wood. The Highway Department also plows and salts all noon for a suggested donation of $3.50 per Town and County roads throughout the winter. Across the meal. Seniors can reserve meals in advance town, approximately 26.2 miles of roads are owned by New and enjoy socializing with peers in a welcoming York State, 45 miles are owned by Erie County, and 50.9 environment. Additionally, the center hosts miles are owned by Aurora. various fitness programs aimed at promoting Waste & Recycling health and mobility, including exercise classes tailored for older adults. The Aurora Senior Center Town waste and recycling services are managed through a is a highly utilized service facility and service in contract with Waste Management for residents outside the the Town and is outgrowing its limited space, Village of East Aurora. Town residents are advised to place which in turn limits the ability to expand the their garbage and recyclables at the roadside within 5 feet services it offers. of the road before 7:00 a.m. on their designated collection day. The Aurora Town Public Libraries (Town of Aurora Public Library & West Falls-Colden The Town of Aurora Highway Department offers additional Community Library) offer free internet access, services, including the collection of tires (limit of two per community meeting rooms, and lending services, household) and car batteries during scheduled weeks in including books, media, and unique items like April, June, August, and October. In the fall, leaf collection the Empire Pass for state parks. The Town’s Parks is provided from mid-October through December 1, & Recreation Department maintains parks and weather permitting; residents should rake leaves to recreation programs, including sports leagues, within 3 feet of the roadside for pickup. The department fitness classes, and community events. Seasonal also handles the pickup of chunk wood and tree limbs, activities and town-sponsored events provide with specific guidelines for size and stacking, during the opportunities for social engagement and first working Monday of each month from April through enrichment. October.

Comprehensive Plan 39 Drinking Water Telecommunications Drinking water in the Town is supplied via direct access Internet services in the Town are provided by multiple by the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA). ECWA broadband and wireless providers, such as Spectrum, owns and operates the entire system for all but 36 GoNetspeed, T-Mobile Home Internet, Viasat, and town customers who live on private roads (S Heerick Starlink. These providers offer residents access to high- Dr, Heiler Dr, Hickory Ln, Mary James Ln, Mirchell Rd), speed internet, cable, and fiber-optic connections, and is responsible for all customer service, billing, depending on location. While areas within and near the and capital improvements. Overall, 2,799 properties Village of East Aurora typically have access to fiber- (68% of properties) in Aurora have access to public optic and cable internet, more rural parts of the town drinking water, while 974 (23.9% of properties) get their may rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite internet water via private wells. Property owners with a private due to infrastructure limitations. Additionally, some well system are responsible for ensuring proper well locations where fiber-optic lines have been installed maintenance, testing, and treatment to maintain water have negatively impacted tree cover by significantly quality. In contrast, all municipalities east and south of trimming tree limbs to accommodate the installation. Aurora either have their own municipal drinking water Major service providers offer a range of speeds and system or are totally reliant on private well systems. packages to meet residential and business needs, with ongoing efforts to expand broadband coverage to Sewer & Stormwater underserved areas. The Erie County Division of Sewerage Management Erie County is currently in the process of building out (DSM) serves the Village and portions of the Town. their middle-mile community fiber optic broadband The Village and portions of the Town are assigned to network called ErieNet. The mission of the new county Sewer District No. 8, which operates infrastructure such not-for-profit will be to address the broadband needs as collector sewers, pumping stations, and a water of underserved communities by developing the resource recovery facility. Erie County’s sewer district infrastructure needed for service providers to install 8 covers approximately 2,462 acres of land within the last-mile service connections. ErieNet is expected to Town, which includes the entirety of the Village of East begin build-out in the nearby Town of Boston by 2026, Aurora, several town parcels around the Village, and with tie-ins to the Town of Aurora slated for the future. parcels along Center Street leading up to the high school. Overall, 417 properties (10% of properties) in Electricity and Natural Gas the Town of Aurora have sewer service. In addition to sewer services, the Town manages stormwater Electricity in the Town of Aurora is provided by New drainage to prevent flooding, erosion, and water York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) while natural gas pollution. The stormwater system includes a network of is provided by National Fuel. These utilities ensure drains, culverts, and retention basins that direct runoff reliable energy distribution to homes and businesses, from roads, properties, and public spaces into natural with NYSEG maintaining the electrical grid, responding waterways. to outages, and offering energy efficiency programs, while National Fuel supplies natural gas for heating, 2,963 properties (72.8%) within the Town rely on private cooking, and other residential and commercial uses. septic systems for wastewater treatment, as municipal Customers have the option of choosing alternative sewer services are not available in all areas. A typical Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) for electricity system consists of a septic tank, where solids settle and gas supply while still relying on the main utility and break down, and a leach field, where effluent liquid providers for distribution and maintenance. is filtered into the soil. Homeowners are responsible for routine maintenance, including pumping the tank every Recently, through the support of the Town’s Climate 3-5 years to prevent system failure and environmental Smart Communities Committee, the Town has rolled contamination. The Erie County Health Department out a Community Solar program called Aurora Solar regulates septic system installation and maintenance, Savings, which is an opt-in program. Through NYSEG, requiring permits for new or replacement systems to residents can sign up at no cost to have a portion of ensure compliance with health and environmental their electricity they use to be sourced from a solar standards. energy farm. The program currently receives its energy from a solar project in Halfmoon, NY which is north of Albany, NY. There are only a few hundred spots provided to Aurora which have all be claimed, but the Town is actively working to expand the number of slots for the program. The program is a benefit to the community and residents for several reasons, including up to 10% off utility bills, no need for roof-mounted solar panels, and the town receives additional grant funding through the program success which can be invested towards other clean energy projects.

40 Town of Aurora What We Heard Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, and two public workshops. Regarding Public & Municipal Services, community feedback emphasized the importance of maintaining high-quality public services while addressing infrastructure gaps and preparing for future needs. • Internet & Cell Service Gaps: Many residents, especially in the southern and more rural areas, reported poor internet and cell service. Expanding high-speed broadband was a top priority for improving access to work, education, and emergency services. • Desire for Sustainable Services: There is interest in expanding recycling, e-waste drop-off, and composting programs to improve environmental sustainability. • Protecting the Tree Canopy: Utility upgrades have resulted in significant tree loss, prompting calls for a coordinated tree management and preservation plan. • Senior Services in High Demand: With a growing senior population, residents called for enhanced transportation, health services, and community programming to support aging in place Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing strengths or assets in the Town that can “Issues” represent either existing needs be further leveraged and supports the or gaps in the Town that limits to future potential for new development, business development or the Town from achieving creation, or achieving the plan’s vision the plan’s vision statement and goals. statement and goals. Broadband Expansion to Enhance Connectivity Aging Road and Stormwater Infrastructure: in Rural Areas: While some areas have high-speed With a significant amount of road maintenance internet, rural parts of the Town still rely on DSL or responsibility, ongoing repairs and stormwater satellite services. Expanding broadband access, management will require investment. Flooding and particularly fiber-optic networks, could attract erosion concerns may increase with more extreme remote workers, support small businesses, and weather events. improve digital access for residents. Tree Canopy Loss Due to Infrastructure Upgrades: Enhancement of Senior Services and Community Broadband and utility installations have led to Programming: With a growing senior population, significant tree trimming, impacting the Town’s there is an opportunity to expand programs at the natural character and environmental benefits. Senior Center, such as transportation services, Implementing policies for responsible tree health screenings, and technology training to management alongside infrastructure expansion improve digital literacy and social connectivity. could help mitigate this issue. Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives: The Town already offers some waste and recycling services, but opportunities exist for expanding composting programs, hazardous waste collection, or educational initiatives to promote waste reduction and environmental sustainability.

Comprehensive Plan 41 Transportation Systems Transportation systems are the arteries of Transportation Network community life—supporting mobility, shaping land use patterns, and influencing public safety The Town of Aurora’s transportation network and environmental health. In the Town of Aurora, is characterized by roadways under various the rural landscape, limited public transportation, jurisdictions. NYS Route 20A, otherwise known as and reliance on personal vehicles have defined Quaker Road, Hamburg Street, Main Street and a transportation network that is both an asset Big Tree Road, is an east-west two-lane minor and a challenge. Key corridors such as NYS arterial in Aurora and is considered a gateway to Routes 20A and 16 serve as vital connectors to the Town of Orchard Park, the Town of Wales, and regional employment centers, yet high traffic NYS Interstate 400, otherwise known as the Aurora volumes and limited pedestrian and bicycle Expressway. NYS Route 20A generally consists of infrastructure present growing concerns for safety 12-foot-wide travel lanes with added turn lanes and accessibility. As the Town continues to evolve, and various lane width changes throughout the identifying opportunities to enhance connectivity, Town boundary. NYS Route 16, otherwise known support alternative transportation options, and as Olean Street and Olean Road, is a north-south promote walkability will be critical in fostering a corridor that begins at Main Street in the Village more inclusive and sustainable future. of East Aurora and spans through the Hamlet of South Wales within the Aurora township boundary. NYS Route 16 consists of approximately 12-foot- wide travel lanes and varying shoulder widths. Other key corridors in the Town include Center Street, Buffalo Road, Davis Road, Mill Road, and Maple Street.

42 Town of Aurora

Comprehensive Plan 43 Traffic Volumes % Change in % AADT, AADT, Roadway Jurisdiction AADT 2013- Trucking Traffic volumes throughout the Town 2013 2023 2023 Traffic of Aurora vary depending on the road US Route 20A (Route New York classification. Most roads classified 10,145 10,115 -0.3% 8% 400 to Town Line) State as either principal arterials or minor arterials will have the highest traffic New York Buffalo Road 9,146 9,528 +4.2% 4% volumes. Roadways in the Town that are State under either State or County jurisdiction Maple Street Erie County 7,542 7,775 +3.1% 3% have been noted to have the highest New York traffic volumes as they have been Quaker Road 7,168 7,100 -.01% 5% State designed to accommodate commuters and through traffic. New York Olean Road 6,195 5,782 -6.7% 6% State Traffic Crashes Center Street Erie County 4,500 5,145 +20.3% 5% Based on data from the NYS Jewett Holmwood Erie County 4,230 4,138 -2.2% 5% Road Department of Transportation, 507 motor vehicle crashes were reported Davis Road Erie County 3,119 3,243 +4.0% 4% in the Town of Aurora between 2019 and 2023. The highest number of these crashes occurred on NYS Route 20A along the Town’s border at Transit Road and the entrance and exit ramps for NYS Interstate 400, as well as at the intersection of Davis Road (NYS 240) and Mill Road. Other notable high crash locations include NYS Route 20A at Jewett Holmwood Road, Transit Road at Jewett Holmwood, Bowen Road at Hillcrest Road, and Center Street at Emery Road. No crashes resulting in fatality were reported. Among the 507 motor vehicle crashes reported, one crash involved a bicyclist, and one crash involved a pedestrian. Road Crash Frequency Center Street 43 NYS 400 43 Transit Road 36 Davis Road 35 Mill Road 32 Jewett Holmwood Rd 25

44 Town of Aurora Transit Service the station on December 31, 1973, marking the end of over a century of commuter rail service in East The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Aurora. Today, the historic station building has been provides transit service to Erie County with one bus repurposed and operates as Riley Street Station, a route serving the Town of Aurora. The 70 route (East gastropub that preserves and celebrates the rich Aurora Express) is an express route that operates railroad heritage of East Aurora. Existing Amtrak between Downtown Buffalo and East Aurora. This services are available nearby in the City of Buffalo or route runs only on weekdays and arrives in the the Village of Depew. Village four times per day, twice in the morning at 7:08 am and 7:43 am, and twice in the evening at According to the United States Department of 4:40 pm and 5:10 pm. This route reaches the Town Transportation, there is one active rail line in the via the Maple Street exit on NYS Interstate 400, Town of Aurora. The Buffalo Line is the main line Continuing through the Village via Maple Street rail owned by the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. again. Bus stops within the Town are both located There are nine over-grade crossings, four at-grade on Maple and Main Street. crossings, and two under-grade crossings in the town and village. The Going Places Transportation Program is a program provided by the Erie County Department In May 2020, a significant train derailment occurred of Senior Services. This service provides van in the Village of East Aurora. A freight train operated transportation for health-related services, food and by Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad derailed near nutrition, personal business, and social activities, Main Street and Riley Street, resulting in 15 cars and is available Tuesday through Friday (except leaving the tracks. Fortunately, there were no holidays) to Town of Aurora residents over the age injuries reported among the crew or residents, of 62. This program has a suggested donation of and no substantial damage to nearby structures. $8 per person each way; however, donations are The derailment led to the evacuation of 41 homes confidential. as a precautionary measure due to a diesel fuel spill from the locomotive. Investigations revealed Rural Transit Service (RTS) is a non-profit that the incident was caused by a track crew transportation service that provides transportation leaving a siding switch unlocked, which allowed to senior citizens, low/moderate income individuals the switch to move and misalign the tracks. This and clients with disabilities. Eligible residents are event highlighted concerns about rail safety in the transported to dialysis clinics, medical offices, community, especially regarding the transportation physical therapy, pharmacies, colleges, workplaces, of hazardous materials. senior centers, nutrition sites, adult day cares, grocery stores, banks, salons/barbers, etc., with Air Travel medical trips taking priority. The Rural Transit vans run between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday The Town of Aurora does not have its own airport. through Friday, except holidays. Rural Transit riders Residents typically rely on nearby airports for air are not required to contribute to services utilized travel. The closest major airport is Buffalo Niagara through RTS, although donations are accepted and International Airport (BUF), situated approximately encouraged. 17 miles from Aurora. The airport offers numerous daily flights to various destinations and serves as the Railroads primary hub for travelers in the region. The Town of Aurora, particularly the Village of East For general aviation, several smaller airports are Aurora, has a rich history of commuter rail service accessible within a reasonable distance: dating back to the 19th century. Initial proposals for a rail line from Buffalo to East Aurora emerged • Buffalo Airfield (9G0): Located in West Seneca, as early as April 1832 by the Buffalo and Aurora this public-use airport is approximately 6 miles Railroad Company. However, due to economic southeast of downtown Buffalo. challenges, the project was delayed. It wasn’t until • Akron Airport (9G3): Situated near Akron, New December 23, 1867, that the first passenger train York, this privately owned, public-use airport is arrived in East Aurora under the direction of the about 12 miles northeast of Aurora. Buffalo & Washington Railroad Company, which later became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. • Buffalo-Lancaster Regional Airport (BQR): Found near Lancaster, New York, this public- At its peak, Riley Street Station in East Aurora saw use airport is approximately 3 miles northeast 18 passenger trains daily, serving approximately 300 of Lancaster and serves the surrounding passengers traveling to and from Buffalo. However, communities. with the rise of automobile travel, demand for rail services declined. The last passenger train departed These facilities primarily accommodate private pilots and small aircraft operations.

Comprehensive Plan 45 Active Transportation skiing, and snowshoeing. Trail surfaces range from paved paths to natural terrains, accommodating On-Road Bicycle Facilities different preferences and skill levels. The park’s trail system includes several notable paths: There are no dedicated on-road bicycle facilities in the Town of Aurora or Village of East Aurora. • Outer Loop (3.5 miles): This extensive trail However, when Main Street in the Village of East circles the park’s perimeter, providing a Aurora was redesigned several years ago, the NYS comprehensive tour of its varied landscapes. DOT included a shared shoulder space between • Backyard Trail (1.45 miles): A moderately the travel lanes and the on-street parking spots. distanced path that offers a closer look at the Although this space does not meet legal width park’s natural features. requirements to be considered a bike lane, it is used as a bike lane for all intents and purposes. • Butterfly Trail (0.8 miles): A shorter trail ideal While some bicyclists do utilize this space as a bike for observing local flora and fauna, particularly lane, most cyclists do not feel safe doing so and butterflies. opt instead to use the sidewalks. • Library Trail (0.7 miles): A scenic route that provides a peaceful walking experience. Sidewalks • Lower Pond Trail (0.5 miles): A brief trail that Sidewalk infrastructure is primarily concentrated leads to a serene pond area, perfect for a within the Village of East Aurora, where leisurely stroll. the Department of Public Works oversees maintenance, including snow removal. Property JP Nicely Park features approximately 2.25 miles owners are responsible for keeping sidewalks of trails. The main loop trail begins near the park’s adjoining their lands free from snow, ice, and south end and leads through wooded areas down other obstructions. Outside the village limits, the to Cazenovia Creek. The trail is well-marked and presence of sidewalks is limited, with pedestrian wide, providing a comfortable hiking experience. pathways being less common. Portions of the Town Much of the path runs alongside the creek, offering outside East Aurora where sidewalks are present scenic views and shaded by large trees. Along the include new subdivisions around the edge of way, there are spots to rest near the water, making the Village, as well as portions of the Hamlets of it a pleasant environment for hikers and their pets. West Falls and South Wales. The Town’s Highway Department focuses on maintaining 62 miles Emery Park features several trails and at least three of town roads, handling tasks such as plowing, trail heads that provide connections to all of the salting, and general road upkeep, but sidewalks amenities and facilities located at the park. are not a primary feature in these areas. The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a planned 27-mile Multi-Use Trails multi-use trail that will eventually connect the Town of Orchard Park in Erie County to the Town Majors Park offers trails in both the northern of Ashford in Cattaraugus County, utilizing the and southern sections of the park. The northern former right of way for the Buffalo, Rochester, and section of the park is primarily a wetland with a Pittsburgh Railroad. The portion of the trail that will trail/boardwalk offering access throughout the traverse through the Town of Aurora will begin on wetland complex. The southern section of the park the border of Aurora and Orchard Park on Ellicott offers trails through forests, meadows, and riparian Rd (NYS Route 240). The trail will pass through habitats along Cazenovia Creek. There is no trail the Hamlets of Jewettville and West Falls before that connects the northern and southern sections exiting the Town into the Town of Colden along of the park. Davis Rd (NYS Route 240). Once fully completed, the trail will provide residents and visitors of Aurora Knox Farm State Park has an expansive set of trails with 27 miles of uninterrupted access throughout that provide amenities for various activities such multiple historic communities in Western New York. as biking, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country

46 Town of Aurora What We Heard Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, and two public workshops. Regarding Transportation Systems, residents emphasized the need for safer, more accessible transportation options beyond personal vehicles, with a strong focus on walkability, biking, and road maintenance. • Support for Trail Connectivity: Expanding trail networks, including the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT), was widely supported to improve recreation, access to parks, and connections between throughout the town. • Expand Sidewalks and Bike Infrastructure: Residents called for more sidewalks and bike lanes—especially along Center Street and Mill Road, in the hamlet centers, and routes to the high school, and Knox Farm Park. These improvements were seen as essential for safety, accessibility, and community connectivity. • Improve Transit Access and Options: There was notable demand for enhanced public transit, including shuttles to Buffalo, service to events, and options for seniors and low-income residents. Several participants suggested exploring on-demand services or expanded bus routes • Enhance Road Maintenance and Conditions: Many survey respondents expressed dissatisfaction with road conditions and requested more consistent maintenance, particularly on rural roads and bike lanes Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing needs strengths or assets in the Town that can or gaps in the Town that limits to future be further leveraged and supports the development or the Town from achieving potential for new development, business the plan’s vision statement and goals. creation, or achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. Enhance Trail Systems and Park Linkages: Rail Safety Vulnerability: The 2020 derailment near Completing the 27-mile ECRT multi-use trail will Main Street in East Aurora highlights potential risks connect Aurora to Orchard Park and Colden, posed by freight rail lines transporting hazardous promoting recreation, healthy living, and potential materials, emphasizing the importance of local economic spin-offs (e.g., local cafés, bike rentals) emergency preparedness and communication. near trail heads. Trail connections at Majors Park, Knox Farm State Park, and JP Nicely Park can be High-Crash Locations on Major Corridors: NYS further integrated with future sidewalks or bike Route 20A near the 400 ramps, Davis Road (NYS paths, increasing accessibility and encouraging 240), and other intersections experience notably eco-tourism and alternative mobility around higher crash rates, suggesting the need for better Aurora’s natural assets. signage, turning lanes, or traffic-calming measures. Opportunities for Complete Street Initiatives: Speeding and Cut-Through Traffic on Secondary Many roads already have 12-foot travel lanes that Roads: Local roads like Center Street and Mill may be suitable for re-striping or adding bike Road sometimes serve as cut-throughs for drivers lanes, traffic calming, or pedestrian crossings to avoiding main arteries, leading to higher speeds, improve safety for non-drivers. noise, and safety concerns for residents. On-Demand or Microtransit Pilot Projects: Building on NFTA’s express routes and existing senior transit, Aurora could explore phone-app- based or reservation-driven shuttles to expand service hours or coverage areas, benefiting young workers and older adults alike.

Comprehensive Plan 47 Recreational, Historical, & Cultural Resources The following sections provide an overview of the recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Town of Aurora, including parks and other recreational spaces, historic sites eligible to be included in the National Register of Historic Places, and areas of cultural significance to the Town. Together these places help shape the character of the Town and are attractions that bring visitors into the community. Town Parks J.P. Nicely Memorial Park Located in the Hamlet of West Falls, J.P. Nicely Memorial Park covers approximately 65 acres of land along West Falls Road and is adjacent to the Aurora Waldorf School. Amenities at the park include several baseball fields, a basketball court, pickleball courts, a small lodge and three picnic shelters, 2.25 miles of walking trails, and tennis courts. J.P. Nicely Park is also home to one of the Town’s Summer Day Camps, where children ages 8-12 are exposed to a variety of different sports and themed events. West Falls Veterans Park & Community Playground Located at the corner of Davis Road and Bridge Street, Veterans Park covers approximately 1 acre of land along the western side of the Cazenovia Creek in the Hamlet of West Falls. This park is multifaceted in that it provides a memorial to veterans of the West Falls area as well as home to the West Falls Memorial Day Parade ceremony. The parks also provide daily recreational amenities such as seating, public parking for nearby businesses, historic interpretive signage about the community, and scenic views of the Cazenovia Creek. Veterans Park is essential to the character of West Falls as it both celebrates the area’s past while providing direct access to one of the community’s greatest assets, the Cazenovia Creek. Located on the eastern side of Cazenovia Creek, the West Falls Community Playground is found along W Falls Rd and covers approximately 0.26 acres of land. While the playground provides an area for families to take their children for recreation, there is currently a lack of sidewalks along West Falls Road which makes accessing the playground difficult by foot. Warren Drive Park Located in Warren Drive in the Village of East Aurora, the town park covers 2.5 acres of land, providing a playground, a small picnic area, pickleball courts, and athletic fields. The park also hosts a picnic shelter that is rentable to host parties and events.

48 Town of Aurora Majors Park Located just south of the Village of East Aurora, Majors Park covers 160 acres of land along Olean Rd (NYS Route 16). The primary feature of the park is the east branch of the Cazenovia Creek which bisects the park into a northern and southern half, inhibiting direct access between the two sections. The northern section of the park is primarily a wetland with a trail/boardwalk offering access throughout the wetland complex. The southern section of the park, which is only accessible from Hubbard Rd, offers trails through forests, meadows, and riparian habitats along Cazenovia Creek. Aurora Community Pool Park Aurora Community Pool Park is a 7-acre park found on the border between the Village of East Aurora and the Town of Aurora. The park is equipped with an outdoor pool and wading pool, a picnic shelter with picnic tables and grills, tennis and pickleball courts, a small playground, and several sports fields. Village Parks In addition to all the town-owned parks, both in the Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora, there are several recreational spaces in the East Aurora that are managed by the Village. These spaces are also often frequented by Village and Town residents too. Hamlin Park One of the oldest parks in the Town, Hamlin Park was established in 1899 and covers 16-acres of land along S Grove Street. The park offers various amenities for all types of recreational activities, including two picnic shelters and a pavilion, several picnic tables, a volleyball court, a baseball court, a rotary bandstand, horseshoe pits, a half mile track, tennis and pickleball courts, a baseball diamond, and a multi- purpose sports field. Cazenovia Creek Nature Sanctuary The Cazenovia Creek Nature Sanctuary is a protected natural space located on the border between the Village and Town covering approximately 5.59 acres, 2.16 of which is in the Town of Aurora. Heavily forested with direct access to the Cazenovia Creek via rudimentary trails, the nature sanctuary seeks to provide space for the nourishment of native species of flora and fauna while also offering residents the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature. Sinking Pond Wildlife Sanctuary Located on the northern border of the Village, the Sinking Pond Wildlife Sanctuary covers approximately 73 acres of ponds, hills, and wetlands. Formed tens of thousands of years ago by glaciers, the site was purchased by the Village in 1930. The sanctuary today is a refuge for the area’s native species and while also providing limited trails and seating areas for visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Programming and maintenance at the park are provided by Friends of Sinking Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary.

Comprehensive Plan 49 County & State Parks Emery Park Emery Park is a 457-acre park and one of the oldest in the Erie County system as it was acquired in 1925 from the Josiah Emery farmstead, a former resident of the Town. The park is multi-purposed, offering both passive and sports-specific recreation options for all four seasons. With a major ravine and the Cazenovia Creek cutting through the park, the park offers an abundance of opportunities for hiking and immersion in natural settings. Other prominent recreational facilities in the park include a ski-slope and lodge, an 18-hole black diamond disc golf course, an amphitheater, and various sports facilities and picnic areas. Knox Farm State Park Knox Farm State Park is a New York State owned park and the former country estate of Buffalo’s renowned Knox Family. The 633-acre park is comprised of a variety of habitats, including over 400 acres of meadows, 100 acres of woodlands and several prominent ponds and wetlands. The park’s expansive set of trails provides amenities for various activities such as biking, hiking, horseback riding, and cross- country skiing. The park is also home to a 6-acre dog park and nursery which supplies planting to state parks all throughout Western New York (WNY). However, the park is most notable for hosting the Borderland Music & Arts Festival, which is a three-day festival celebrating the rich history of the WNY region. Going on for six years now, the festival welcomes over 10,000 attendees to the Town of Aurora each year. Trails, Waterways, and Other Recreational Opportunities Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a planned 27-mile multi-use trail that will eventually connect the Town of Orchard Park in Erie County to the Town of Ashford in Cattaraugus County, utilizing the former right-of-way for the Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburgh Railroad. Currently under development, portions of the trail are open in the Towns of Orchard Park and Concord, and the Village of Springville. The portion of the trail that will traverse through the Town of Aurora will begin on the border of Aurora and Orchard Park on Ellicott Rd (NYS Route 240). Following the Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburgh Railroad right-of-way, the trail will pass through the Hamlets of Jewettville and West Falls before exiting the Town into the Town of Colden along Davis Rd (NYS Route 240). Once fully completed, the trail will provide residents and visitors of Aurora with 27 miles of uninterrupted access throughout multiple historic communities in Western New York.

50 Town of Aurora Cazenovia Creek Cazenovia Creek is the primary waterway traversing through the Town of Aurora and is comprised of two branches, the east and west branches which join in the Village of East Aurora, before joining the Buffalo River in the City of Buffalo. This waterway holds significant cultural and historic value to the Town as it was historically utilized for hydropower to run the various mills that once existed in the Town’s hamlets. Today, the creek is frequently utilized for recreation, such as fishing, kayaking, and cooling off from the summer heat. Owen Falls Sanctuary Owen Falls Sanctuary is a 58-acre nature preserve managed by the Western New York Land Conservancy. Located just south of the Village of East Aurora, the sanctuary covers a portion of Mann’s Creek as well as the woodlands, vernal pools, and wetlands that surround it. The sanctuary also hosts a 1.4-mile trail which provides spectacular views of two waterfalls and various rare wildlife native to the region. Mill Road Scenic Overlook Located along Mill Road, the overlook provides picturesque views of over 60 acres of land along the Town’s rolling hills. While owned by the Town, the 60 acres, which include 18 acres of mature forest and over 30 acres of open meadows and marshland, is maintained by the Western New York Land Conservancy. Although there are no trails on the overlook, there is a small parking area and benches so visitors can take in all the excellent views. Genesee Valley Land Conservancy Lands The Genesee Valley Land Conservancy is a nonprofit group whose mission is to protect the habitat, open space, and farmland of the Genesee Valley region. While their focus is primarily along the Genesee River, there are several parcels within Aurora which are privately owned but forever preserved as open space through conservation easements. Overall, these preserved open spaces total 278 acres, most of which are found west of the Route 400 expressway, however, there are some also along Willardshire Rd near Knox Farm State Park. West Falls Conservation Society The West Falls Conservation Society is a 300-member conservation club located in the Hamlet of West Falls, offering opportunities for target shooting and sporting education. In operation since 1943, the society also hosts competitive leagues for various shooting sports in the spring and fall. The society’s lands are significantly forested, which help contribute to the natural and rural character of the area. East Aurora Fish & Game Club The East Aurora Fish & Game Club is a private member only club founded in 1905. Situated on 76 acres of woodland and hills in the Town of Aurora, the goals of the club is to preserve, promote, and provide a place for enjoyment of outdoor activities that support conservation.

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52 Town of Aurora Parks Performance Analysis Understanding the performance and quality of services that parks and other recreational facilities within the Town of Aurora is a key factor to consider when trying to understand how these spaces can be improved to better serve the public. The National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) 2024 Agency Performance Review summarizes key finding on how well parks throughout the US are performing. These findings can assist park and recreation professionals in effectively managing and planning their operating resources and capital facilities. NRPA’s review provides 29 different metrics to consider which are broken down by the total jurisdictional population. Some relevant and key metrics to consider for the Town of Aurora include: 1. A municipality typically offers one park for every 1,172 residents 2. A municipality typically offers 12.6 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents 3. A municipality typically offers 4.5 miles of trails for walking, hiking, and/or biking 4. A municipality’s parks department typically budgets $135.53 per resident into their annual operating budget Though not mentioned in the NRPA 2024 Review, access to parks is also another key metric to consider. The Town of Aurora is largely rural in character; therefore, there is not an abundance of sidewalks for residents to utilize when accessing parks. With that, parks in Aurora are largely only accessible by foot for residents who live immediately next to them. However, a driving analysis was conducted to determine the accessibility of parks in the Town of Aurora for residents by car, which is the main mode of transit in the Town. Median Park Metric for Jurisdictions Town, Village, County, State Town Parks <20,000 Residents Parks & Nature Preserves One park for every 1,072 One park for every 1.172 residents One park for every 2,788 residents residents 12.6 acres of parkland for every 1,000 103.5 acres for every 1,000 16.9 acres for every 1,000 residents residents residents 3.35 miles or trails (J.P. Nicely and Majors At least 4.5 miles of trails 12.72 miles of trails Park) Annual operating expenses of $135.53 per $47.00 per resident* N/A resident *Town’s annual budget for Culture and Recreation as of 2025 is $655,435 – besides parks and recreational programming administration and maintenance, the budget also includes funding for celebrations (i.e. Independence Day) and the Town Historian. Comparing the performance and quality of services for parks and recreational opportunities in the Town of Aurora to nationwide benchmarking metrics for jurisdictions with 20,000 residents or less, it demonstrates that Aurora falls short for the number of parks per capita but exceeds the acreage of parkland available to residents. Additionally, the Town is lacking in the availability of trails and the amount of funding allocated towards parks and recreation. The Town of Aurora Recreation Department serves approximately 13,943 residents by maintaining 235.76 acres of parkland across five parks. This equates to approximately one park for every 2,788 residents and 16.9 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. Based on nationwide metrics, Aurora falls short of the nationwide metric of one park for every 1,172 residents by over one thousand residents, however, it does exceed the metric of 10.6 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents by providing 16.9 acres for every 1,000 residents. When factoring in village, county, and state parks, as well as nature preserves in Aurora, the Town’s metrics far outperform nationwide metrics for parkland availability and the number of available parks.

Comprehensive Plan 53 Considering trails, the Town falls short of the natural settings through passive recreation. national metric for 4.5 miles of trails. Across the Town’s parks there are approximately 3.35 miles Parks Accessibility Analysis of trails. Considering trails within county and state parks, as well as nature preserves in the town, the One of the most important aspects of a great park Town offers approximately 12.72 miles of trails. system is its accessibility to the residents it serves. Once the portion of the Erie Cattaraugus Trail To determine the accessibility of parks in the Town that will traverse through the Town is completed, of Aurora, a driveshed analysis was conducted for Aurora will surpass 4.5 miles of available trails and every town, village, county, and state-owned park in will be able to offer residents the opportunity to Aurora, as well as nature preserves. As seen in the connect to other trails outside the Town. adjacent map, 95.3% of residential parcels in the Town are within a 5-minute drive of a park in the Aurora Lastly, the Town of Aurora dedicates approximately (light pink); 100% of residential parcels are within a just one-third of the operating expenditure 10-minute drive of a park in Aurora (dark pink). Due to expected for parks & recreation in jurisdictions the Town’s rural nature, there is a lack of a pedestrian of 20,000 or less residents nationwide. Much network (sidewalks and trails) that connects residents of the land the Town’s parks cover, especially to the Town’s Park System, however, everyone in the its largest at Majors Park, embraces the area’s Town does have convenient access to parkland with natural environment and allow natural features just a short car trip. and vegetation to permeate. This in turn reduces maintenance costs for the Town while also allowing residents to immerse themselves in truly

54 Town of Aurora Historical Assets Cultural Assets There are no historic districts or sites in the Town West Falls Center for the Arts: Located at 1863 Davis of Aurora that are listed in the National Register of Road, the West Falls Center for the Arts is a nonprofit Historic Places. However, there is one district and 42 arts venue providing programming for veterans, sites that are eligible for historic designation with the kids, caregivers, and those with mental disabilities. In National Register of Historic Places. Of the 42 eligible addition to providing this programming, the Center sites throughout the Town of Aurora, 31 of them are also hosts live music entertainment for residents and within Knox Farm State Park, which itself is eligible visitors of West Falls throughout the year. to be listed as a historic district. Below is a heat map indicating the location of historically eligible sites The Blueberry Treehouse Farm: Located at 1897 throughout the Town. Some notable sites include: Davis Road, the Blueberry Treehouse Farm is a multi- entertainment venue open to the public throughout West Falls Train Depot: Reconstructed in 1917 the summer and fall months. The business’s primary following a fire which destroyed the original depot. draw is its u-pick organic blueberry farm which is This building functioned as a passenger station for open from July to August where visitors to West Falls visitors to the Hamlet of West Falls along the Buffalo, can harvest their own fresh blueberries. In addition, Rochester, and Pittsburgh Railroad, which ceased they also have a treehouse café and outdoor concert passenger operations in West Falls as of 1961. stage where visitors can purchase delicious food and listen to local music, all while enjoying the The Dog Bar: Originally built in 1835 to serve as a rural setting of Aurora. The café and farm bring in hotel for hunters, farmers, salesmen, and loggers thousands of visitors to the West Falls area each passing through the Hamlet of West Falls, the building year, helping stimulate the economic activity of other has remained in operation as an upscale, yet cozy, businesses nearby. restaurant by the same family since 1941. Aurora History Museum: Located in the Town Knox Farm & the Knox Family Mansion: Constructed of Aurora Municipal Building, the Aurora History in 1917 with late 19th and early 20th century colonial Museum features Native American artifacts, personal revival styles, the 14,400 sq ft Knox Farm Mansion possessions of the community’s earliest settlers, was the former summer estate of the Knox Family, and items related to local industry and business. In a prominent family involved in various businesses addition, showcasing the history of the Town, the throughout the Buffalo area. Situated on the present- Museum and the Town’s Historian provide research day 600+ acres plus Knox Farm State Park, the summer resources and assistance for any visitors seeking to estate and 30 other buildings scattered throughout learn more about their ancestral history in the area. the park are eligible for historic designation. Today, the Knox Family Mansion is available to rent for various Hawk Creek Wildlife Center: Located at 1963 Mill events such as weddings, while the park grounds Road in the Hamlet of Jewettville, Hawk Creek are utilized for daily park activities and also hosts Wildlife Center is an aviary wildlife center that the annual Borderland Music and Arts festival which promotes the conservation and education of flying attracts 10,000+ attendees each year. birds through shows, animal interactions, and educational programs. Hawk Creek Wildlife Center is If these sites were to be listed in the State and National a recreational and entertainment experience which Register of Historic Places, they could be eligible for helps attract visitors to the Town. historic tax credits to assist in repairs and renovations. Additionally, preserving historic sites such as these would help the community to preserve its historic character, thus making the area more attractive to residents and visitors alike.

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56 Town of Aurora What We Heard Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, and two public workshops. With regard to Recreational, Cultural, and Historical Resources, residents emphasized the importance of high-quality parks, cultural amenities, and preserved historic character as core elements of Aurora’s identity. • Expand and Connect Trails: Trails were the most requested recreational feature, with strong interest in expanding multi-use trails, walking and biking paths, and connections between parks and neighborhoods • Preserve Historic Assets: Residents value the Town’s heritage and support the adaptive reuse of historic structures, better promotion of historic sites like the Millard Fillmore House, and incentives to maintain historic homes • Improve Communication and Accessibility: Resident suggestions included creating a centralized and accessible resource for sharing information about events and recreation and ensuring parks are welcoming and usable for all ages and abilities. Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing needs strengths or assets in the Town that can or gaps in the Town that limits to future be further leveraged and supports the development or the Town from achieving potential for new development, business the plan’s vision statement and goals. creation, or achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. Historic Preservation & Cultural Tourism: Limited Pedestrian Connectivity to Recreational Formally listing eligible sites (i.e., portions of Knox Sites: Many parks (i.e., Knox Farm & Majors Park) Farm & West Falls Train Depot) on the National lack sidewalks or safe pedestrian routes, making Register would unlock historic tax credits, bolster it difficult for non-drivers—especially children and community pride, and attract visitors seeking seniors—to reach recreational amenities. heritage experiences. Gaps in Trail Mileage and Linkages: Town parks Potential Rail Trail & Trail Connectivity: Tying in collectively have about 3.35 miles of trails, below the the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail with existing park 4.5 miles recommended by national metrics. Despite trails, can form a broader network joining hamlets, natural assets like Cazenovia Creek and scenic scenic overlooks, and historic points together— preserves, trail connections and signage remain ultimately surpassing the 4.5-mile national inconsistent. standard for walkable and bikeable trails. Insufficient Year-Round Indoor Facilities: Most local Local Artisan & Agri-Tourism Partnerships: parks offer primarily outdoor amenities, leaving Collaborations with farms, the West Falls Center limited indoor gathering or recreational space for the Arts, and the Blueberry Treehouse Farm (gyms, community centers) during winter months or can produce workshops, seasonal festivals, or inclement weather. artisan fairs that highlight local goods and cultural traditions.

Comprehensive Plan 57 Agricultural & Natural Resources Understanding and managing the Town of Aurora’s agricultural and natural resources is essential for preserving the rural charm, environmental integrity, and cultural identity that residents value deeply. Inventorying these resources—including farmland, forests, wetlands, water bodies, and wildlife—helps illustrate the town’s ecological richness and supports informed decision-making that balances growth with stewardship. While agricultural uses and open lands continue to define much of the Town’s landscape, they face increasing pressure from residential development, invasive species, and climate change. Informed planning and protection strategies are needed to conserve these vital resources, promote sustainable farming, and safeguard natural systems for future generations. Water Resources Watersheds A watershed is a land area that channels all rainfall and snow melt to a given body of water. Water from creeks and streams flow from high ground to lower ground, into waterbodies like rivers that themselves feed into a larger waterbody such as a lake, bay, or ocean. The United States Geological Survey delineates watersheds by a system of decreasing geographic levels: national regions, subregions, basins, sub-basins, watersheds, and ending at sub-watersheds. Each of these features is assigned a hydrologic unit code (HUC), which is given two additional digits for each level in the system. The Town of Aurora is primarily within the Buffalo River watershed (HUC-10) of the Niagara River/Lake Erie sub-basin (HUC-8). The Buffalo River watershed is in the southern portion of the Niagara River/Lake Erie watershed. It has a total area of 105,392 acres and includes 312 miles of waterways. Waterways within the watershed include the Buffalo River and Cazenovia Creek, the latter of which branches into its West Branch and East Branch in the Town of Aurora. To a smaller extent, portions of the Town are also in the Buffalo Creek and Smoke Creek-Frontal Lake Erie sub-watersheds. Farmland Forest Developed Land Total Area of Watershed Name Town Covered % of Total % of Total % of Total Acres Acres Acres Area Area Area Buffalo Creek 818 Acres 34.5 4.2% 376.8 46.1% 352.93 43.1% Buffalo River 19,612 Acres 4,791.5 24.4% 10,271.6 52.4% 3,420.9 17.4% Smoke Creek - Frontal 1,311 Acres 391.9 29.9% 613.2 46.8% 213.8 16.3% Lake Erie Water Bodies Water Quality There are three large ponds and 60 small, The NYSDEC classifies the quality of waterbodies unnamed ponds in Aurora. The large ponds are with a grade of A-D. Class “A” waterbodies are the Bob-O-Link Golf Course Pond, Christ the King a suitable source for water supply and contact Seminary Pond, and the East Aurora Country Club recreation, while Class “D” waterbodies are only Pond. In addition to the West and East Branches deemed suitable for recreational fishing. Both of Cazenovia Creek, Aurora also contains portions branches of the Cazenovia Creek are Class “B: of Smokes Creek, Pipe Creek, and Tannery Brook. waterbodies, meaning they are suitable for fishing Tannery Brook is in the northeast corner of the as well as primary and secondary recreation. Town and primarily runs through the Village of East Aurora, where it connects with Cazenovia Creek. Smokes Creek is located on the western border of the Town of Aurora and primarily runs through Orchard Park and Lackawanna, before emptying into Lake Erie. Pipe Creek is located along the Town’s southern border near the Hamlet of West Falls.

58 Town of Aurora Flood Zones Floodplains are areas of low-lying land typically found FEMA’s Community Rating System adjacent to bodies of water that become inundated during times of high-water flow. Floodplains offer The Community Rating System (CRS) several ecosystem services that benefit the natural is a voluntary incentive program that environment and residents of Aurora. These ecosystem encourages community floodplain services include regulating flood damage, recharging management practices that exceed the groundwater capacity, regulating sediment and nutrient minimum requirements of the NFIP. In levels, and maintaining wildlife habitats. communities that participate in CRS, NFIP insurance rates are discounted to varying The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) degrees depending on the amount of maps flood zones with boundaries that represent the “credit points” earned by the community. 1% (100-year floodplain) and 0.02% (500-year floodplain) Credit points can be earned by a series of chance of an annual flood. Residents in communities actions, including map information services, like Aurora who participate in FEMA’s National Flood hazard disclosures, publicly sharing Insurance Program (NFIP) and reside within the 100- flood protection information, providing year floodplain are entitled to a low-cost federal flood flood protection assistance, stormwater insurance plan that protects their property if damaged by management, floodplain management a flood. While flood zones can be mapped, they are not planning, building dams and levees, and static. Land use, climate change, the level of impervious many more. surfaces, precipitation levels, and run-off rates can all impact flood zones. Furthermore, areas outside of flood The Town of Aurora does not currently zones may flood during intense storms. participate in the CRS program. The Town could become a participant of the program In the Town of Aurora, the 100-year floodplain boundary by appointing a CRS Coordinator to serve covers land (1,456 acres) directly surrounding the East as the liaison between the community and Branch and West Branch of Cazenovia Creek. The West FEMA. The application process begins by Branch of the creek is considered a Zone A area, or submitting a letter of interest to the FEMA a Special Flood Hazard Area. The East Branch of the Regional Office and the implementation creek is mostly considered Zone AE, meaning it is in a of floodplain management activities that Regulatory Floodway. Both Zone A and Zone AE areas warrant at least 500 CRS credit points. are considered high risk and properties within these areas are required to have flood insurance while any new development is required to obtain a floodplain development permit from the Town. The 500-year floodplain is very small (315 acres) and is located only around the split of the East Branch and West Branch of Cazenovia Creek and small portions of the East Branch. Wetlands Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife, filter surface water runoff and help control flooding. They also provide scenic and educational value. Wetlands include forested swamps, open water marshes, wet meadows, and vernal pools. National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identify the location of several wetlands within the Town. Most mapped federal wetlands in Aurora are classified as PUB (pond), PSS (shrub swamp), PFO (forested or wooded swamp), or PEM (emergent marsh, fen, or wet meadow), and riverine beds. In Aurora, there are over 440 federally mapped wetlands which, in total, comprise approximately 2,368 acres of land in Aurora (10.9%). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) only maps wetlands for informational purposes as of January 1st, 2025. The NYSDEC Environmental Mapper can be used to assist with locating these informational wetlands.

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60 Town of Aurora Climate & Air Quality The Average yearly temperature in the Town of Aurora Aurora’s Climate Smart Communities is 48.4°F, with July highs around 78°F and January lows Participation around 15°F. The Town receives approximately 44 in. of rain and 116 in. of snow each year, The annual average The Town of Aurora is a participant Air Quality Index for Aurora is 27, which means the air in New York State’s Climate Smart quality is satisfactory and poses little to no risk to Communities (CSC) program and has human health. a Bronze Certification. The certification program recognizes communities for their Climate Change accomplishments towards mitigating and adapting to climate change at the Erie County, including the Town of Aurora, is included community level. Each level involves as part of Region 1 of NYSERDA’s ClimAID Climate earning points and meeting certain Regions. The ClimAID report was published in 2011 requirements related to priority actions and and updated in 2014 with new projections for climate CSC pledge elements. The Town of Aurora changes to the year 2100. The report projects an passed the Climate Smart Community increase in temperature for Region 1 between +4.3°F Pledge in September 2022 and approved a to +6.3°F by the 2050s and as much as +11.7°F by 2100. CSC Task Force in October 2022. In October Additionally, projections for increased precipitation 2023, the Town of Aurora was awarded the range from +2% to +7% by the 2050s to as much as +19% Bronze Certification with 132 points earned by 2100. Precipitation is projected to increase mostly from 19 completed actions. within the winter months, i.e. increased snowfall. By 2100, the state’s growing season could increase by a month, which could prove to increase agricultural productivity; on the other hand, summers will be more intense and more strenuous for human activity, especially those with respiratory issues and allergies. Solar Suitability Analysis In 2019, Erie County sought to identify parcels throughout the County that would be suitable for solar farm development in excess of 20 acres and/or approximately 5 MW of energy. The objective of this analysis was to (1) identify areas for development to meet the State’s renewable energy goals and (2) find alternative suitable land besides farms, so to ensure the land remains productive farmland. The criteria for a parcel to be considered suitable included (1) being greater than 20 acres, (2) within 0.5 miles of an existing transmission line, (3) not a wetland, and (4) is either vacant or undeveloped according to NYS tax parcel codes. Across the Town of Aurora, 29 parcels spanning 1,537 acres were identified as being potentially suitable for solar farm development. The majority of these parcels are found in the southern half of town, congregate along two transmission lines that cut through the town there. In addition to traditional solar energy farms, a burgeoning trend in rural communities over the last several years has been the act of agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is the combination of agricultural practices with solar installations, that allows for dual land use, optimizing space and increasing agricultural yields. By leveraging synergies between solar generation and farming, communities can benefit from enhanced food and other agricultural product production while simultaneously generating renewable energy, creating a win-win scenario for local economies. Soils & Topography Soils are the foundation for ecosystems and can greatly impact projects such as drainage systems, septic systems, building basement and foundation construction, and agricultural yield. The Town of Aurora has over 100 different soil types. Using data from the Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) the Town’s slope gradient can be calculated (in weighted averages), which is important given that slope heavily affects the potential for development and can incur additional construction costs. The elevation in the Town of Aurora varies from a less than 1% slope to up to 43%. The steepest slopes in Aurora are near the southeast of the Town, near the East Branch of Cazenovia Creek. To a smaller extent, there are also some steep slopes near the West Branch of the creek. Approximately 996 acres of the Town have slopes over 20%, constituting about 4.6% of total land in Aurora. Approximately 681 acres (3.1%) have slopes between 30% and 43%. The vast majority (over 92%) of land in Aurora has slopes of 12% or less.

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62 Town of Aurora Wildlife There are two species which are considered Rare and Endangered that have been recorded in Aurora: the Bigeye Chub (Hybopsis amblops), a freshwater fish, and the Yellow Giant Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides), a perennial flowering plant. The Bigeye Chub is listed as Critically Imperiled or Imperiled in New York but secure throughout the world. The Yellow Giant Hyssop is listed as Threatened (likely to become Endangered in the foreseeable future) in New York, but secure throughout the world. In The Town of Aurora, according to the New York iMapInvasives mapping tool, there are 35 confirmed documentations of invasive species. Invasive species are ranked by a tier system formulated by state agencies including the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Natural Heritage Program. The tiers range from 4 to 1, with 4 being the most urgent, described as a “highly invasive species with great abundance in the region, [with the] management goal of local control.” Of the 86 Tier 4 species which have been identified in the Western New York region, 29 have been identified in the Town of Aurora. This also means that over 80% of the invasive species in Aurora are considered the most urgent with management response being focused on local control. Forested Land There are 17,374 acres of land in the Town of Aurora that are forested. This equates to 79.9% of the total land in the town having at least 2% - 96% tree coverage. Tree canopy data through the NLCD is provided by the U.S. Forest Service at 30-meter resolution. Tree canopy cover is derived from multi-spectral satellite imagery and other available ground and ancillary information. Tree canopy refers to the layer of branches of leaves that cover the ground when viewed from above. Tree canopy is an important metric for communities not only because of the ecosystem services that trees provide (removal of pollutants, reduction of stormwater runoff, carbon sequestration, and more), but also because trees provide shade and cooling for homes, businesses, and users of sidewalks and streets. The presence of trees nearly universally increases property values and the desirability of a neighborhood. Tree canopy cover is calculated on a percentage scale from 0% to about 96%. In the Town of Aurora, about 4,366 acres have 0% tree cover, equating to about 21% of total land in the town. Conversely, 7,709 acres (35.5% of land cover) have 76% – 96% tree cover. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Calculated % % of Total Acres in Acres Agricultural Parcels Tree Cover Town 0 4,366.0 20.1% 0.3% of all parcels in the Town of Aurora are classified as agricultural land uses. Prominent 2% to 5% 4.46 0.02% agricultural land uses still present in the Town include the Strawberry Banks Farm (equestrian 6% to 25% 1,489.9 6.85% breeding facility), several nurseries and garden 26% to 50% 3,233.1 14.8% centers, and a few remaining family farms. Overall, agricultural land uses cover 2.4% of all 51% to 75% 4,937.5 22.7% landcover in the Town (508 acres). The true total 76% to 96% 7,709.1 35.5% number of agricultural parcels and the total Note: Due to rounding differences, the percentage of land area they cover cannot be determined as a total acres is not equal to 100%. significant portion of actively farmed land in the Town is classified as vacant land. Agricultural Soils The majority of farmland in the Town of Aurora is considered high-quality by the USDA Soil Survey. High-quality soils are characterized as “Prime,” “Prime if drained,” and “Farmland of statewide importance.” Approximately 3,558 acres, or 16% of land within the Town, is considered prime farmland, which is land that is most highly suited for productive agriculture.

Comprehensive Plan 63 Agricultural Regulations The Town of Aurora has a Right to Farm Law, adopted in 2007, which recognizes the importance of the agriculture industry to the Town and “limits the circumstances under which farming may be deemed a nuisance and to allow agricultural practices inherent to and necessary for the business of farming to proceed and be undertaken free of unreasonable and unwarranted interference or restriction.” New York State Agriculture and Markets law authorizes counties to establish Agricultural Districts for the purpose of promoting agriculture. Erie County currently has four consolidated Agricultural Districts comprising approximately 265,661 acres. Each Agricultural District must be reviewed every eight years, at which time parcels may be added or removed. Land included in an Agricultural District must be “highly suitable for agricultural production” and “feasible for farming if conditions remain the same.” Agricultural Districts protect agricultural parcels by prohibiting local governments from enforcing laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations which would “unreasonably restrict or regulate farm operations within an agricultural district; discourage private nuisance lawsuits; limit the impact of projects that receive public funding or require an eminent domain; and limit assessments for special improvement districts to dwellings and farm structures directly benefiting from the services. The Town of Aurora is in the Central Ag District (#5). As of 2022, there are 24 parcels in Aurora totaling 2,143 acres that are within the Ag District. % of Total Acres in Type of Farmland Acres Town Prime Farmland 3,558.8 16.40% Farmland of Statewide 9,674.3 44.50% Importance Prime Farmland if 4,858.1 22.30% Drained Not Prime Farmland 3,649.1 16.80%

64 Town of Aurora Ag r i c u lt u r a l R e s o u r c e s Town of Aurora 400 1 187 78 Miles ille Willardshire R oad r t erv Po o a d R 20A Davis Road d oa oodR Jewett Ho lmw Laph am Road Center Street Road eet Sw ad er Ro Grov ad Ro eley Underhill Road 240 W Branch Cazenovia Blak Creek Mill Road Boies Road Em er y Ro ad E Branch Cazenovia Creek Legend Farmland Soil Class Agricultural Districts Town of Aurora Prime Farmland Agricultural Parcels Village of East Aurora Farmland of Statewide Importance Not Prime Farmland Prime Farmland if Drained

Comprehensive Plan 65 What We Heard Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, and two public workshops. With regard to Agricultural & Natural Resources, the community strongly values the preservation of farmland, forests, and natural ecosystems. Feedback emphasized both protection and responsible use of Aurora’s rural and environmental assets. • Protect Farmland and Rural Character: A major concern is the growing loss of farmland and open space due to subdivisions. Residents overwhelmingly support stronger land conservation measures and zoning tools to preserve Aurora’s agricultural heritage and rural identity. • Promote Small-Scale Farming and Local Food Access: Residents want to expand micro-farming, homesteading, and community gardening. There is support for reducing barriers to small-scale agriculture, such as lowering permit fees for chickens or gardens, and offering tax incentives for light agricultural use on residential properties • Conserve Natural Resources and Ecosystems: Forests, wetlands, and stream corridors were identified as critical natural areas in need of protection. Residents advocated for expanded tree planting, invasive species management, and stronger stormwater controls to protect water quality and natural habitats. • Support Agritourism and Local Agriculture: Community members see potential for farm-based tourism, local food events, and greater visibility for Aurora’s agricultural economy. Many residents support farm-to-school programs and enhanced marketing of local farms and products.

66 Town of Aurora Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing strengths or assets in the Town needs or gaps in the Town that limits that can be further leveraged and future development or the Town from supports the potential for new achieving the plan’s vision statement development, business creation, or and goals. achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. Solar Farm Siting on Less Productive or Vulnerability in Flood-Prone Areas: Vacant Lands: The County’s solar suitability Approximately 1,456 acres near the creek’s analysis identified 29 parcels suitable for floodplain are at high risk of flooding, yet solar. Directing large-scale renewable energy Aurora does not participate in FEMA’s projects away from prime farmland helps Community Rating System (CRS), missing out the Town meet green-energy goals while on opportunities for reduced flood insurance minimizing loss of productive acreage. rates and enhanced flood mitigation. Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Nutrient Runoff and Stream Protection: Initiatives: Aurora is already Bronze CSC Although waterways like Cazenovia Creek certified, and the Town should continue to provide vital ecosystem services, not all support actions that would lead to silver riparian corridors have protective setbacks certification. This would in turn position the or are recognized for conservation, risking Town well to pursue additional grants and erosion and reduced water quality. programs—such as flood resilience projects, green energy development, and farmland Incremental Loss of Tree Canopy on Private preservation—that address both climate Lands: While Aurora enjoys an overall high adaptation and agricultural needs. tree-cover percentage, ongoing residential development and clearing for utility Targeted Preservation of Key Farmland & installations can gradually reduce forest Wildlife Corridors: With prime farmland, continuity, impacting habitat corridors and forested areas, wetlands often adjacent, long-term ecological health. Aurora can prioritize key parcels to conserve via easements, purchase-of-development- rights (PDR), or public-private partnerships, strengthening critical habitat connectivity.

Comprehensive Plan 67 Community Engagement Process Community Engagement is an essential part in the comprehensive planning process. This chapter highlights the various methods used to engage the Town of Aurora residents, giving them opportunities to share their insights, opinions, and aspirations for the community. The feedback gathered helped shape the plan’s vision statement, goals, and recommendations. For a Comprehensive Plan to be effective, it must have strong community support. By incorporating public input, the actions and projects outlined are more likely to succeed, as they align with the community’s needs and priorities. First Public Open House The first round of community engagement was held at East Aurora High School cafeteria in February 2025. The meeting was held in an open house format with no formal presentation. Instead, attendees were encouraged to engage with the various informational and exercise boards throughout the space. This format allowed community members to ‘drop in’ at any time between a 2-hour window that worked for them and engage in several activities across several stations with assistance from consultants and project steering committee members. More than 102 community members came to the open house to provide feedback at the five different stations. The following stations were included at the open house: 1. Plan Overview 2. Vision Statement 3. SWOT Analysis 4. Community Profile Findings & Community Feedback 5. Mapping Exercise

68 Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan 68 Plan Overview This station included a board addressing some common questions regarding the plan as well as a schedule of the plan’s progress, indicating what work has been completed leading up the workshop and what is planned to occur throughout the rest of the planning process. Vision Statement At this station, attendees were presented with the plan’s draft vision statement and asked to provide feedback on what they liked, what they disliked, and what was missing. Feedback gathered from this station was used to craft the final vision statement. SWOT Analysis At this station, attendees were asked to complete a SWOT analysis which asks participants to identify what they believe to be the Town’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Understanding residents’ perceptions of all these components helped to better align the plan’s recommendations to specific issues and opportunities perceived by the community. Community Profile Findings & Community Feedback At this station, attendees were presented with key findings and maps from each of the section of the Community Profile. These sections include: Land Use & Zoning, Housing & Neighborhoods, Recreational, Historical & Cultural Assets, Agricultural & Natural Resources, Transportation Systems, and Public & Municipal Services. Each section had a board with leading questions that attendees were asked to respond to in order to further understand their priorities and vision for the future. Mapping Exercise At this final station, attendees were presented with two maps. The first map asked attendees to locate where their favorite place in Aurora is and explain why. The second map asked attendees to locate areas in Aurora that they think need improvement and explain why. This information was very helpful in identifying shared viewpoints and potentially overlooked areas in the Town for future investment.

Comprehensive Plan 69 Second Public Open House The second and final Open House was held in October 2025. This open house presented draft materials from the comprehensive plan, including the future land use map and the recommendations developed for each of the plan’s goals. The meeting was held in an open house format with no formal presentation. Instead, attendees were encouraged to engage with the various boards around the room and provide their feedback. Over 80 community members attended the open house to provide their feedback on the plan’s proposed future land use and help us prioritize which recommendations they think the Town should seek to accomplish first. This feedback provided invaluable information that helped clarify and finalize the latter section of the comprehensive plan. Stakeholder & Focus Group Interviews To ensure the plan considered a diverse array of opinions and insights from residents and other stakeholders who held special knowledge or interest with Aurora, stakeholder and focus group interviews were conducted. During the interview process, 29 stakeholders identified by the Steering Committee were reached out to by the consultant team, with 23 ultimately being interviewed. Interviews consisted of nine individual interviews and four focus groups, including: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Housing & Neighborhoods, Village of East Aurora, Town of Aurora Department Heads. Key takeaways from these interviews included (See Appendix C for a full summary): 1. Balancing growth with the preservation of Aurora’s small-town and rural character 2. Diversifying housing options for a thriving community 3. Enhancing parks & recreation for future needs 4. Promoting environmental sustainability & climate resiliency 5. Investing in infrastructure and digital connectivity 6. Strengthening hamlets as vibrant, self- sufficient hubs 7. Supporting the local agricultural economy and protecting farmland from development pressure 8. Strengthening coordination between the Town and Village

70 Town of Aurora Community Survey As the final component of the community engagement plan for the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan Update, a community survey was administered from November 2024 to March 2025 to ensure a wide- ranging response rate from as many residents in the Town as possible. Surveys were available to be completed online as well as paper copies which could be picked up at the Town Hall and the first public workshop. The community survey was promoted via press release, the Town and project website, the Town’s CodeRED notification system, and via a mailer that was sent to every residential household in Aurora, outside of the village. Overall, the community survey campaign yielded 865 responses, 827 of which were from the online survey while an additional 38 were collected via paper survey. The survey included questions concerning each of the primary topics covered in the Community Profile. Key takeaways from the survey responses that helped inform the development of the plans’ recommendations include (See Appendix B for a full summary): 1. There is a strong attachment to the rural and small-town character of Aurora 2. Residents have a strong preference for conservation and open space preservation 3. There is a desire to limit new development 4. Identified need for senior and first-time homebuyer housing 5. Preference for new housing to be located near the Village or in existing neighborhoods 6. A strong satisfaction with the Town’s parks, but a desire for more trails and natural areas 7. The need for improved walkability and traffic calming in key areas 8. Broad support for protecting natural resources 9. Open space preservation is a key priority 10. Stormwater drainage issues are localized but impactful Alternative Outreach Strategies Project Website To support broad and ongoing participation, a project website (https://townofauroracompplan.com) was launched that served as the central hub for the comprehensive plan. The site explained the plan’s background and process, hosted the public survey, listed and updated upcoming events, offered a direct contact form to reach the consultant team or join the email notification list, and published draft materials as they became available for review. In total, the website drew over 1,900 visits from approximately 1,500 unique visitors, demonstrating strong community interest and providing an accessible, one-stop portal throughout the planning process. Town-wide Mailer To introduce the planning effort early and equitably, a mailer was sent to every household in the Town of Aurora (outside the Village of East Aurora). As one of the public’s first touch points with the comprehensive plan update, the mailer explained why the Town was undertaking the effort, directed residents to the project website to learn about the process, sign up for email updates, and take the online public survey, and invited them to attend the upcoming Public Open House #1. This broad, direct outreach ensured that all households—regardless of internet use or prior engagement—received clear, actionable information on how to get involved from the very start.

Comprehensive Plan 71 Policy Framework The purpose of this framework is to offer a forward-looking guide for elected officials, town committees, local leaders, residents, business owners, and other stakeholders in the Town of Aurora. It serves as a foundation to achieve the Town’s overarching vision and support sound decision-making. This Plan is informed by feedback from the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, Town Officials, Town Committees, stakeholders, and the public at large. It emphasizes the importance of community engagement in fostering positive change and preserving the community’s assets, resources, and values. A successful Comprehensive Plan should address both the short-term and long-term needs of the Town, with varying levels of detail. The policy framework elements for the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan include: Vision Statement • Definition: A vision statement is an aspirational statement describing the community’s desired future. It reflects the shared values and priorities of the community and provides overarching direction for the plan. • Forecasted Timeframe: Typically, 10-20 years, aligning with the comprehensive plan’s horizon. • Intended Actions: » Sets the “big picture: for the plan overall and inspires the formation of the plan’s goals. » Does not identify specific steps but serves as a touchstone for evaluating decisions. Goals • Definition: A goal is a broad statement that translates the vision statement into specific, achievable outcomes. Goals address major themes or topics, such as housing, transportation, or economic development. • Forecasted Timeframe: 5-10 years, providing a more specific interpretation of the vision statement over time. • Intended Actions: » Serves as a benchmark to track progress towards achieving the vision statement. » Establishes the priorities that shape the formation of the plan’s recommendations Recommendations • Definition: A recommendation is a measurable tasks or projects, designed to achieve the stated goal if falls under. It often includes timelines, responsible parties, and resources. • Forecasted Timeframe: 1-5 years • Intended Actions: » Translates goals into actionable steps » Assigns accountability and guidelines for implementation

72 Town of Aurora Vision Statement The Town of Aurora is—and will continue to be—a vibrant, welcoming, and family-oriented community that cherishes its rural character, historic neighborhoods, and rich cultural legacy. Guided by values of environmental stewardship, sustainable growth, and respect for its unique identity, Aurora will preserve its scenic landscapes, support high-quality schools, and provide housing that meets the needs of residents at every age and stage of life. With inviting parks, well-connected recreational paths, and thriving small-scale commercial areas, the town will foster prosperity for families, individuals, and businesses alike. Economic development will reflect the community’s character—balancing growth with charm, limiting sprawl, and promoting multi-generational living in a resilient and inclusive environment.

Comprehensive Plan 73 Goals & Recommendations The Town of Aurora’s Comprehensive Plan provides a vision and roadmap for guiding growth, preserving community character, and investing in a sustainable future. At its core, the Plan strikes a balance between two priorities: accommodating change through targeted, well-managed development and protecting the rural landscapes, open spaces, and cultural heritage that make Aurora unique. Housing & Growth: The Plan directs new housing to targeted, denser areas near the Village and other core hubs where infrastructure and services already exist. This approach provides diverse and affordable housing choices while preserving the Town’s farmland, forests, and rural open spaces. Natural Resources & Climate Action: Aurora will strengthen its resilience by managing and replanting trees, conserving additional lands, improving stormwater policies, and expanding climate-smart programs. Renewable energy development will be guided by thoughtful siting standards that limit large- scale facilities on prime farmland while encouraging community-scale and agrivoltaic solar projects. These actions safeguard the Town’s environment while positioning it as a leader in climate-smart practices. Agriculture & Rural Character: Recommendations supporting farmland preservation, small-scale agriculture, and rural heritage assets reinforce Aurora’s identity as a farming community. Land-use strategies such as prohibiting flag lots and cul-de-sacs further protect open space and ensure that new development patterns fit within the Town’s rural framework. Infrastructure & Resilience: Smart, sustainable infrastructure investments—including capital facility planning, resilient drainage systems, EV charging, and safe energy storage—prepare Aurora for the future while protecting residents from climate risks. These improvements are aligned with open-space and conservation goals, ensuring that modernization does not come at the cost of community character. Connectivity & Transportation: A stronger network of pedestrian, bicycle, and greenway connections will improve safety, mobility, and access to parks and community destinations. Many of these improvements will be concentrated closer to the Village and denser neighborhoods, where they are most cost-effective and impactful, while rural areas will continue to retain their low-density, natural landscapes. Across all areas, the Plan emphasizes that Aurora’s future depends on thoughtful choices—directing growth where it is necessary and can be supported, conserving land and natural resources, and investing in smart infrastructure and mobility. By working together, the Town can preserve what residents value most while ensuring that Aurora remains a vibrant, resilient, and welcoming community for generations to come.

74 Town of Aurora Goal 1: Support Housing for All Life Stages and Incomes This goal lays out a framework for how the Town of Aurora can responsibly guide housing development to meet the needs of current and future residents. The central goal is to provide a greater diversity of housing options—ensuring affordability, accessibility, and choice—by concentrating new growth in carefully planned denser zones. At the same time, the Plan emphasizes the protection of the Town’s rural character, open spaces, and agricultural heritage. By focusing development in targeted areas, the Town can strengthen existing neighborhoods, enhance walkability and infrastructure efficiency, and support vibrant mixed-use centers—while preserving the natural landscapes and small-town feel that define Aurora’s identity. This balanced approach seeks to meet the demand for housing in a way that sustains both community vitality and the rural qualities residents value. Recommendation 1.1 – Support Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Update zoning regulations to permit ADUs by right (with basic design/size regulations), create a streamlined permitting process, and offer educational workshops for homeowners on how to develop an ADU on their property. Recommendation 1.2 - Encourage “Missing Middle” Housing: Amend zoning to allow more duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard homes near the Village core, hamlet centers, and along transportation corridors. Recommendation 1.3 - Facilitate Senior Housing Development: Identify and rezone targeted areas within or adjacent to the sewer district for senior living facilities; amend zoning or create an overlay district to encourage a range of independent and assisted-living options. Recommendation 1.4 - Workforce Housing Near Commercial Centers: Amend zoning regulations to designate overlay zones or provide incentives (e.g., streamlined approvals) for developments that include workforce housing close to the Village, hamlet centers, and existing employment corridors. Recommendation 1.5 - Establish a Housing Task Force: Establish a Housing Task Force (staff and volunteer-based) to conduct ongoing review of code changes, identify grant opportunities, and monitor rehab and preservation support fund distribution. Recommendation 1.6 – Seek Pro-Housing Community Designation: Have the Town of Aurora become a Pro-Housing Community by adopting the States resolution, sending the letter of intent to NYS HCR, and submitting required materials (zoning map + code summary and the last five years of housing permits) to obtain certification; maintain status with annual updates. This in turn will help the Town obtain grant funding for housing support projects. Goal 2: Strengthen Environmental Stewardship and Resilience This goal outlines strategies to safeguard Aurora’s natural environment while preparing the community for sustainable growth. The initiatives emphasize proactive tree management, expanded land conservation, and the responsible siting of renewable energy projects. At the same time, they reinforce the Town’s commitment to stormwater management, climate resilience, and sustainable waste reduction. Together, these actions seek to preserve Aurora’s rural and ecological character while enabling the community to adapt to modern challenges. By investing in tree replacement, open-space protection, micro- farming opportunities, and agrivoltaic solar projects, the Town balances environmental stewardship with innovation. Measures such as a Town-wide stormwater plan, FEMA Community Rating System enrollment, and streamlined solar permitting ensure that infrastructure and development move forward in a way that protects residents, farmland, and waterways. The overall goal is a resilient, sustainable Aurora: a community that conserves its forests, farms, and open spaces while embracing renewable energy, climate action, and smart infrastructure policies that protect residents today and for generations to come.

Comprehensive Plan 75 Recommendation 2.1 - Expand Land Conservation Efforts by updating the Town’s Open Space Plan: Review the Town’s original Open Space Plan to identify new lands that have been conserved since and to identify new lands for future conservation. To conserve future lands, partner with the Western New York Land Conservancy, Genesee Valley Land Conservancy, and private landowners to place easements on critical agricultural or forested land. Recommendation 2.2 - Update Zoning for Micro-Farming & Homesteading: Revise code to more readily allow small-scale agriculture (poultry, crops, gardens), clarifying lot-size requirements and best practices. Recommendation 2.3 - Support the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force: Complete and track actions required for Silver Ranking by the State’s Climate Smart Communities program. Recommendation 2.4 – Develop Stormwater Runoff Policies in Growth Areas: Update zoning to require stormwater impact assessments and green infrastructure measures for any new development over a certain size in designated growth zones. Recommendation 2.5 - Limit Solar & Wind Farm Development with a Renewable Energy Siting Overlay District: Amend zoning and create a GIS-based overlay district to restrict large-scale solar/ wind installations based on criteria such as agricultural soils ratings, proximity to transmission lines, and existing disturbances. The overlay should prohibit solar/wind farms on prime farmland land and direct developments instead towards brownfields, areas with less productive soils, and/or sites identified through the solar suitability analysis. Recommendation 2.6 - Promote Community-Scale and Agrivoltaic Solar Projects: Amend zoning to encourage solar installations co-located with agricultural activity (agrivoltaics) and community-scale solar (under 5 MW) serving local residents. Provide design guidelines for fencing, pollinator habitats, and visual buffers. Recommendation 2.7 - Establish a Town-wide Tree Management & Replacement Plan: Inventory street/ forested/park and public area trees, prioritize replanting native species in areas impacted by removals and invasive species, and develop a maintenance schedule. Recommendation 2.8 – Develop Infrastructure & Tree Preservation Guidelines: Adopt rules mandating consultation with the Town’s tree management plan prior to utility expansions or broadband line installations that involve large-scale tree trimming or removal in the public right-of-way or on public lands. Recommendation 2.9 - Establish a Tree Advisory Committee: Establish a Town Tree Advisory Committee by local resolution/ordinance to guide the development, implementation, and enforcement of the recommended Town-wide Tree Management & Replacement Plan and Tree Preservation Guidelines. Recommendation 2.10 - Become a member of FEMA’s Community Rating System: Enroll the Town in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) or a similar replacement agency at the state level to earn flood insurance discounts for residents and improve local floodplain management practices. Establish a CRS Coordinator, submit a letter of interest, and implement credited activities such as public outreach, flood protection assistance, and stormwater planning. Recommendation 2.11 - Support Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives: Expand the Town’s waste diversion efforts through initiatives such as composting programs, hazardous waste collection events, electronics recycling, and public education campaigns. Promote reduction, reuse, and recycling practices across households and small businesses.

76 Town of Aurora Goal 3: Preserve Rural Character and Open Spaces This goal focuses on protecting Aurora’s rural identity and agricultural heritage through thoughtful land-use and community policies. Key actions include prohibiting flag lots and cul-de-sac developments in favor of connected, conservation-style subdivisions; strengthening support for local farmers through the Right-to- Farm Law, agricultural district programs, and incentives for beginner farmers; and mapping and promoting the Town’s rural and historic assets for residents and visitors alike. These measures are designed not only to protect farmland and scenic landscapes, but also to integrate with broader goals outlined in other parts of the Plan—such as land conservation, stormwater management, and tree preservation—to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to open-space protection. By connecting these efforts, Aurora can safeguard farmland, conserve natural corridors, and highlight cultural landmarks while maintaining a development pattern that aligns with the Town’s rural character. The overall intent is to reinforce Aurora’s identity as a community that values its farmland, forests, waterways, and history, while adopting land-use practices that ensure these assets are preserved and celebrated for future generations. Recommendation 3.1 - Discourage Flag Lots & Cul-de-Sac Developments: Amend subdivision regulations to discourage new flag lots and cul-de-sacs. Require connected or conservation-style layouts Recommendation 3.2 - Continue Right-to-Farm Law, Promote the Agricultural District Program & Incentivize Beginner Farmers: Provide property tax abatements or small grants for underutilized farmland when leased to small-scale or beginning farmers, promote farmers participation in the Agricultural District program, and explore partnership with Providence Farm Collective’s style incubator farms. Recommendation 3.3 - Map & Promote Rural Heritage Assets: Produce and distribute brochures or an interactive online map highlighting the Cazenovia Creek corridor, scenic drives, and heritage sites throughout the Town. Goal 4: Invest in Smart, Sustainable Infrastructure This goal provides a roadmap for strengthening Aurora’s infrastructure in ways that are both sustainable and resilient. Central to this goal is the adoption of a municipal capital facilities plan that prioritizes upgrades to public buildings and critical infrastructure, while incorporating climate-resilient standards such as culvert improvements, drainage management, and expanded EV charging options. This goal also establishes clear standards for emerging technologies like battery energy storage systems, ensuring they are safely and appropriately sited—encouraging placement in industrial zones while protecting residential and conservation areas. By integrating battery storage into both zoning and emergency preparation plans, Aurora positions itself to enhance energy resilience and support community hubs during crises. Importantly, these infrastructure investments are designed to work in tandem with other priorities of the Comprehensive Plan, including open-space preservation, farmland protection, and conservation-focused development. By aligning capital improvements with environmental and land-use goals, the Town can modernize infrastructure without compromising the rural character and ecological assets that define Aurora. The overall intent is to future-proof Aurora’s infrastructure—delivering safe, efficient, and climate-smart facilities that meet community needs while reinforcing the Town’s commitment to preserving its natural landscapes and heritage. Recommendation 4.1 - Adopt a Municipal Capital Facilities Plan: Develop a 5–10-year plan prioritizing upgrades to government buildings and facilities, with an emphasis on the Town of Aurora Library and Highway Barn. Recommendation 4.2 - Comprehensive Capital Improvements & Resiliency Planning: Incorporate climate resilience standards in the capital facilities plan (i.e. culvert upgrades, drainage channels, public EV charger,) Recommendation 4.3 - Support, Where Feasible, the Expansion of EV Infrastructure: Install publicly available EV charging stations at libraries, parks, municipal parking lots, and offer incentives for commercial sites to add chargers.

Comprehensive Plan 77 Recommendation 4.4 - Define Battery Storage in Local Code and Develop BESS Use Standards: Add definitions for Battery Energy Storage Systems (Tier 1 and Tier 2) to the zoning code and develop siting, safety, setback, and screening requirements. Reference NYS Unified Solar & Storage Permit model. Prohibit battery storage in residential and conservation areas; encourage placement in the Industrial Innovation future land use. Recommendation 4.5 - Permit Battery Storage in Industrial Zones as an Accessory or Standalone Use: Amend zoning to allow Tier 1 and 2 battery storage systems in the Industrial Innovation Zone. Coordinate permitting with utility and site readiness requirements. Recommendation 4.6 - Integrate Battery Storage into Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Plans: Work with emergency responders to assess the use of BESS at critical facilities (e.g., Town Hall, Senior Center). Explore microgrid feasibility to serve key community hubs. Goal 5: Improve Walkability, Connectivity, and Mobility Options This goal advances Aurora’s commitment to safe, connected, and sustainable mobility. It calls for the creation of a Town-wide Connectivity Plan that prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle routes linking neighborhoods, parks, and the Village, while addressing chronic speeding through targeted traffic-calming measures. Improved pedestrian access to recreational spaces, the designation of low-traffic neighborhood greenways, and the development of dedicated bicycle infrastructure are also key strategies for creating safer, healthier, and more active communities. Recognizing the Town’s mix of dense and rural areas, many of these improvements will be most feasible and impactful closer to the Village and in other areas with higher concentrations of residents and activity. In less dense parts of Aurora, the same investments would require far more time, resources, and maintenance. By concentrating connectivity upgrades where they are most needed, the Town can maximize impact, ensure cost efficiency, and strengthen the walkability and bikeability of core community hubs. These efforts complement other areas of the Plan that focus on conserving open space, protecting farmland, and guiding development to targeted zones. By enhancing mobility where it makes sense, the Town not only improves quality of life but also reduces reliance on cars, minimizes environmental impacts, and strengthens the connection between residents and Aurora’s natural and cultural resources. The goal is to build a transportation network that reflects Aurora’s values—safe, accessible, environmentally responsible, and aligned with its rural character—while providing residents with more ways to move around the community and connect with the landscapes and amenities that make the Town unique. Recommendation 5.1 – Create a Town-Wide Connectivity Plan Using Alternative Forms of Transportation: Develop a master plan identifying priority pedestrian and bicycling routes (e.g., potential routes include Village border to Knox Farm, Mill Rd to 20A, Olean Rd from the Village to Lapham Rd and Emery Park, and other areas where there is more dense development to the Village and connecting the Town’s resources). Additionally, the Town should work with NFTA to determine the feasibility of developing a park-and-ride lot. Recommendation 5.2 – Install Traffic Calming Measures: Explore use of roundabouts, raised crosswalks, speed humps, signals, and signage on roads such as Mill Rd, Center St, and Davis Rd where speeding is chronic and where external funding is available. Recommendation 5.3 – Improve Pedestrian Accessibility to Parks & Recreation: Provide safe crossings, ADA- compliant pathways, trails, and consistent signage to link neighborhoods and parks (i.e. Majors, Knox Farm, Emery, and JP Nicely). Recommendation 5.4 – Neighborhood Greenways / Low-Traffic Streets: Identify local roads for reduced speed limits, shared-lane markings, and traffic calming to create safe “greenway” routes for walking/biking. Recommendation 5.5 - Support the Development of Dedicated Bicycle Infrastructure: Encourage and support improvements that may include, crosswalks, bike lanes, and wayfinding signage to ensure safe, accessible routes connecting residential areas, the Village, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, and parks. Recommendation 5.6 – Seek Opportunities to Develop Public Parking Areas in Hamlet Centers: Identify and pursue opportunities to establish small-scale, well-landscaped public parking areas within the Town’s hamlet centers to support growing commercial and residential activity. Work in conjunction with NYSDOT and/ or the Erie County Department of Public Works (ECDPW), depending on road jurisdiction, to ensure parking improvements are designed with safe access, pedestrian connections, and minimal visual impact.

78 Town of Aurora Future Land Use The Future Land Use Map does not have regulatory authority on its own, but it serves as a planning tool to guide long-term land use decisions, support community development goals, and inform future updates to the Town’s zoning code. In New York State, Future Land Use Maps help municipalities establish a vision for growth, preservation, and redevelopment by identifying appropriate land use patterns and guiding zoning decisions. Aurora’s future land use categories were developed by starting with the Town’s existing zoning code, and then making adjustments based on the input collected from the steering committee, key community stakeholders, and community members throughout the process. Neighborhood Residential The Neighborhood Residential (NR) land use designation would permit higher-density housing similar to the Town’s existing R-3 Residential District. This future land use designation would extend higher-density housing development to areas around the edge of the Village of East Aurora, within Erie County Sewer District No. 8, and the former Christ the King Seminary Campus. Permitted uses include single-family homes, townhouses, ADUs, duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts, senior living communities, and apartments. This designation builds on the walkability and vitality of East Aurora—the Town’s economic and cultural hub—while leveraging existing sewer infrastructure to support compact development. By encouraging diverse housing types in this area, the Town can meet the needs of young families, support aging in place, improve housing affordability, and limit sprawl to protect farmland and forested land. Preferred Uses: • Single-family & manufactured homes • Townhomes • ADUs • Duplexes and triplexes • Cottage courts and apartments • Senior living communities • Home occupations • Civic, community and institutional facilities Other Considerations: • Encourage small lot development to support compact neighborhoods and affordability. • Encourage buildings to front the street at reduced setbacks with porches or stoops to create a strong neighborhood feel and enhanced walkability. • Encourage cottage court layouts (small, detached homes around a shared courtyard) to provide alternatives to traditional subdivisions. • Allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right on all lots, with flexibility in form (i.e., detached, above-garage, basement units). • Support energy-efficient and climate-resilient building practices, including provisions for EV charging, roof-mounted solar, and green infrastructure. • Permit small-scale community facilities (i.e., daycare centers and neighborhood clinics) that support local residents. • Instead of parking minimums, consider parking maximums to minimize the amount of open space that needs to be developed to accommodate the parking lot.

Comprehensive Plan 79 Medium Density Residential The Medium Density Residential (MDR) land use designation would permit housing density similar to the Town’s existing R-2 Residential District. In addition to the Town’s existing R-2 districts, this future land use designation would extend southward along NYS 240 towards the Hamlet of West Falls. Permitted uses include single-family homes, duplexes, ADUs, home occupations, and civic, community or institutional facilities. Preferred Uses: • Single-family & manufactured homes • ADUs • Duplexes • Home occupations • Civic, community and institutional facilities Other Considerations: • Encourage buildings to front the street at reduced setbacks with porches or stoops to create a strong neighborhood feel and enhanced walkability. • Allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right on all lots, with flexibility in form (i.e., detached, above- garage, basement units). • Support energy-efficient and climate-resilient building practices, including provisions for EV charging, roof-mounted solar, and green infrastructure. Low Density Residential The Low Density Residential (LDR) land use designation would permit housing density consistent with the Town’s existing R-1 Residential District. Developed to support the traditional rural single-family living commonly seen throughout the Town, this designation covers much of the existing extent of the Town’s R-1 district, minus the areas around the Village and along Center St that have been converted to NR and other parcels that have been converted to AR. Permitted uses include single-family homes, home occupations, and civic, community or institutional facilities. Preferred Uses: • Single-family & manufactured homes • Home occupations • Civic, community and institutional facilities Agri-Residential The Agri-Residential (AR) land use designation would permit housing density and traditional agricultural, floricultural, and horticultural uses consistent with the Town’s existing Rural Residential and Agriculture Districts. As both districts allow nearly the same uses, combining these two districts together would help reduce unnecessary regulations. To account for the need to keep agricultural uses appropriately screened from residential areas, the keeping of domestic animals shall be subject to the existing acreage limitations currently within the Town’s zoning code for all lots with a residential structure. Lots without a residential structure shall be allowed full agricultural use of the whole lot, as stipulated by the Town’s existing Agriculture zoning district. This designation reflects strong resident support for the Right to Farm law and the protection of Aurora’s agricultural and environmental heritage. Preferred Uses: • Single-family & manufactured homes • ADUs • Duplexes • Agricultural, floricultural, and horticultural pursuits

80 Town of Aurora • Home occupations • Civic, community and institutional facilities Other Considerations: • Require all buildings to be oriented to preserve open space and minimize land disturbance. • New construction within the AR must consider the site’s environmental resources and constraints, ensuring negative impacts are minimized and assets are preserved. • Encourage conservation easements and participation in agricultural districts to protect prime farmland soils and forested lands, promoting long-term land stewardship. • Require buffering between residential uses and active farm operations to reduce conflicts and reinforce the Right to Farm law. • Support agri-voltaic and agrivoltaic systems (solar power integrated with agriculture) with clear siting guidelines, screening requirements, and provisions for continued farm use. Corridor Commercial The Corridor Commercial (CC) land use designation would permit uses similar to the Town’s existing C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts. In addition to the Town’s existing commercial districts, this designation has extended along NYS Routes 16 & 240, to provide additional space for future commercial endeavors. The two commercials districts have been combined into one land use designation for simplicity, but as zoning recommendations are implemented, it will be the responsibility of the Town to determine which parcels would fall within the square footage threshold established by the existing zoning regulations (5,000 & 20,000 sq ft). This designation is intended to facilitate nodes of commercial activity by permitting small- and medium-scale businesses that serve both residents and travelers. Development in these areas should be compact, visually cohesive, and rely on shared parking to reduce sprawl and preserve the rural character of the Town. With sewer services constrained along these corridors, commercial uses will be limited in scale, supporting the community’s preference for local businesses over big-box franchises. Preferred Uses: • Small-scale retail and personal services • Cafés, bakeries, and small restaurants • Professional offices • Artisan-scale production • Health and wellness services • Small-scale repair and auto services • Home and garden centers • Mixed-use buildings with ground-floor commercial and residential or office above • Civic, community and institutional facilities • Single family homes, manufactured homes, townhomes, ADUs, duplexes, and cottage courts Other Considerations: • Locate higher intensity uses closer to the Village and reduce intensity/make commercial use more restrictive as you move away from the Village. • Restrict drive-thru and high-traffic commercial uses to prevent congestion, protect pedestrian safety, and preserve the quiet, rural feel of the corridors. • Restrict data centers and other energy intensive uses that do not generate jobs and may cause noise, odor, and visual nuisances to nearby properties. • Prioritize access management through shared driveways, cross-access easements, and coordinated entrances/exits along busy corridors.

Comprehensive Plan 81 Industrial Innovation The Industrial Innovation (II) land use designation would permit light industrial, clean energy production, advanced manufacturing, and artisan-scale production within the Town’s underutilized C-3 District along Route 240 as well as additional adjacent parcels that are not currently within the district. To promote economic diversification, the area should be thoughtfully designed, consider low-impact development that incorporates green infrastructure, shared amenities, and uses strong environmental buffers to protect surrounding rural land uses. New residential development will not be permitted in this designation, ensuring potential odors, noises, and other noxious nuisances do not affect the residential population, and the area remains focused on employment-generating uses that align with the Town’s projected demand for over 173,000 sq ft of industrial space in the coming decade. Preferred Uses: • Light manufacturing • Advanced manufacturing and technology • Utility-scale solar energy production • Artisan-scale production • Research and development facilities • Warehousing and distribution centers • Business incubators or tech flex spaces • Industrial support services • Office space accessory to industrial operations Other Considerations: • Examine the feasibility of tying into the adjacent sewer district in the Town of Orchard Park to support expanded operations limited only to industrial uses. • Encourage green infrastructure practices, such as stormwater retention basins, bioswales, and permeable pavement, to manage runoff and reduce environmental impact. • Encourage site layouts that support shared infrastructure and amenities, such as shared access roads, parking, or logistics facilities. • Encourage multi-tenant buildings or business incubators to support startups, small-scale producers, and flexible industrial growth. • Promote low-noise operations, and require noise mitigation measures (e.g., sound walls, equipment location) where needed. Open Space & Recreation The Open Space & Recreation (OSR) land use designation applies to existing parks, public lands, and nature reserves that should remain undeveloped to protect the Town’s natural resources and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. This designation supports passive recreation and expanding trail connections, including the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail and other trails to connect the Town’s parks and neighborhoods. Aurora’s abundant open space is a defining characteristic and highly valued by residents. Preserving and enhancing these areas ensures continued public enjoyment, safeguards environmental quality, and strengthens the Town’s investment in accessible, connected green spaces. Preferred Uses: • Public parks, trails and green spaces • Nature preserves • Scenic overlooks Other Considerations: • In addition to the areas mapped on the Future Land Use Map, the Town should consider mapping and regulating other open space and natural resources for continued conservation. These areas may include

82 Town of Aurora prime farmland soil, active agricultural parcels, and significant natural features such as waterways, scenic views, mature wooded areas, and other parcels identified by the Town’s Open Space Committee. • Promote trail connectivity between parks, neighborhoods, and regional systems like the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. • Incorporate wayfinding signage and interpretive elements to enhance public understanding of the Town’s natural and cultural resources. • Encourage native plantings and pollinator habitats in open space landscapes to enhance biodiversity. • Collaborate with conservation organizations and regional partners to secure funding and expand protected open space. Hamlet Overlay The Hamlet Overlay (HO) land use designation would follow the same regulations as laid out by the West Falls Hamlet Overlay, with the addition of extending it to include several parcels north of the existing overlay as well as the Hamlet of Blakeley which is located in the eastern half of the town. The overlay district is designed to serve as a rural service hamlet that preserves the character and quality of area, including through the adoption of architectural guidelines to control aesthetics, landscaping, and connective features. The overlay will encourage the development of uses that are in harmony with the surrounding area, improve the visual character of the area, promote walkability, protect adjoining residential uses, and enhance the area by encouraging service-oriented uses. Preferred Uses: • Retail, services, and restaurants • Entertainment and cultural facilities • Offices • Mixed-use buildings • Single-family attached and detached, ADUs, duplexes, and small apartments • Civic, community, and institutional facilities Other Considerations: • Allow new developments to conduct a transportation demand study (TDS) in order to obtain a variance on the reduction of minimum parking spaces required. • Have buildings face the street. • Promote sidewalk development. • Encourage streetscape amenities such as street trees, decorative lighting, benches, and trash cans. • Consider multi-modal opportunities to connect the hamlets to the rest of the Town. • Develop building design standards to be consistent with the historic and traditional character of the hamlets. Cluster Development Overlay The Cluster Development Overlay (CDO) is a floating overlay designation intended to encourage flexible, conservation-oriented residential development in areas where public sewer service connection is available. It may be applied—through both Planning Board review and adoption by the Town Board following a public hearing and compliance with all applicable environmental review procedures—to residentially designated areas, such as Neighborhood Residential or Rural Residential, where the underlying land use supports housing but where the preservation of environmental resources is a priority. Adoption of the CDO onto a specific property requires the submission of a rezoning application, review for consistency with the Town’s comprehensive plan, and formal amendment of the Town’s zoning map by the Town Board. The CDO allows residential units to be grouped—or “clustered”—on a portion of a development site, permitting the remainder of the parcel to be permanently preserved as open space, farmland, and/or recreational area. This overlay should also consider adding a regulation that requires the developer to provide funding for trails that would connect the neighborhood to existing parks and other neighborhoods

Comprehensive Plan 83 in the area. This approach promotes more compact development patterns while protecting sensitive lands, scenic views, and ecological functions while also promoting diversified mobility. The overlay should determine the minimum acreage a parcel must be to permit the use of this overlay, and the total area to be dedicated for recreational space that is funded by the cluster development. By promoting land conservation, efficient infrastructure use, and community amenities, the CDO advances the Town’s goals of rural preservation, housing flexibility, and sustainable growth, while ensuring that each application is subject to a transparent public process, thorough planning analysis, and legislative approval before being mapped onto any property. Preferred Uses: • Detached single-family homes • Manufactured homes • Duplexes, triplexes, and other small-to-medium scale multi-unit complexes (including townhouses, cottage courts, and apartments) • Senior living communities • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) • Community amenities (e.g., small parks, pavilions, trails) • Passive recreation areas (e.g., walking trails, meadows) Other Considerations: • At least 40% of the site must remain permanently undeveloped and designated for open space and conservation. At a minimum, 10% of the site should be designated for active or passive recreational uses. Developers should be required to provide funding for the design and construction of trails, where feasible, that will connect the new development to existing neighborhoods or recreational areas. • Open space preservation should prioritize protecting sensitive features such as steep slopes, wetlands, stream corridors, mature woodlands, and scenic views. • Development should seek to maximize connectivity with existing neighborhoods and/or other recreational sites. • Allow smaller individual lot sizes and setbacks than the underlying zoning allows. • Developers must submit a conservation analysis showing how natural resources will be preserved, as well as a conceptual open space/trails plan. • Encourage the use of bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement to reduce stormwater runoff.

84 Town of Aurora

Comprehensive Plan 85 Action Plan Communities are constantly reshaping themselves as new challenges arise and opportunities emerge. However, it is important to manage this change by addressing the things that are known and can be planned for today. Five overarching goals were developed for this plan based on data analysis, input at community events, survey responses, stakeholder interviews, and guidance from the steering committee and Town officials. Achieving these goals will assist the Town of Aurora in achieving the vision statement laid out for this plan. In order to accomplish each of these five goals and the plan's overall vision statement, an action plan was developed to help guide the Town in completing recommendations identified to achieve each goal. The recommendations under each goal will help Aurora understand where to allocate resources to achieve the community’s goals and desired outcomes. The following is meant to provide additional information on the expected time frames, who will lead the recommendation and who are possible partners, potential funding sources necessary to accomplish each action, and possible opportunities for in-kind support. This Action Plan should be updated as part of the regular review of the Plan. *This Action Plan is intended to be read in two-page view as the implementation matrix for each recommendation is spread across two pages. If the document is not already in two-page view, adjust the viewing settings to improve the overall readability of the Action Plan.*

86 Town of Aurora Goal 1: SUPPORT HOUSING FOR ALL LIFE STAGES AND INCOMES 1.1 Support Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Update zoning regulations to permit ADUs by right (with basic design/size regulations), create a streamlined permitting process, and offer educational workshops for homeowners on how to develop an ADU on their property. 1.2 Encourage “Missing Middle” Housing Amend zoning to allow more duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard homes near the Village core, hamlet centers, and along transportation corridors. 1.3 Facilitate Senior Housing Development Identify and rezone targeted areas within or adjacent to the sewer district for senior living facilities; amend zoning or create an overlay district to encourage a range of independent and assisted-living options. 1.4 Workforce Housing Near Commercial Centers Amend zoning regulations to designate overlay zones or provide incentives (e.g., streamlined approvals) for developments that include workforce housing close to the Village, hamlet centers, and existing employment corridors.

Comprehensive Plan 87 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & • Housing advocates (1–2 years) • Support: In-house resources (e.g., affordable • Erie County Municipal housing nonprofits) • Building/Code Planning Grant to offer homeowner Enforcement • NYS Smart Growth education on costs, • Planning Board Program permitting, and • Local Housing potential rental Advocates models. • Aurora Housing Task Force (if established) Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & In- • Local realtors or (1–2 years) for • Support: house resources developers to code changes; • NYS Smart Growth host public info Medium-Term • Building/Code Program sessions on the (3–5 years) for Enforcement • Erie County Municipal financial feasibility project approvals • Planning Board Planning Grant of smaller-scale • Aurora Housing Task multi-family Force (if established) housing. • Rural Outreach Center Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & In- • Senior Center (1–2 years) for • Support: house resources volunteers to site identification; • NYS Smart Growth coordinate needs Medium-Term • Planning Board Program surveys, gather (3–5 years) for • Senior Center • Erie County Municipal community input, construction • Housing Nonprofits Planning Grant and help with • Potential Developers outreach. • Aurora Housing Task Force (if established) • Local service • Rural Outreach Center clubs (e.g., Rotary, Lions) to sponsor “senior-friendly” improvements or donate furnishings for new facilities. Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & In- • Planning (1–2 years) to • Support: house resources students from incorporate • NYS Smart Growth local universities zoning changes; • Building/Code Program assisting in site Medium-Term Enforcement • Erie County Municipal inventories or (3–5 years) to see • Planning Board Planning Grant feasibility analyses. projects built • Local Employers • Aurora Housing Task Force (if established) • Rural Outreach Center

88 Town of Aurora 1.5 Establish a Housing Task Force Establish a Housing Task Force (staff and volunteer-based) to conduct ongoing review of code changes, identify grant opportunities, and monitor rehab and preservation support fund distribution. 1.6 Seek Pro-Housing Community Designation Have the Town of Aurora become a Pro-Housing Community by adopting the States resolution, sending the letter of intent to NYS HCR, and submitting required materials (zoning map + code summary and the last five years of housing permits) to obtain certification; maintain status with annual updates. This in turn will help the Town obtain grant funding for housing support projects. Goal 2: Strengthen Environmental Stewardship and Resilience 2.1 Expand Land Conservation Efforts by updating the Town’s Open Space Plan Review the Town’s original Open Space Plan to identify new lands that have been conserved since and to identify new lands for future conservation. To conserve future lands, partner with the Western New York Land Conservancy, Genesee Valley Land Conservancy, and private landowners to place easements on critical agricultural or forested land. 2.2 Update Zoning for Micro-Farming & Homesteading Revise code to more readily allow small-scale agriculture (poultry, crops, gardens), clarifying lot-size requirements and best practices.

Comprehensive Plan 89 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & • Local housing (1–2 years) to • Support: In-house resources nonprofits provide form; Ongoing • Philanthropic grants training or oversight • Planning Board to train Task Force templates for Task • Senior Center members or conduct Force procedures • Housing Advocates public outreach and outreach. • Rural Outreach Center • University Representatives Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & In- • NYS HCR office (1–2 years) to • Support: house resources hours and staff apply; Annual guidance during maintenance • Town Clerk application and thereafter • Building/Code maintenance; use Enforcement the Model Pro- • Planning Board Housing Resolution • Erie County DEP as provided. Ongoing; • Lead: Open Space • OPRHP EPF grant • Land trust staff Evaluate priority Committee • NYSDAM Farmland assisting with parcels annually • Support: Protection conservation Implementation easement • Town Board Grants paperwork at • WNY Land • USDA Natural reduced or no cost. Conservancy Resources • Genesee Valley Land Conservation Service Conservancy Easement Programs. • Cornell Cooperative • Private land trust Extension partnerships • Erie County DEP • Philanthropic open- space grants. • Town budget & In- house resources Short-Term • Lead: Building/Code • Town budget & In- • Cornell (1–2 years) Enforcement house resources Cooperative • Support: • NYS Smart Growth Extension and Erie Program County Soil and • Planning Board • Erie County Municipal Water Conservation • WNY Land Planning Grant District staff Conservancy advising on best • Cornell Cooperative practices for small- Extension scale agriculture. • Erie County Soil & Water District • Local Farmers

90 Town of Aurora 2.3 Support the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force Complete and track actions required for Silver Ranking by the State’s Climate Smart Communities program. 2.4 Develop Stormwater Runoff Policies in Growth Areas Update zoning to require stormwater impact assessments and green infrastructure measures (i.e. rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements) for any new development over a certain size in designated growth zones. 2.5 Limit Solar & Wind Farm Development with a Renewable Energy Siting Overlay District Amend zoning and create a GIS-based overlay districts to restrict large-scale solar/wind installations based on criteria such as agricultural soils ratings, proximity to transmission lines, and existing disturbances. The overlay should prohibit solar/wind farms on prime farmland land and direct developments instead towards brownfields, areas with less productive soils, and/or sites identified through the solar suitability analysis. 2.6 Promote Community-Scale and Agrivoltaic Solar Projects Amend zoning to encourage solar installations co-located with agricultural activity (agrivoltaics) and community-scale solar (under 5 MW) serving local residents. Provide design guidelines for fencing, pollinator habitats, and visual buffers.

Comprehensive Plan 91 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Medium-Term • Lead: CSC Task Force • NYSERDA Clean • UBRI and local (3-5 years) for • Support: Energy Communities environmental major actions; Grants groups (Buffalo Ongoing for • Town Board • CSC implementation Niagara additional points • Building/Code grants Waterkeeper) to Enforcement • NYSDEC CSC Grants provide research/ • University at Buffalo (for advanced actions) data analysis Research Institute • Philanthropic climate- for climate (UBRI) related grants assessments. Short-Term • Lead: Building/Code • Town budget & In- • Erie County Soil & (1–2 years) Enforcement house resources Water Conservation • Support: • NYS Smart Growth staff to provide Program engineering • Planning Board • Erie County Municipal guidance. • Town Engineer Planning Grant • Local volunteers • Buffalo Niagara • NYS Environmental can assist with rain Waterkeeper Facilities Corporation garden plantings (EFC) Green or bioswale Innovation Grants maintenance. • CSC implementation grants • FEMA Hazard Mitigation grants Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYSDAM Farmland • Agricultural (1–2 years) for site • Support: Protection Planning Advisory identification Grants Committees and • Building/Code • Erie County Municipal local environmental Enforcement Planning Grant groups providing • Planning Board • NYS DOS Smart volunteer research • CSC Task Force Growth Program on best practices • WNY Land • Town budget & In- for renewable- Conservancy house resources energy siting. • Erie County DEP • NYSERDA Clean Energy Siting Program Short-Term • Lead: CSC Task Force • NYSERDA NY-Sun • Cornell (1–2 years) to • Support: Community Solar Cooperative incorporate Incentives; Clean Extension for zoning changes; • Town Board Energy Siting Program agrivoltaics best Medium-Term • Planning Board ; CEC grants practices. (3–5 years) to see • Building/Code • CSC implementation • Local farmers and projects built Enforcement grants solar developers • USDA REAP (Rural for pilot projects. Energy for America Program) • Erie County Municipal Planning Grant • NYS DOS Smart Growth Program

92 Town of Aurora 2.7 Establish a Town-wide Tree Management & Replacement Plan Inventory street/forested/park and public area trees, prioritize replanting native species in areas impacted by removals and invasive species, and develop a maintenance schedule. 2.8 Infrastructure & Tree Preservation Guidelines Adopt rules mandating consultation with the Town’s tree management plan prior to utility expansions or broadband line installations that involve large-scale tree trimming or removal in the public right-of-way or on public lands. 2.9 Establish a Tree Advisory Committee Establish a Town Tree Advisory Committee by local resolution/ordinance to guide the development, implementation, and enforcement of the recommended Town-wide Tree Management & Replacement Plan and Tree Preservation Guidelines. 2.10 Become a member of FEMA’s Community Rating System Enroll the Town in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) or a similar replacement agency at the state level to earn flood insurance discounts for residents and improve local floodplain management practices. Establish a CRS Coordinator, submit a letter of interest, and implement credited activities such as public outreach, flood protection assistance, and stormwater planning. 2.11 Support Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives Expand the Town’s waste diversion efforts through initiatives such as composting programs, hazardous waste collection events, electronics recycling, and public education campaigns. Promote reduction, reuse, and recycling practices across households and small businesses.

Comprehensive Plan 93 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Town Board • NYS DEC Urban and • Master Gardeners years) for plan • Support: Community Forestry; or local development; CoRe; and Invasive horticultural groups Ongoing for • Open Space species grants providing planting implementation Committee • USDA Forest Service expertise. • CSC Task Force Urban & Community • Scouts or school • Tree Advisory Forestry grant environmental Committee (if • Arbor Day Foundation clubs volunteer established) grants or corporate for tree-planting • Local environmental sponsors (e.g., utilities) events. groups for tree planting. Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYS DEC Urban and • An established (1–2 years) • Support: Community Forestry Tree Advisory Grants Committee to • CSC Task Force draft guidelines • Tree Advisory or inspection Committee (if procedures (if established) established). Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & In- • Village Tree years) to form and • Support: house resources Board mentorship adopt bylaws; (templates for Ongoing oversight • Planning Board bylaws, agendas, thereafter. • Village Tree Board species lists, • CSC Task Force volunteer days) • Open Space Committee Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Town Board • FEMA’s Hazard • Technical guidance years) to enroll; • Support: Mitigation Assistance from FEMA, UBRI, Medium-/Long- (HMA) Grants and NYS DEC Term (3–5+ years) • Building/Code • CSC Implementation regional floodplain to achieve higher Enforcement Grant staff CRS classification • Stormwater • Town budget • Volunteer support Management Officer allocations for from CSC Task • CSC Task Force administrative costs Force or a • Town Engineer Floodplain Advisory Committee Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: CSC Task Force • NYSDEC Municipal • Volunteer staffing years) to pilot • Support: Waste Reduction for waste events programs; & Recycling State and education Ongoing • Town Board Assistance Grants drives implementation • Highway Department • CSC Implementation • Partnerships and education • Erie County DEP Grant with regional • Local Environmental • USEPA Solid waste recyclers, compost Groups infrastructure and processors, or education/outreach environmental grants groups for training, • Town budget for bins, or marketing annual collection materials events or pilot programs

94 Town of Aurora Goal 3: Preserve Rural Character and Open Space 3.1 Discourage Flag Lots & Cul-de-Sac Developments Amend subdivision regulations to discourage new flag lots and cul-de-sacs. Require connected or conservation-style layouts. 3.2 Continue Right-to-Farm Law, Promote the Agricultural District Program & Incentivize Beginner Farmers Provide property tax abatements or small grants for underutilized farmland when leased to small-scale or beginning farmers, promote farmers participation in the Agricultural District program, and explore partnership with Providence Farm Collective’s style incubator farms. 3.3 Map & Promote Rural Heritage Assets Produce and distribute brochures or an interactive online map highlighting the Cazenovia Creek corridor, scenic drives, and heritage sites throughout the Town. Goal 4: Invest in Smart, Sustainable Infrastructure 4.1 Adopt a Municipal Capital Facilities Plan Develop a 5–10-year plan prioritizing upgrades to government buildings and facilities, with an emphasis on the Town of Aurora Library and Highway Barn

Comprehensive Plan 95 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • Town budget & (1–2 years) • Support: In-house resources • Erie County Municipal • Building/Code Planning Grant Enforcement • NYS Smart Growth • Planning Board Program Ongoing • Lead: Town Board • NYS Department of • Cornell • Support: Agriculture & Markets Cooperative grants Extension and • Cornell Cooperative • USDA Rural Business Western New York Extension Development and Land Conservancy • Erie County Ag & Micro-entrepreneur staff offering Farmland Board and grants free workshops Office of Agriculture • American Farmland on farmland • Western New York Trust Farmland for a preservation, best Land Conservancy new Generation NY practices, etc. • Erie County Soil & • Agricultural Water Conservation Advisory Board District volunteering • Local Farmers to review new incentives. Short-Term • Lead: Town Historian • I LOVE NY Tourism • Historical societies (1–2 years) • Support: grants providing • Erie County Cultural historical research • Local museums Funding and writing for • Historical societies • Local philanthropic or interpretive signs. • Greater East tourism-related grants • Volunteers from Aurora Chamber of local scouting Commerce troops installing signage or kiosks. Short-Term • Lead: Town Engineer • NYS DOS Local (1–2 years) • Support: Government Efficiency Grants for multi-year • Town Board capital planning. • Department heads • Town’s capital budget • NYS CSC grants • NYS Consolidation grants

96 Town of Aurora 4.2 Comprehensive Capital Improvements & Resiliency Planning Incorporate climate resilience standards in the capital facilities plan (i.e. culvert upgrades, drainage channels, public EV charger, etc.). 4.3 Support, Where Feasible, the Expansion of EV Infrastructure Install publicly available EV charging stations at libraries, parks, municipal parking lots, and offer incentives for commercial sites to add chargers. 4.4 Define Battery Storage in Local Code and Develop BESS Use Standards Add definitions for Battery Energy Storage Systems (Tier 1 and Tier 2) to the zoning code and develop siting, safety, setback, and screening requirements. Reference NYS Unified Solar & Storage Permit model. Prohibit battery storage in residential and conservation areas; encourage placement in the Industrial Innovation Zone. 4.5 Permit Battery Storage in Industrial Zones as an Accessory or Standalone Use Amend zoning to allow Tier 1 and 2 battery storage systems in the Industrial Innovation Zone. Coordinate permitting with utility and site readiness requirements. 4.6 Integrate Battery Storage into Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Plans Work with emergency responders to assess the use of BESS at critical facilities (e.g., Town Hall, Senior Center). Explore microgrid feasibility to serve key community hubs.

Comprehensive Plan 97 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Town Engineer • FEMA BRIC for • CSC Task Force years) for plan • Support: infrastructure volunteers update; Medium- upgrades. collecting Term (3–5 years) • Town Board • NYSDEC resiliency data on critical for upgrades • Highway Department grants for infrastructure • CSC Task Force infrastructure upgrades. • REDC consolidated grants for multi- benefit resiliency projects. Medium-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYSERDA CEC and • Utility companies (3-5 years) • Support: Charge Ready DC providing partial &Faster Charger cost-share or • Highway Department Grants free technical • CSC Task Force • NYS DEC CSC & assistance for Municipal ZEV Grants charging station installations. • Auto dealers or local EV clubs to host demonstration events. Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYSERDA Energy • NYSERDA & NYS (1–2 years) • Support: Storage Incentive Fire Prevention Program and Control for • Planning Board • NYSDEC CSC safety training • Building/Code Implementation Grant • Utility providers Enforcement • Erie County Municipal offering grid- • CSC Task Force Planning Grant interconnection • Fire Districts • NYS Smart Growth advice Program Short-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYSED Infrastructure • Engineering (1–2 years) • Support: Grants students or • Erie County Municipal regional tech • Building/Code Planning Grant firms assisting Enforcement • NYS Smart Growth with capacity • Planning Board Program assessments • Erie County IDA • NYS CFA Strategic • REDC Planning & Feasibility Studies Medium-Term • Lead: CSC Task Force • FEMA Hazard • University (3-5 years) • Support: Mitigation Grant energy programs Program (HMGP) conducting • Emergency • NYSERDA Microgrid/ feasibility analysis Management Resiliency Grants Coordinator • NYSERDA CEC technical assistance • NYSEG

98 Town of Aurora Goal 5: Improve Walkability, Connectivity, and Mobility Options 5.1 Create a Town-Wide Connectivity Plan Using Alternative Forms of Transportation Develop a master plan identifying priority pedestrian and bicycling routes (e.g., potential routes include Village border to Knox Farm, Mill Rd to 20A, Olean Rd from the Village to Lapham Rd and Emery Park, and other areas where there is more dense development to the Village and connecting the Town’s resources). Additionally, the Town should work with NFTA to determine the feasibility of developing a park-and-ride lot. 5.2 Install Traffic Calming Measures Explore use of roundabouts, raised crosswalks, speed humps, signals, and signage on roads such as Mill Rd, Center St, and Davis Rd where speeding is chronic and where external funding is available. 5.3 Improve Pedestrian Accessibility to Parks & Recreation Provide safe crossings, ADA-compliant pathways, trails, and consistent signage to link neighborhoods and parks (i.e. Majors, Knox Farm, and JP Nicely). 5.4 Neighborhood Greenways / Low-Traffic Streets Identify local roads for reduced speed limits, shared-lane markings, and traffic calming to create safe “greenway” routes for walking/biking.

Comprehensive Plan 99 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Town Board • NYS DOT • County planning years) for plan; • Support: Transportation staff or volunteer Long-Term Alternatives Program committees (5+ years) for • Planning Board (TAP) assisting with construction • Highway Department • Federal Safe Streets sidewalk • NFTA and Roads for All inventories. grants (SS4A) for • Local running/ planning-level biking clubs connectivity studies. collecting data on pedestrian needs. Medium-Term • Lead: Town Board • NYS DOT • Neighborhood (3–5 years) • Support: • Federal Highway Safety groups supporting Improvement Program demonstration • Building/Code (HSIP). “pop-up” traffic Enforcement • County-level traffic calming to test • Erie County DPW safety funds or designs. • NYSDOT matching municipal capital budgets. Medium-Term • Lead: Open Space • NYS OPRHP Parks & • Disability advocacy (3–5 years) Committee Trails Grants for ADA- groups advising on • Support: compliant access accessibility best improvements. practices, possibly • Town Board • Philanthropic grants at no charge. • Highway Department i.e Ralph Wilson • Volunteer labor • Building/Code Foundation for trail clearing or Enforcement • Local capital budget small footbridge • Local Recreation lines. building. Groups Short-Term (1–2 • Lead: Highway • Municipal capital • Neighborhood years) pilot; Long- Department improvements budget associations term (5+ years) • Support: helping design and expansion install planters or • Planning Board signage. • Town Board • Local artists • Building/Code designing creative Enforcement crosswalks or • Gobike Buffalo street murals.

100 Town of Aurora 5.5 Support the Development of Dedicated Bicycle Infrastructure Encourage and support improvements that may include, crosswalks, bike lanes, and wayfinding signage to ensure safe, accessible routes connecting residential areas, the Village, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, and parks. 5.6 Seek Opportunities to Develop Public Parking Areas in Hamlet Centers Identify and pursue opportunities to establish small-scale, well-landscaped public parking areas within the Town’s hamlet centers to support growing commercial and residential activity. Work in conjunction with NYSDOT and/or the Erie County Department of Public Works (ECDPW), depending on road jurisdiction, to ensure parking improvements are designed with safe access, pedestrian connections, and minimal visual impact.

Comprehensive Plan 101 Time frame Responsibility Funding Sources In-Kind Support Medium-Term • Lead: Town Board • Transportation • Technical (3–5 years) • Support: Alternatives Program assistance and (TAP) Grants design input from • Town Engineer • NYS DOT Pedestrian the East Aurora • Highway Department and Bicycle Funding Pedestrian & • Planning Board Programs Bicycle Board and • East Aurora Pedestrian • Erie County Complete GoBike Buffalo & Bicycle Board Streets Support on • Community • Gobike Buffalo County roads volunteers for data • Erie County DPW • Town Capital collection, trail • CSC Task Force Improvement Funds counts, or public outreach Long-Term • Lead: Town Board • CSC Implementation • University students (5+ years) • Support: Grants or CSC Task Force • Town Capital volunteers can help • Highway Department Improvement Funds conduct parking • Planning Board audits to determine • NYS DOT the demand for • Erie County DPW expanded parking • CSC Task Force areas.

102 Town of Aurora Action Plan Time Frame for Implementation In order to accomplish each of the five goals identified for the Town and the plan's overall vision statement, an action plan was developed to help guide the Town in completing action items identified to achieve each goal. Information provided for each recommendation provides context with regard to it helps achieve, who the responsible entities are and what support is available, potential sources of funding, and the time frames in which the actions should be completed. The following list is meant to further assist the Town in identifying which actions they should prioritized first to meet the Plan's vision. Short-Term Medium-Term Recommendations Recommendations (1-2 years) (3-5 years) 1.1 Support Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) 1.2 Encourage “Missing Middle” Housing 1.5 Establish a Housing Task Force 1.3 Facilitate Senior Housing Development 1.6 Seek Pro-Housing Community Designation 1.4 Workforce Housing Near Commercial Centers 2.1 Expand Conservation Efforts by Updating the 2.3 Support the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Town’s Open Space Plan Task Force 2.2 Update Zoning for Micro-Farming & 2.6 Promote Community-Scale & Agrivoltaic Solar Homesteading Projects 2.4 Develop Stormwater Runoff Policies in Growth 2.10 Become a Member of FEMA’s Community Areas Rating System 2.5 Limit Solar & Wind Farm Development with a 4.2 Comprehensive Capital Improvements & Renewable Energy Siting Overlay District Resiliency Planning 2.7 Establish a Town-Wide Tree Management & 4.3 Support, Where Feasible, the Expansion of EV Replacement Plan Infrastructure 2.8 Infrastructure & Tree Preservation Guidelines 4.6 Integrate Battery Storage into Emergency 2.9 Establish a Tree Advisory Committee Preparedness & Resilience Plans 2.11 Support Sustainable Waste Management 5.2 Install Traffic Calming Measures Initiatives 5.3 Improve Pedestrian Accessibility to Parks & 3.1 Discourage Flag Lots & Cul-de-Sac Recreation Developments 5.5 Support the Development of Dedicated Bicycle 3.2 Continue Right-to-Farm Law, Promote Infrastructure Agricultural District Program & Incentivize Long-Term Beginner Farmers Recommendations 3.3 Map & Promote Rural Heritage Assets (5+ years) 4.1 Adopt a Municipal Capital Facilities Plan 5.1 Create a Town-Wide Connectivity Plan Using 4.4 Define Battery Storage in Local Code and Alternative Forms of Transportation Develop BESS Use Standards 5.4 Neighborhood Greenways/Low-Traffic Streets 4.5 Permit Battery Storage in Industrial Zones as an 5.6 Seek Opportunities to Develop Public Parking Accessory or Standalone Use Areas in Hamlet Centers

Comprehensive Plan 103 Plan Implementation and what grant funding to pursue to 1. Organize accomplish the recommendation. • Development of this report should align with The first step of implementing this plan the Town budget development schedule. involves establishing a Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee (CPIC). The Town 3. Biannual Reports from Aurora Departments Board should officially appoint the CPIC and task & Committees to the CPIC them with developing an organizational strategy and meeting schedule. It is recommended that the Town Departments and Committees should proposed CPIC be composed of elected officials, produce biannual reports to the CPIC that department heads, board/committee members, indicate progress on recommendations business owners, community organizations, and assigned to them, what funding they require to residents. Holding CPIC meetings as a separate accomplish assigned recommendations, and function from Town Board meetings will allow for calling out any issues that may be holding them a more open dialogue in a format more suited back from completing the recommendations. to tackling community development issues. An additional benefit of an appointed CPIC is that 4. CPIC Meeting Reports/Minutes members do not necessarily turnover with every Following each CPIC meeting, a summarization election cycle, which allows for the continuity of the meeting should be produced and shared required to pursue long range plans and projects. with the Town Board at their next Board meeting. The Town Board will be responsible for funding the This will help to ensure everyone in the Town is costs of this committee, which may necessitate a able to stay up to date with the plan’s progress secretary, and other potential costs incurred. This and so any issues that do arise can be dealt with committee will meet two to four times per year, in a timely manner. but in the first and second years may need to meet more regularly. This committee will be responsible 2. Prioritize for helping to set up the processes, actions, and tools necessary to ensure that the Plan is The CPIC will need to work with the Town Board implemented, revised as necessary, set priorities to evaluate the recommendations of the plan and for the coming year, report on the plan, and help to assign a priority level to each. Recommendations assign tasks to responsible parties. can be assigned priority on the basis of feasibility (i.e. low cost and within local capacity vs. high cost Another major responsibility of the CPIC will be to and outside Town jurisdiction) or by timing (i.e. continually keep the Town Board updated on the short, medium, or long term) as they are on page plan’s progress. To keep the Town Board updated, 102. The CPIC should also periodically revisit and the following reports should be produced: adjust priorities according to changing conditions or the availability of grant funding. 1. CPIC Annual Report • What recommendations were completed 3. Develop & Leverage this year. partnerships • What recommendations were started but not completed, and why. Compared to the surrounding municipalities of • What recommendations will the committee Buffalo (pop. 278,349), Amherst (pop. 129,595), and be focusing on next year. Hamburg (60,034), Aurora is a small community. • Identification and tracking of metrics to As such, there is limited budget for full-time measure the success of implemented professional staff to address municipal issues. recommendations. Partnering with other municipalities and regional • Recommended revisions to the Action Plan. entities could help Aurora take advantage of • Updates to the Community Profile. grant programs, share technical expertise, and exchange ideas. The Town will need to ensure their 2. Annual Funding Request representation at meetings of regional groups and • Identification of how much funding will be stay abreast of opportunities to partner on projects required to complete the recommendations and grant applications.

104 Town of Aurora The following organizations were identified as potential support partners for the plan’s Beyond code updates and tracking their impact, recommendations. This is not an exhaustive the Town and CPIC should also benchmark list of every possible organization that could progress toward each goal of the plan. Clear support Aurora in undertaking this plan’s metrics and regular reporting will turn this plan recommendations, but it is meant to show the from a vision into a managed program. The ideas numerous opportunities the Town does have that follow are a starting point for selecting goal- to partner up to support the completion of specific indicators; they are not exhaustive. recommendations. Goal 1: • East Aurora Village Tree Board • Housing mix shift: number of new duplexes, • East Aurora Pedestrian & Bicycle Board triplexes, townhomes, apartments, and • Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce ADUs; change in the percent of housing type • Erie County Department of Environment & diversity; share of new units in growth areas vs Planning rural areas; cost of new housing. • Erie County Department of Public Works • Senior & workforce housing: number of projects • Erie County Agricultural & Farmland Protection and where; units provided and for which Board income ranges; change in the percent of cost- • Erie County Industrial Development Agency burdened households. • Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority • University at Buffalo Research Institute Goal 2: • Local Recreation & Environmental Groups • Local Farmers • Land conservation: measure number of • WNY Land Conservancy acres preserved for open space protection; • Genesee Valley Land Conservancy areas identified for agrivoltaics; number of • Cornell Cooperative Extension large-scale solar & wind projects that were • Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District approved/denied; percent tree canopy • Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper growth. • Rural Outreach Center • CSC progress: number of actions completed, • Ralph Wilson Foundation points earned, and how long it takes to reach • NYSDOT silver status. • Waste diversion: measure how many tons of 4. Pursue Funding waste was diverted via composting, e-waste, and events. As a smaller community, Aurora has a limited amount of funding to pursue all of the Goal 3: recommendations of this plan. Therefore, for • Farmland protection: acres of farmland each recommendation, potential funding sources brought back into productive use; number of are called out which the Town and CPIC should newly enrolled ag district participants. investigate further for eligibility and applicability. Certain grant programs may require matches, Goal 4: while some grants can be matched using local • Capital Facilties Plan: adopted (y/n); number of volunteer efforts or even funding from a different project funded; delivery rate. source (i.e. matching a state grant with a federal • Resilience upgrades: Number of culverts grant). See the “Funding Sources” of the Action improved, number of EV chargers installed. Plan for an overview of some of the grant opportunities available for each recommendation. Goal 5: 5. Benchmark Success • Improved ped/bike network: miles of new bike lanes and multi-use trails; improvements to After adopting this Comprehensive Plan, the the parks accessibility analysis; head counts of Town should promptly review and update its daily use. development regulations—zoning, subdivision, and • Traffic & safety: Number of traffic calming related codes and ordinances. The Plan’s policies projects implemented, change in injury crash and Future Land Use Map provide direction for rates, number of new parking spaces added to these updates so the regulations better reflect hamlets. Aurora’s needs and aspirations. As zoning is updated, the CPIC should monitor development activity in the revised districts to evaluate whether the changes are working.

Comprehensive Plan 105 APPENDIX

Appendix A: Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan Climate Vulnerability Assessment 106

I. Introduction Human-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are causing warming that is not typical of the historical record. The Town of Aurora has begun taking steps in addressing climate change, which will affect all areas of the world, even towns like Aurora. As part of its Comprehensive Plan update, on which work began in late 2024, the Town has initiated the development of a Climate Vulnerability Assessment. This document will fulfill the requirements of and outline for Section PE7 Action: Climate Vulnerability Assessment, set forth by the New York State Climate Smart Communities Program. The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program is an interagency initiative of New York State to support local efforts to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges of climate change. Municipalities can adopt the CSC pledge and submit a variety of actions for CSC certification. The Town of Aurora’s Town Board unanimously passed the CSC pledge on September 26th, 2022. A task force was approved in October 2023 to implement the actions necessary for obtaining certification status with the NYS Climate Smart Communities Program. The Town was awarded Bronze-level Certification the same month and the task force continues to work towards achieving Silver-level Certification, which is the highest level of certification available. The Aurora Climate Smart Communities task force has shared extensive educational resources on the physical and social vulnerabilities related to climate change in the Town of Aurora and the Western New York region on its website. The purpose of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment is to assist the Town in analyzing and developing responses for and resilience against extreme weather events and other climate-induced impacts to come, the frequency and intensity of which are only projected to increase due to climate change. While the Town does have a disaster advisory committee, it has not actively met for several years and lacks the resources to accomplish its duties. This Climate Vulnerability Assessment should prove useful in guiding future emergency management decisions for the Town of Aurora. This assessment begins with a review of relevant studies, including the Erie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2022), the Erie County Climate Action Plan and Climate Vulnerability Assessment (2023), Town of Aurora Climate Smart Community Task Force’s website, and the New York State ClimAID Report (2011). Climate hazard and physical vulnerabilities were identified and described primarily based on the Erie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (ECMHMP). Following this, a social vulnerability assessment is included, primarily based on the ECMHMP, CSC Task Force website, and Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, findings from the Comprehensive Plan’s community engagement process as related to climate change are summarized and discussed. Finally, the assessment concludes with a summary of findings, paths forward for the Town of Aurora and its community organizations and stakeholders, and a timeline to reassess vulnerabilities and update the assessment report. II. Relevant Studies A. Erie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2022) First developed and adopted in 2007, Erie County recently updated their Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2022. This plan aims to reduce the impacts of natural disasters and increase the resiliency of all municipalities within Erie County. Components of the plan include a countywide profile, a risk assessment for all potential hazards, and identified strategies to implement to reduce the impacts of 107

natural disasters. Hazards identified as high-risk in the Town of Aurora include flooding and utility failure. Vulnerabilities include increasing occurrences of severe summer weather (such as thunderstorms and tornado watches) which cause utility failure; extreme winter weather; flooding along Tannery Brook; the school system not participating in federal emergency management guidance; water shortages during hazard events; a lack of adequate backup power for the Buffalo Road and Emery Road temporary emergency housing locations; and frequent flooding events which damage residential properties. B. Erie County Community Climate Action Plan and Climate Vulnerability Assessment (2023) The Erie County Community Climate Action Plan was developed in 2023. The plan aims to serve as a high-level roadmap to help guide and prioritize the County’s climate actions. As part of the Erie County Climate Action Plan, a Climate Vulnerability Assessment was conducted for the entirety of Erie County. The assessment identified the county’s climate threats and hazards and examined the county’s ability to handle the hazards at the county level. For the county, four hazard categories were identified as most high-risk: temperature, particularly extreme heat; precipitation, particularly local and downstream flooding; wind, particularly shifting wind patterns and high thunderstorm winds; and biological threats, particularly invasive species and vector-borne diseases. C. Town of Aurora Climate Smart Community Task Force Website The Town of Aurora’s Climate Smart Community Task Force maintains a very in-depth website providing climate change awareness and education materials, challenges and opportunities being faced by the Town of Aurora regarding climate change, and information on the task force itself, including meeting minutes and CSC certification details. For example, the task force identifies flooding as a critical issue. Challenges relating to flooding include increasing flood occurrences, rising sea levels, the impact of floods on buildings and critical facilities, and more. Opportunities include critical culvert/bridge repairs, protection of the Town’s water resources by the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, and shoreline restoration projects which have been successful. D. NYS ClimAID Report (2011) ClimAID: the Integrated Assessment for Effective Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in New York State was undertaken by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) in 2011 as a state-level assessment of climate change impacts, specifically designed to assist in the development of adaptation strategies. Topics addressed in the report include water resources, coastal zones, ecosystems, agriculture, energy, transportation, telecommunications, and public health. For Western New York, the report predicts a significant increase in average annual temperatures and precipitation levels up to the 2080s. The greatest threats to the region identified by the report are increased summer drought risk and high-value crops needing increasing irrigation, which aligns with the high agricultural productivity of Western New York. An addendum to this report was published in 2014, wherein new models were utilized to refine climate projections. This update is also referenced in this assessment. III. Identified Climate Hazards and Impacts A. Previously Identified Climate Hazards and Impacts Summary The Town of Aurora Climate Smart Communities Task Force has identified eight environmental spheres that affect the Town, each with challenges and opportunities laid out. These can be separated between 108

climate hazards and climate impacts. Climate hazards are weather patterns and events, including extreme storm events, extreme temperatures, and flooding. Climate impacts are the physical and social components which experience the impacts of these climate hazards including water and soil, agriculture, invasive species, climate migration, and social justice. This report will focus on the flooding hazard within the Town of Aurora due to its being identified as a high-risk hazard by the ECMHMP and because of the significance of the watershed to the Town. Flooding was also identified as a primary concern amongst residents and stakeholders in the community engagement process (refer to Section VI). Hazard concerns were ranked in the ECMHMP based on “an assessment of the likelihood of occurrence for each hazard, along with its potential impacts on people, property, and the economy as well as community capability and changing future conditions… each municipality ranked the degree of risk to each hazard as it pertains to their community.” In this subsection, the seven other climate hazards and impacts identified by the Aurora CSC Task Force are detailed. Flooding is described in greater detail in Subsection B. i. Climate Hazard: Extreme Weather Events Extreme weather events include floods, blizzards, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves. While these events are very different in terms of their physical impacts and conditions, they are all influenced by the water cycle, which itself is heavily affected by climate change – specifically, trends in temperature. While “climate change” can often refer to the same thing as “global warming,” i.e., an observable increase in average temperature over time, the term “global warming” often gives the incorrect impression that the effects of climate change will always be warm, such as increased wildfires and heatwaves. However, the water cycle occurs not only within seasons or a year, but also over multiple years and even decades; therefore, its effects are not always warm. Blizzards, increased snowfall, extreme winds, tornadoes, etc., are affected by the water cycle as well. Snowfall is not expected to decrease in Erie County. Winter storms are anticipated to be shorter yet more intense. Precipitation is expected to increase by up to 17% in the region by the 2080s 1, with more precipitation in the fall and summer than the current rates. Additionally, due to the proximity to Lake Erie, Erie County is located within an “extreme wind hazard area”. Wind speeds are projected to increase during the winter and summer with increases in the temperature. Wind direction is shifting to more northeasterly winds, which will likely increase damage to infrastructure, houses, and trees. Off-season storms are also expected to increase. Since the year 1990, the frequency of tornadoes has been increasing in the area as well. Significant impacts to substrate (pavement, asphalt, etc.) and agricultural soils are expected due to heavier precipitation (erosion). Additionally, the cycle of freezing and thawing can potentially create a substantial loss of crops, soil quality, and prime farmland. ii. Climate Hazard: Extreme Temperatures Erie County and the Town of Aurora are and will continue to be exposed to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Extreme temperature events will most affect certain groups of people: • The elderly, who are less able to withstand extreme temperatures due to health conditions and, more often than younger people, lack access to emergency shelters; • Infants and children up to 4 years of age; 1 Horton, R., D. Bader, C. Rosenzweig, A. DeGaetano, and W.Solecki. 2014. Climate Change in New York State: Updating the 2011 ClimAID Climate Risk Information. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Albany, New York. 109

• People with chronic medical conditions; • Low-income residents that do not have access to proper heating and cooling; and, • The general public who may work or exercise during extreme temperature events. Extreme cold poses health hazards such as wind chill, frostbite, and hypothermia. Power outages are also common during extreme cold events, which are particularly dangerous for those without proper shelter and/or are stranded or trapped in their car. Older buildings and mobile homes are also more vulnerable to extreme cold. Transportation issues are one of the most obvious issues related to extreme cold. Additionally, extreme cold and ice can significantly impact vegetation, in particular, trees and agricultural crops, which can die off or have a substantially decreased yield for farmers. Extreme heat events are expected to increase in Erie County and the Town of Aurora in the coming decades. This poses a particular challenge as the municipalities in the Western New York region are more experienced in handling cold weather events. Most heat-related deaths occur from long exposure to extreme heat with little or no air conditioning. Town of Aurora’s particular vulnerabilities to extreme heat include isolation for the elderly living in rural areas, socioeconomic vulnerability, and urban heat island effects within the Village of East Aurora. Furthermore, extreme heat can have an impact on buildings in terms of increased energy demand for cooling and insufficient capabilities of mobile homes to withstand heat. Utilities can sometimes fail during extreme heat due to intense usage of air conditioning systems. iii. Climate Impact: Water and Soil As mentioned in the sections on extreme storm events and extreme temperatures, the water and soil of Erie County and the Town of Aurora will be heavily affected by climate change. Water and soil are crucial assets to any community because they affect so many other elements of the community, from agriculture to infrastructure. According to the Town of Aurora CSC website, climate change does and will continue to affect water quality in various ways, including: • Flooding: Runoff from pesticides, animal waste, fertilizers, and more could be picked up by water during flooding events. • Algal blooms: Higher surface water temperatures and increased nutrient loading from agricultural runoff may increase algal blooms, which deoxygenate water, produce toxins, and damage other organisms and their habitats, thus taking over entire aquatic ecosystems. • Winter snowpack: The loss of winter snowpack due to premature melting and/or lack of snowfall will reduce groundwater and runoff throughout the spring and summer, resulting in lowering water levels in water bodies during the growing season. • Drought: As supply of water decreases, concentration of contaminants increases. Similarly, soil can and will be affected by climate change as well. • Soil erosion: More frequent extreme weather events will cause soil erosion by causing precipitation levels that cannot be absorbed by the soil quickly. Water flows across the surface and takes a layer of soil with it – this will potentially affect the steep terrains and ravines that make up much of Aurora’s rural area the most. • Soil organic carbon: Loss of soil carbon causes declines in nutrient availability, biological activity, physical structure, water-holding capacity, aeration, and agricultural productivity. 110

• Soil nutrients: Extreme rain events can reduce soil nutrient levels. • Acidity and alkalinity: An increase in precipitation and moisture is expected to increase soil acidity, which will affect natural ecosystems and agricultural productivity. iv. Climate Impact: Agricultural Productivity The agriculture industry and a rural lifestyle are both key elements of the Town of Aurora that residents seek to preserve. However, climate change projections indicate that average annual temperatures could increase by up to 10°F by the 2080s. Although it might at first glance sound like a benefit for farmers to have an extended growing season, other side effects of climate change can and do impact agriculture negatively. Warmer, longer growing seasons mean an increase in irrigation, slower plant growth, and greater potential for diseases and invasive species to flourish on agricultural crops. Bacteria, fungi, insects, and weeds tend to take advantage of warmer weather and often thrive in increased moisture. A longer season and hotter weather could also affect pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, and their lifecycles, which are generally matched with the timing of crop plantings – a crucial step for agricultural productivity, especially fruits and vegetables. Additionally, farm workers and livestock animals will be impacted by increased heat both in terms of physical effects but also by increased prevalence of pests (mosquitoes, ticks, etc.). For both human workers and livestock animals, resources will need to be increasingly dedicated to cooling down, namely, water availability and fans/air conditioning. The Town of Aurora and Erie County at large will be affected by warming weather trends, as the area is quite agriculturally productive – maple syrup, Christmas trees, apiaries, and autumn tree tourism are identified as Aurora’s largest agricultural markets. Local agriculture will also be affected by extreme cold, which may cause crop damage or kill crops entirely; early spring warming can also cause premature budding which can kill crops if it is followed by a freeze. v. Climate Impact: Invasive Species As mentioned above, invasive species are likely to become more of an issue as climate changes. As temperature and precipitation increase, species niches change, food chains shift, habitats move, and entire ecosystems are altered in a domino effect. Invasive species can cause significant damage to agricultural crops and even entire ecosystems for various reasons: lack of a natural check on the population such as a predator; they may fill a species niche that native species cannot, such as early or late season growth; they may thrive in a habitat that humans have altered; and, invasive species tend to have a high reproduction rate, disperse rapidly and effectively, and/or are able to tolerate many different environmental conditions. Invasive species can be plants, animals, insects, bacteria, and fungi. Importantly, invasive species can occasionally be vectors for diseases (both human and animal). Vector- borne diseases require infrastructure to prevent, treat, and eradicate, especially diseases that are new to a population that would have no history with understanding them. In Erie County, the deer tick, which carries Lyme disease, is already present, but may be replaced in the next few decades with the Asian longhorned tick, which causes the always-fatal East Coast Fever and other parasitic diseases in cattle. Invasive plants choke out native species and reduce biodiversity in wetlands and forests. In the Town of Aurora, several species are already present: Japanese knotweed and Japanese stiltgrass (both associated with aquatic areas), Tartarian honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and common buckthorn. Tree of Heaven is a popular residential landscape tree which is the preferred host plant to the devastating spotted lanternfly. Other invasive species that are present include the Norway maple, giant hogweed, 111

wild parsnip, and emerald ash borer. Hemlock wooly adelgid, box tree moth, spotted lanternfly, spotted wing drosophila, and European cherry fruit fly; and, beech bark disease and beech leaf disease, both caused by fungi. vi. Climate Impact: Climate Migration Climate migration is the migration of peoples from areas of the world due to climate-change related environmental shifts to areas that are more environmentally hospitable. Among others, rising sea levels, droughts, and extreme heat are reasons why people have migrated, and will continue to migrate, to climate oasis areas. Climate migration is anticipated to only increase over the coming decades as climate change intensifies. The greater Buffalo region, as a substantially more climate-resilient and less vulnerable area than other parts of the world, can be expected to receive many of these migrants, including the Town of Aurora, at least in small part. Increased population can cause increased housing costs, increased development pressures, and possibly displace existing low and moderate-income residents. vii. Climate Impact: Social Justice Related to climate migration, climate change has and will continue to affect social justice and deepen social inequalities. Climate oasis areas like the greater Buffalo region have the potential to experience substantial increases in property values, which can lead to gentrification. This displacement can cause or exacerbate other social vulnerabilities, particularly in the areas that are left behind in favor of areas with fewer climate vulnerabilities. The social vulnerability assessment done for Erie County reveals high potential for social vulnerability near Buffalo’s downtown, but also in rural areas, including the Town of Aurora. That said, the Town of Aurora also has extensive social support infrastructure, including social services, food and clothing pantries, affordable housing options, senior services, and more. These resources, whether publicly maintained or operated by non-profits, can be strengthened and broadened in the coming years to accommodate a larger, and more culturally diverse, population. B. Flooding i. Definition of Flooding Flooding has been identified as the primary climate hazard for the Town of Aurora. Flooding is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency also responsible for administering the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The risk of flooding in a particular area is defined in terms of the 100-year and 500-year floodplains. In river systems (which affect the Town of Aurora), as opposed to coastal systems, flooding is expressed in flow rate, which is then used to estimate the water elevation during a flood. A 100-year flood level has the probability to be reached or exceeded once per 100 years on average. In other words, the likelihood of the flood occurring has a 1 in 100 chance, or 1% probability, in any given year. The same goes for the 500-year flood, which has a 1 in 500 chance or 0.2% probability of occurring in any given year. The floodplain is the geographic area that is estimated to be affected by the 100-year or 500-year flood in any given year. Per the ECMHMP, the boundaries of floodplains can be altered as a result of changes in land use, the amount of impervious surface, improvements in technology for measuring topographic features, and the utilization of different hydrologic modeling techniques. The 1% and 0.2% chances of a flood occurring in any given year do not mean that a flood in a particular area will only happen once every 100 or every 500 years. Variations always occur and the climate is affected by a myriad of other factors, including previous climate cycles. Within a 100-year floodplain, 112

there is an approximately 26% chance of flooding within any given 30 consecutive years – the length of most mortgages in the United States. The regulations of the NFIP are based on the 100-year flood. Residents of communities that participate in the NFIP are automatically eligible for the program. Further, any business or home with a government-backed mortgage that is in the 100-year floodplain is required by law to have flood insurance. Floods are defined in a leveled system based on the use of hydrographs, which are measured by gages located throughout Erie County. Hydrographs show how a water level changes over time at a specific location. The following terms must be defined for clarification purposes: • Action Stage - the stage which, when reached by a rising stream, lake, or reservoir, represents the level where the NWS or a partner/user needs to take some type of mitigation action in preparation for possible significant hydrologic activity. • Minor Flooding - minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat. • Moderate Flooding - some inundation of structures and roads near stream. Some evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations. • Major Flooding - extensive inundation of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations. • Record Flooding - flooding which equals or exceeds the highest stage or discharge at a given site during the period of record keeping. ii. Risk of Flooding due to Climate Change Per the Town of Aurora’s Climate Smart Communities website: “Increasing air temperatures intensify the water cycle by increasing evaporation and precipitation. This can cause an increase in rain totals during events with longer dry periods in between those events….The amount of rainfall in a 100-year event is projected to increase, while the number of years between such storms is projected to decrease.” According to the NYS ClimAID Report’s Updated Climate Projections Report (2014), the projected increase in precipitation for ClimAID Region 1, which includes Erie County, is 2% to 12% by the 2050s and 1 percent to 17 percent by the 2080s. The baseline precipitation for this region, calculated between 1971 and 2000, is 34.0 in. annually, meaning the potential increase could be to between 34.7 in. and 38.1 in. annually by the 2050s and up to 39.8 in annually by the 2080s. As the Updated Climate Projects Report states, “although the increase in total annual precipitation is projected to be relatively small, larger increases are projected in the frequency of extreme precipitation events (defined as events with more than 1, 2, or 4 inches of rainfall) at daily timescales.” The increase in heavy downpour has and will continue to affect drinking water, increase the risk of riverine flooding, flood key transportation systems, and increase delays and hazards related to extreme weather events. iii. National Flood Insurance Program Summary The Town of Aurora has been a participating community in the NFIP since 1974. The NFIP Floodplain Administrator is the Town of Aurora’s Code Enforcement Officer. Other Building Department personnel also help fulfill this role. The role of the NFIP Floodplain Administrator is to reduce the risk of flooding, such as by adopting and enforcing higher floodplain management standards than NFIP minimum 113

requirements, maintaining rigorous enforcement, promoting open space, encouraging responsible building practices, promoting the purchase of flood insurance, and others. However, the ECMHMP states that the Town does not have any certified floodplain managers on staff. The Town also does not have “adequate resources to determine future damage due to climate change and would need occasional training in basic floodplain management.” The Code Enforcement office does provide permit review as part of NFIP administration services. While the Town is a participating community in the NFIP, they do not participate in the Community Rating System (CRS) program. The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP. In communities that participate in CRS, NFIP insurance rates are discounted to varying degrees depending on the amount of “credit points” earned by the community. Credit points can be earned by a series of actions, including map information services, hazard disclosures, publicly sharing flood protection information, providing flood protection assistance, stormwater management, floodplain management planning, building dams and levees, and many more. According to the ECMHMP, the town does not have any barriers to running an effective NFIP program and does not have any NFIP compliance violations. The town’s most recent Community Assistance Visit was March 18, 2008, had a CAC (Community Assistance Contact) visit on May 4, 2005, and is due for another visit soon. The local law number for the local flood damage prevention ordinance is Chapter 68 of the Town Code and was last amended on April 8, 2019. Finally, the town does not exceed the floodplain requirements set by FEMA and does not have any other plans or ordinances that support the NFIP program. The Town of Aurora does not maintain a list of properties which have been damaged in floods, nor does it maintain a list of property owners interested in flood mitigation. The Town has also not had any substantial damage determinations and has not mitigated any properties. According to the Town of Aurora, as described in the ECMHMP, Town officials consider the existing flood maps (created by FEMA) adequate to address the risk of the flood in the town. iv. History of Flood Events According to NOAA, the National Climatic Data Center, Erie County experienced 104 flood events between 1950 and 2020, including 10 lakeshore floods, 40 floods, and 54 flash floods. For Erie County (not specifically for the Town of Aurora), the estimate probability of experiencing a flash flood in any given year is 76%; for a non-flash flood, the probability is 56%. These probabilities will likely increase as the effects of climate change compound. Likewise, the direct and indirect impacts of floods are likely to increase, the latter of which include hazards such as infrastructure deterioration or failure; utility failures, power outages, water quality and supply concerns; and transportation delays, accidents, and inconveniences. v. Flood Risk Zones Flood zones are defined by FEMA using three different categories: A, V, and X, which are indicated on flood insurance rate map (FIRM) panels, the official flood zones maps issued by FEMA. Zones A and V indicate high-risk (within the 100-year floodplain). The difference between Zones A and V is that Zone V areas are coastal, potentially with high waves, and are at high risk of other extreme events, such as hurricanes. Zone A indicates low-lying land that is near lakes, ponds, and rivers, potentially with low waves. Shaded Zone X indicates low risk (within the 500-year floodplain; 0.2% to 0.99% chance), while unshaded Zone X indicates very low risk (less than 0.2% chance). 114

The ECMHMP identifies several flood-prone areas in the Town of Aurora. These include properties along Cazenovia Creek – both the East Branch, south of the Village of East Aurora, and the West Branch, south of West Falls. Tannery Brook is also a flood-prone area in the Town of Aurora, although most of the length of the brook is located within the Village of East Aurora. Per the ECMHMP, “Tannery Brook has continuously seen major flooding and properties along the waterbody have and continue to be vulnerable to frequent flooding around the creek, especially the nursing home…Frequent flooding events have resulted in damages to residential properties. These properties have been repetitively flooded as documented by paid NFIP claims.” According to the ECMHMP, the Town of Aurora includes 21,739 acres in total land area. Of the total land area, 645 acres, or 3.0%, are within the 1% annual chance flood zone (Zone A). There are 745 total acres within the 0.2% annual chance flood zone, or 3.4% of total land area. There are 0 acres in a Zone V area, since there are no coasts within the Town of Aurora. IV. Physical Vulnerability Assessment Physical vulnerability is the susceptibility of physical infrastructure to potential and actual climate hazards and extreme events. Climate change has and will continue to damage or disrupt physical infrastructure, and the Town of Aurora will need to plan to enhance the resiliency of these systems. In the ECMHMP, hazards are identified and ranked based on a formula including the likelihood of occurrence for each hazard, its potential impacts on people, property, and the economy, the existing level of resiliency among the community, and projected environmental changes due to climate change. The following physical vulnerability assessment (PVA) will be a summary of the conclusions drawn in the ECMHMP and the Town of Aurora’s Climate Smart Communities website. For purposes of better understanding the PVA, the following terms must be defined: • Exposure refers to whether an asset or system is located in an area that is likely to experience the effects of a climate change hazard now or in the future. • Sensitivity refers to how an asset or system fares when exposed to a climate hazard. • Adaptive capacity refers to the ability of an asset or system to adjust to actual or expected climate stresses. Overall, the adaptive capacity of the Town of Aurora to flooding is considered medium: capacity may exist, but it is not used or could use some improvement. A. Property/Building Damage According to the ECMHMP, “exposure to the flood hazard includes those buildings located in the flood zone or those that are built downstream in other flood inundation areas such as dam failure inundation areas. Potential damage is the modeled loss that could occur to the exposed inventory measured by the structural and content replacement cost value.” In the Town of Aurora, the general building stock includes 4,280 buildings with a total estimated replacement cost value (RCV) of nearly $2.5 billion. There are approximately 18 buildings (0.4% of all buildings) within the 1% chance flood risk area (Zone A), with a total RCV of approximately $13.5 million (0.5% of the total RCV). Additionally, there are 47 buildings in the 0.2% chance flood risk area (1.1% of all buildings), with a total RCV of approximately $35.5 million (1.4% of the total RCV). 115

Using HAZUS software, a standardized loss estimation tool developed and used by FEMA, the ECMHMP estimates that there is a loss value of $2.1 million due to the 100-year flood in the Town of Aurora, approximately 0.1% of the total RCV. Approximately $520,000 of this would be residential building loss, $645,000 would be commercial building loss, and the remainder, about $893,000, would be all other building uses, including agricultural, industrial, religious, educational, and governmental. B. Infrastructure Damage According to the ECMHMP, “critical facilities” are typically defined as “facilities considered critical to the health and welfare of the population and that are especially important following a hazard…. critical facilities include essential facilities, transportation systems, lifeline utility systems, high-potential loss facilities, and hazardous material facilities.” Grouped in with these assets are also police stations, fire stations, emergency medical services, schools/colleges, senior facilities, and medical facilities. The ECMHMP identifies US Route 20A and various county roads as important transportation routes which run through the Town of Aurora. According to the ECMHMP, “roads that are blocked or damaged can isolate residents and can prevent access throughout the planning area to many service providers needing to get to vulnerable populations or to make repairs.” US Route 20A may be impacted by a 1% annual flood chance event. Damage to or blockage of critical infrastructure, namely roadways, railroads, and utilities, can and will have serious consequences for residents in the event of a flood. These events may cause loss of communication, energy, heating/cooling, access to food, water, or shelter, access to medical services or supplies, lack of security and safety, lack of means of evacuation if necessary, and possibly even exposure to hazardous materials. These assets are described collectively as “lifelines” in the ECMHMP. There are 95 critical facilities within the Town of Aurora and 81 lifelines (see Figure 1). Of these, 17 critical facilities (17.9% of total) and 17 lifelines (21.0% of total) are in the 1% annual chance flood areas. These 17 critical facilities, which are also listed as lifelines, are various unnamed bridges throughout the Town of Aurora. 2 These fall under the transportation category of lifelines. However, according to the ECMHMP, these critical facilities are not expected to face potential loss due to flooding. 2 Data provided by Tetra Tech, Inc., developer of the ECMHMP. This information was not publicly available in the ECMHMP. 116

Critical Facility Address Jurisdiction Latitude Longitude Facility Lifeline Name Type 3 2.7 MI E JCT RT5 20A+ I87 Aurora (T) 42.76172 -78.645 Bridge Y 24S 3.7 MI S JCT RTS 400 +20A Aurora (T) 42.71726 -78.5864 Bridge Y 24N 3.7 MI S JCT RTS 400 +20A Aurora (T) 42.7174 -78.5862 Bridge Y 22S 2.2 MI S JCT RTS 400 +20A Aurora (T) 42.73745 -78.6006 Bridge Y 22N 2.2 MI S JCT RTS 400 +20A Aurora (T) 42.73753 -78.6002 Bridge Y Unnamed 1.5 MI. S OF EAST AURORA Aurora (T) 42.74076 -78.6042 Bridge Y 33-2 .8 MILE S OF EAST AURORA Aurora (T) 42.75661 -78.6226 Bridge Y 3.8 MI SW OF EAST 47-1 Aurora (T) 42.72403 -78.6693 Bridge Y AURORA .3 MI WEST OF SOUTH 67-3 Aurora (T) 42.7092 -78.5853 Bridge Y WALES 1.9 MI NW OF SOUTH 85-2 Aurora (T) 42.73344 -78.5969 Bridge Y WALES 144-1 IN WEST FALLS Aurora (T) 42.70165 -78.6821 Bridge Y 1.5 MI SW OF EAST 368-3 Aurora (T) 42.75446 -78.6515 Bridge Y AURORA 1 MILE SW OF EAST 368-4 Aurora (T) 42.75733 -78.645 Bridge Y AURORA 373-4 2.1 MI NE OF JEWETTVILLE Aurora (T) 42.7453 -78.6555 Bridge Y 377-1 2.8 MI W OF EAST AURORA Aurora (T) 42.77952 -78.6831 Bridge Y .4 MILE S OF SOUTH 379-2 Aurora (T) 42.70324 -78.5803 Bridge Y WALES .6 MI EAST OF 706 Aurora (T) 42.71823 -78.6705 Bridge Y JEWETTVILLE 117

Figure 1. Town of Aurora Hazard Area Extent and Location. Source: Erie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2022), p. 9.8-16 118

The ECMHMP indicates that several specific issues relating to the critical facilities in the Town of Aurora have been identified by Town leadership: • The town is not currently participating in the Federal Readiness and Emergency Management in Schools (REMS) program which would help schools conduct necessary mitigation measures and determine readiness around disasters. • The town has had issues with water supply during hazard events and has had to rely on other municipalities for emergency water supply. With increasing extreme weather and drought, the town needs to first determine the areas that need potable water supply. • The town does not have adequate backup power for the emergency shelter locations on Buffalo Road and Emery Road. These areas are not equipped with electricity and thus are not able to handle emergency shelter needs during disasters. C. Economic Loss Flood events can substantially affect the local and regional economy, disrupting or damaging the building stock, which creates tax loss, impacts to utilities and infrastructure; business infrastructure; impacts on tourism and events; and environmental impacts which can affect many different industries, particularly agriculture. Commercial and industrial buildings may need to be renovated or rebuilt, which disrupts their associated services. The ECMHMP considers debris cleanup in the event of a flood to be a major expense and impact to the economy. Using HAZUS, the ECMHMP estimates the amount of structural debris that would be created during a flood event. Debris includes finishes, such as drywall and insulation; structural, such as wood and brick; and foundations, such as concrete slab and block, rebar, etc. During the 1% annual chance flood event, it is estimated that 296 tons of debris would be created in the Town of Aurora: 191 tons of finishes, 54 tons of structural debris, and 50 tons of foundation. This does not include non-structural debris or debris caused by winds and storms, such as trees, power lines, etc. D. Public Health and Safety Perhaps no impacts are as important as the direct health and safety impacts that floods can have on the public. While floods are dangerous and potentially disastrous, the ECMHMP states that the risk of injury and death is substantially lowered if proper warning, precautions, and communication takes place. Injury is most likely to occur when people try to cross flooded roadways. Dam failure can also take place, which can cause loss of life and property damage, however, these impacts are not discussed in the ECMHMP. Models to estimate the losses associated with public health and safety are not standardized by FEMA, so the best mitigation of these effects is proper education, prevention, and preparation, on the part of both the Town of Aurora and residents. Secondary impacts of flooding and dam failure can be just as catastrophic as the flood itself. The increased moisture, standing water, and lack of ventilation can create a haven for mold to grow, posing a substantial threat to all building occupants, particularly children, expecting mothers, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. Mold spores can create allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and exacerbate other respiratory issues. In the event of a flood, buildings must be properly cleaned and dried out to prevent mold growth; this is an expense that not all are aware of or able to afford. During flood inundation, floodwaters themselves can become polluted, which can cause many other cascading effects. Pollutants may include sewage, feces, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, asbestos, rusting materials, and other hazardous materials. According to the ECMHMP, health risks associated with flood 119

events also include unsafe food, contaminated drinking and washing water and poor sanitation, mosquitoes and other animals, carbon monoxide poisoning, secondary hazards associated with re- entering and cleaning flooded structures, and the mental stress and fatigue associated with a significant and potentially traumatic natural disaster. E. Land Use, Environment, and Agriculture If the Town of Aurora continues to develop by building more structures, impervious surfaces will increase, thus potentially increasing the frequency and/or severity of flood events. Additionally, there are several dams within the Town of Aurora. Dam failure could cause substantial water pollution and debris issues, as described above. Contaminated water and sediment and potentially severe soil erosion can be destructive for local ecosystems. The Town of Aurora highly values its agricultural heritage and industry, and the natural systems which support agriculture could be heavily affected by this damage. F. Insurance Claims According to the ECMHMP (data from September 2021 was utilized), there are 12 active NFIP policies within the Town of Aurora, with 12 claims and $96,661 total paid out for losses. There are 7 “repetitive loss” properties within the Town. FEMA defines a repetitive loss property as “an insurable building for which two or more claims of more than $1,000 were paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) within any rolling ten-year period, since 1978.” Only one of these 12 properties is located in the 1% flood boundary. The 12 policies held in the Town of Aurora are comparable to the median number of policies held in all other jurisdictions in Erie County, which is 8. The median number of claims per jurisdiction in Erie County is 18, compared to 12 in Aurora, and the median number of losses paid out per jurisdiction is $73,956, compared to $96,661. Based on these comparisons, the Town of Aurora has slightly more than the median number of NFIP policies. Slightly fewer than the median number of claims have been made, but the losses paid out were substantially higher than in other jurisdictions. However, some communities in Erie County, such as those on the coast of Lake Erie or with major creeks, have very high numbers of policies, claims, and losses paid. For instance, the Town of Amherst had the highest number of policies (846) and number of claims (448), while the Village of Gowanda had the largest number of losses paid (over $2.3 million). 120

V. Social Vulnerability Assessment Social vulnerability is the culmination of conditions which affect a person’s ability to withstand sensitivity and exposure to the impacts of climate change. Climate conditions affect all residents, but not all residents are affected equally. According to the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment (October 2021), factors that affect susceptibility to climate change conditions include: • Inequities in infrastructure and access, caused by differences in education levels, income and wages, economic opportunities, healthcare, transportation, and other services; • Exclusion from political and decision-making power; • Inequities in environmental and living conditions; and, • Differences in individual health, age, and ability. Socioeconomic factors can create tangible differences in how people become aware of, protect themselves against, and experience the direct and indirect effects of natural disasters, including floods. It is necessary to include underrepresented and marginalized populations who may be at greater risk from climate change impacts because they are the most likely to experience the most devastating effects of a climate hazard, both during and after the hazard event itself. This is not due to an inability to cope or be resilient to impacts on their own, but rather that various factors can make certain populations systematically more susceptible than others. A. Vulnerable Populations The Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment utilizes a helpful index for understanding what socioeconomic identifiers might be used to predict a population’s sensitivity to climate hazards. “Sensitivity” is used both in terms of psychological sensitivity, i.e., ability to cope, as well as the ability to prepare for or recover from climate hazards. Age Children, the elderly, older adults living alone Foreign-born, female, female householder, Community and language library access, voter turnout rate, limited English proficiency Outdoor workers (including workers in Occupation agriculture, fishing, mining, extractive or construction occupations), unemployment Education No high school diploma Disability, asthma, cardiovascular disease, no Health health insurance Living in group quarters, mobile homes, cost- Housing burdened, renters Income and wealth Median income, poverty Race/ethnicity Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous Access to information No internet subscription Households without vehicle access or transit Transportation access 121

According to the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan’s Community Profile, the population of the Town of Aurora plus that of the Village of East Aurora was 13,394 as of 2020. The Town and Village grew quickly between the decades of 1900 to 1970, but growth has slowed down substantially since 2000, with a 1.5% decrease in population between 2000 to 2010 and a 1.2% increase between 2010 and 2020. While the Town is not growing rapidly, it is remaining stable. As described above, the Town anticipates that the population will increase at least somewhat over the next few decades due to the influx of climate migrants, which may change the Town’s overall demographics. As of 2022, the median age of Town of Aurora residents is 50.3 years old, a 22% increase in median age since the year 2000. The 45 to 64-year-old age group is the largest age group in Aurora, making up just over a third of the total population. In the coming decades, the 65+ year old age group will be the largest population in the Town, a shift which will be accompanied by increasing needs, such as for medical services, care facilities, and transportation. The average size of households in Aurora has decreased very slightly since 2010, from 2.58 to 2.54 in owner-occupied households (a decrease of 1.6%) and from 1.85 to 1.81 in renter-occupied households (a decrease of 2.2%). The dominant household type in Aurora is married couples, however, only 26.3% of these households have children under the age of 18, so most households are likely empty nesters. People aged 19 and younger, including all children and infants, make up 20.9% percent of the total population of the Town. Nearly 50% of Aurora residents over the age of 18 have a bachelor’s or advanced degree, substantially higher than the same achievement in Erie County as a whole, which is 35.8%. Only 3.6% of the Town’s population over the age of 18 do not have a high school diploma. The Town of Aurora’s racial makeup is 95.2% white. Combined, all other races, including Black, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and others, make up 1.7%. People identifying as two or more races make up 3.1% of the Town’s population. Adjusted for inflation, the median household income in Aurora is $104,899. For comparison, the median household income in Erie County is $78,552. The median household income in Aurora has gone up by over 8% since the year 2000. Over 60% of the Town’s households have annual household incomes between $50,000 and $199,000, and 17.9% have household incomes over $200,000. The Town of Aurora is one of the wealthiest suburbs in the greater Buffalo region. In terms of employment, the largest employment sectors that residents work in are Education, Health, & Social Services (32.6%), Manufacturing (12.6%), Professional & Administrative (9.8%), and Arts, Entertainment, and Food Services (9.24%). Sectors such as Construction (8%), Transportation & Warehousing (1.3%), and Agriculture (0.04%) make up small percentages of employment for residents of Aurora. Of the residents of the Town of Aurora, approximately 5,450 work outside of the Town and only 1,199 both live and work within the Town. About 3.0% of residents walk, bike, or ride to work, and approximately 15% work from home. Of the total number of working residents, approximately 82% have access to a personal vehicle or shared vehicle for work. The percentage of households with access to a vehicle is at least that high when including non-working residents and residents who don’t drive to work every day but still own a vehicle. 122

Given the preceding information, it is fair to say that the Town of Aurora is generally wealthy, highly educated, and mostly White with high accessibility to resources. Therefore, for the most part, the residents of the town have lower sensitivity to climate hazards. The most vulnerable populations in Aurora are likely therefore: • (1) the elderly, especially those that live alone; • (2) children; • (3) the immunocompromised and disabled; and • (4) people who work in high-exposure industries such as agriculture, construction, and transportation. The Town and its stakeholders should plan on how to specifically address these populations in case of a significant flooding event. B. Population Exposed to 1% and 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Event Based on GIS data and satellite imagery of the Town of Aurora, there are approximately 220 residential parcels in Zone A or AE (100-year flood), or approximately 7% of the 3,159 residential parcels in the Town. There are approximately 139 parcels in the shaded Zone X area (500-year flood), or 4.4% of residential parcels. C. Impacts of Flood on Vulnerable Populations The effects of a flood can be particularly devastating for vulnerable populations. As mentioned previously, this is not because of their own inability to cope with or be resilient in the event of a flood, but rather because they may systematically lack the resources necessary to evacuate beforehand, protect themselves against a flood, and/or recover in the aftermath of a flood. A non-exhaustive list of potential effects on vulnerable populations is provided below. The elderly, especially those Elderly people may have fewer resources to be forewarned of that live alone floods, such as due to lack of internet access. They may also lack the resources to evacuate the area swiftly by not being able to drive or by not owning a vehicle. Elderly people who live alone are more likely to be isolated from others, though they are not always. They may have less of a support network to help them prepare for a flood, evacuate if needed, and clean up/recover after a flood. Additionally, many elderly people do not work and therefore have limited to no income that they can leverage to protect themselves or recover. Elderly people who live in care facilities tend to have a substantially lower degree of independence and their protection and preparedness are at the discretion of the care facility. Elderly people living in care facilities may also be disabled and need medical care that may not be available during a flood event. For both elderly people living independently or in a care facility, the aftermath of a flood can substantially impact on their health as they may be physically weaker and more susceptible to illnesses caused by mold, pollution, etc. Children Children are entirely dependent on their caretakers in the case of a flood. For school children, in the case of an emergency, their protection and emergency preparedness are at the discretion of school administrators or other authoritative adults. Children, particularly those under age 5, are also more susceptible to illnesses 123

caused by the aftermath of a flood, such as respiratory issues, asthma, allergic reactions, etc. The immunocompromised Because disability exists on such a wide spectrum, it is difficult to and disabled pinpoint exactly how each person is vulnerable to flood events; however, their safety, preparation, and medical attention may be at the discretion of others. Some disabled people live independently; sometimes they are in the care of a family member, sometimes a care provider. The immunocompromised are particularly vulnerable to health issues that may be caused by a flood, such as mold, asthma, pollution, allergies, etc. They may require special medical treatment or access to support that may not be available during emergencies. People who work in high- High-exposure industries include those in which employees spend exposure industries most of their time outside. High-exposure occupations tend to have greater jobsite risk, as well as greater exposure to the elements, including natural disasters. Employees who work mainly outside have a high degree of exposure to floods, as their jobs may depend on being on the frontline of the flood event. They may also be isolated or stranded during a flood because they do not have all their resources at hand or have much ability to prepare with short notice. After a flood event, high-exposure occupations may be responsible for clearing debris, repairing or rebuilding infrastructure, and/or may be left unable to work at all, which can cause economic and mental distress. VI. Community Engagement Summary Community engagement is an essential part in the comprehensive planning process. This chapter highlights the various methods used to engage the Town of Aurora residents in the process of developing the Comprehensive Plan. Residents were given opportunities to share their insights, opinions, and aspirations for the community. The feedback gathered helped shape the plan's vision statement, goals, and recommendations. For a Comprehensive Plan to be effective, it must have strong community support. By incorporating public input, the actions and projects outlined are more likely to succeed, as they align with the community's needs and priorities. For the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan, a public survey, stakeholder interviews, focus group meetings, and two public workshops were held. A. Takeaways from the Comprehensive Plan Public Survey • Flooding Impacts: Nearly 30% of respondents reported experiencing stormwater drainage or flooding issues. The most impacted areas are the Hamlets of West Falls (23.8%) and Jewettville/Griffins Mills (15.3%). • Climate Change Concerns: 47% of respondents indicated climate change impacts as a top environmental concern, following loss of open space and wildlife habitats (73%) and water pollution (48%). • Stormwater Infrastructure: Many comments pointed to a need for improved stormwater control and highlighted localized issues—especially around older infrastructure and in areas near wetlands and creeks. 124

B. Takeaways from the Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Interviews • Flood Management is a Priority: Flood management was identified as a key need in infrastructure planning. Stakeholders called for climate resiliency to be a central focus, especially in water systems, stormwater control, and protection of floodplains. • Environmental Vulnerabilities: The Agriculture & Natural Resources Focus Group interview highlighted increased flooding, stream bank erosion, and degraded habitats as threats to the Town. They supported conservation as a climate adaptation strategy. • Calls for Action: Stakeholders suggested using vegetative stream buffers, preserving mature trees, and improving zoning regulations to support resilience to climate shifts. C. Takeaways from the Comprehensive Plan Public Workshop #1 • Threats Identified by the Public: o Overdevelopment and loss of green space o Climate change refugee influx putting pressure on infrastructure o Flooding and water runoff from poorly managed development o Environmental degradation from pesticides and deforestation • Community Values: Residents emphasized the need for nature preservation and limiting development in sensitive areas like floodplains and wetlands D. Public Workshop #2 Feedback on Plan Recommendations • Plan Recommendations Related to Climate Vulnerability and Identified as High Prioritization o Develop Stormwater runoff Policies in Growth Areas o Complete a Town-wide Stormwater Master Plan o Establish a Town-wide Tree Management Plan o Re-activate and Support the Town’s Disaster Advisory Committee o Conduct a Townwide Flood Vulnerability Study • Plan Recommendations Related to Climate Vulnerability and Identified as Medium Prioritization o Support the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force o Establish Infrastructure & Tree Preservation Guidelines o Become a Member of FEMA Community Rating System o Expand Community Education and Outreach on Flood Preparedness o Establish a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) • Plan Recommendations Related to Climate Vulnerability and Identified as Low Prioritization o Comprehensive Capital Improvements & Resiliency Planning o Secure funding to Enhance Emergency Management Planning 125

VII. Conclusion A. Summary of Findings Flooding events were identified by the Town of Aurora Climate Smart Task Force and the Erie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2022) as the primary climate hazard for the town. Climate change will affect the Town of Aurora in many ways, including increased extreme weather events and temperatures, changes to water and soil, impacts on agricultural productivity, increased prevalence of disruptive invasive species, the potential increase in population due to climate migration, and a cascading effect of social justice issues. However, flooding is the most top-of-mind issue for the Town of Aurora currently because of several flooding instances in recent history and because of the prominence of Cazenovia Creek and Tannery Brook in the Town’s geography. Climate change is anticipated to increase the number and severity of flood events because increasing temperatures intensify the water cycle, thus increasing total precipitation and the intensity of rainfall. The risk of flooding is quantified by FEMA, which has published FIRM panels illustrating the areas of the Town most at risk of the 1% chance annual flood and the 0.2% chance annual flood. Of the total land area, 645 acres, or 3.0%, are within the 1% annual chance flood zone (Zone AE). There are 745 total acres within the 0.2% annual chance flood zone, or 3.4% of total land area. Floods have already caused destruction and losses of residential properties in the Town of Aurora and have the potential to cause substantial losses to other types of properties, with the monetary value of loss estimated in the millions of dollars. Flooding can also cause infrastructure damage, such as to roads and utilities, which can isolate residents during a flood event and leave them without critical lifelines. Further, floods can cause substantial economic loss, in terms of disrupting the typical functioning of commercial activity, but also the loss of tax base and the cost of cleanup after a flood. Floods also pose substantial risks to public health and safety, the most obvious being injury and loss of life, but also secondary impacts such as molding, allergies, respiratory illnesses, pollution, lack of sanitation, mosquitoes, and more. All these impacts can affect land use in substantial ways, which is of special interest to the Town of Aurora because its residents highly value the Town’s agricultural land and open spaces. Behind all physical vulnerabilities of the Town of Aurora to a flood event, there are over 13,000 residents (Town of Aurora plus Village of East Aurora) who could have their lives and livelihoods negatively affected. Although climate change effects, including floods, will impact all people, they will not impact all people equally. By conducting a social vulnerability assessment, it was determined that the Town of Aurora is generally wealthy, highly educated, and mostly White with high accessibility to resources. Therefore, for the most part, the residents of the town have lower sensitivity to climate hazards. The most vulnerable populations in Aurora are likely therefore the elderly, especially those that live alone; children; the immunocompromised and disabled; and people who work in high-exposure industries such as agriculture, construction, and transportation. These groups of people are most at risk of not being able to evacuate in case of an emergency; be stranded or isolated during a flood event; have lowered or no access to necessary medical care; be more likely to contract illnesses or be impacted by negative health issues; have their protection and safety in the hands of others; and possibly have high exposure to the frontlines or aftermath of a flood event. The Town and its stakeholders should plan on how to specifically address these populations in case of emergency. 126

B. Recommendations 1. Re-activate and Support the Town’s Disaster Advisory Committee: The Town should review the membership, roles, and capacity of its Disaster Advisory Committee to ensure it is active, representative, and well-resourced. The committee should meet regularly, coordinate with emergency response agencies, monitor risks, assist with mitigation planning, and educate the public on preparedness and recovery. It should integrate climate resilience into emergency protocols and prioritize outreach to vulnerable populations (e.g., seniors, disabled residents, isolated households). Responsibility: • Lead Agency: Town Board • Support Agencies: • Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Service • Town Code Enforcement Office/Floodplain Administrator Potential Funding Sources: • NYS Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grants • FEMA’s Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) CSC Implementation Grants 2. Conduct a Townwide Flood Vulnerability Study: The Town should seek funding and commission a detailed flood vulnerability assessment to map at-risk areas and critical infrastructure (e.g., roads, utilities, shelters) along Cazenovia Creek and Tannery Brook. The study should recommend interventions like elevating roads, retrofitting culverts, and installing green infrastructure to manage runoff. The Town should prioritize engagement with owners of repetitive loss properties and identify mitigation pathways (e.g., buyout, elevation, floodproofing). Responsibility: • Lead Agency: Town Board • Support Agencies: • Town Engineer & Town Floodplain Administrator/Code Enforcement Office • FEMA Region II • Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District • Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper • CSC Task Force Potential Funding Sources: • FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program • NYS DEC Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Grants • US EPA Climate Resilience Grant Programs 127

3. Expand Community Education and Outreach on Flood Preparedness: Create a public outreach campaign to inform residents—particularly seniors, renters, and households near flood-prone areas—about flood risks, insurance options, emergency alerts, and personal mitigation steps. Collaborate with community groups to distribute materials at the library, Senior Center, farmers markets, and school events. Responsibility: • Lead Agency: Town Board • Support Agencies: • CSC Task Force • Code Enforcement Office/Floodplain Administrator • Aurora Public Library & West Falls-Colden Community Library • East Aurora Union Free School District • Local non-profits and faith-based organizations 4. Secure funding to Enhance Emergency Management Planning: The Town should update and enhance its emergency management, including integration of climate hazards, evacuation protocols, sheltering strategies, and coordination with the school system. Enhanced planning should also include an assessment of emergency shelter readiness. Responsibility: • Lead Agency: Town Board • Support Agencies: • Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Service • Fire & Police Department • CSC Task Force • Disaster Advisory Committee Funding Sources: • FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants • NYS Homeland Security Grant Program • HUD Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery 5. Establish a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): The Town should create a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to train residents in disaster preparedness and emergency response. This volunteer-based program empowers residents to assist emergency personnel during natural disasters, including floods and power outages, by supporting evacuation, first aid, shelter operations, and basic fire safety. It also builds local capacity and enhances resilience through public education and community-based readiness. Responsibility: • Lead Agency: Town Board • Support Agencies: • Disaster Advisory Committee • Erie County Citizens Corps Council 128

• Fire & Police Department • Senior Center Funding Sources: • NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services C. Document Monitoring & Updates Establishing an implementation and monitoring framework is essential to ensuring that this Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) remains a living document that evolves with changing conditions, science, and community needs. This framework outlines how the Town of Aurora will monitor progress, integrate new information, and engage the community in re-evaluating climate risks and adaptation strategies. i. Next Steps After Plan Adoption Following adoption of the Comprehensive Plan along with this Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the Town of Aurora will: • Disseminate the plan to all relevant Town departments, boards, and community partners. • Assign departmental and/or board responsibility for each recommendation and initiate an implementation plan. • Identify staffing and technical support needs for implementation and monitoring activities. • Apply for state and federal grants to support the identified recommendations. • Begin outreach to residents and organizations in flood-prone and vulnerable areas, particularly repetitive loss properties. ii. Timeline for Reassessment The Climate Vulnerability Assessment will be formally re-evaluated on the following schedule: • Routine Reassessment: At least once every 10 years. • Triggered Reassessment: The Town will update the assessment prior to the 10-year mark if any of the following occurs: o A major flooding or extreme weather event that causes substantial damage or emergency response; o A significant update to New York State climate projections (i.e., ClimAID) o Complete of a Town Flood Vulnerability Study o Introduction of new floodplain maps, hazard models, or tools by FEMA or other relevant agencies; o A material shift in population demographics or community vulnerability (e.g., climate migration or the development of a new senior housing facility in a flood prone area). iii. Components of Each Update Each reassessment will: • Incorporate the latest regional climate science and projections. 129

• Evaluate the Town’s exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity across infrastructure, facilities, natural systems, and social demographics. • Document any major weather events (i.e., floods, heatwaves, utility failures) experienced since the last update and how they impacted community assets and residents. • Re-assess vulnerable populations (i.e., elderly, children, disabled and immunocompromised, frontline workers, and any other applicable groups not previously mentioned in this assessment) to reflect shifting demographics, access to resources, or new risks. • Re-prioritize community assets and critical systems if risks or vulnerabilities have changed. • Include a section summarizing implementation progress for each recommendation identified in the assessment. • Engage in community outreach to gather public feedback through surveys, public meetings, or workshops, especially from high-risk neighborhoods. vi. Roles and Responsibilities • Lead Agency: Town of Aurora Disaster Advisory Committee • Support Agencies: Town Board, Climate Smart Communities Task Force, Code Enforcement Office, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Service, and community organizations • Reporting: A written summary of progress and conditions will be prepared and shared publicly via the Town website and community newsletters. 130

Appendix B: Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan Public Survey Summary Report 131

Table of Contents Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................. 133 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 133 Survey Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 133 Key Findings................................................................................................................................................................. 133 Tell us About Your Town .......................................................................................................................................... 135 Land Use & Zoning ...................................................................................................................................................... 137 Housing & Neighborhoods .................................................................................................................................... 138 Parks. Recreation, and Cultural Assets ......................................................................................................... 140 Transportation Systems & Walkability ........................................................................................................... 141 Agriculture & Natural Resources ...................................................................................................................... 142 Utilities, Government Services & Infrastructure .................................................................................... 143 Tell Us About Yourself ............................................................................................................................................... 143 132

Overview Introduction The Town of Aurora began the process to develop their own standalone comprehensive plan in October of 2024. A comprehensive plan is an official, long-range 'blueprint' for a municipality's future created by its local government. Comprehensive plans detail the community’s vision for the future, including development, land use, and community priorities. A good comprehensive plan includes an extensive public engagement plan that will help the Town understand current issues, gain information from the public, clarify its vision, goals, and priorities for the future, and inform recommendations and implementation strategies. As a component of the public engagement plan, a public survey was administered from November of 2024 to March 2024 in order to gather the necessary input from the community. Survey Methodology During a four-and-a-half-month period from November 1st, 2024, to March 16th, 2025, surveys were distributed and collected from residents and non-residents of Aurora who wanted to provide their input on the future of their town. The survey was hosted online using SurveyMonkey, while paper copies were also available at all times. To maximize survey participation, various methods of distribution were utilized. These methods include (1) providing paper surveys at the Town Municipal Building’s Clerk’s Office and Senior Center, (2) promoting the survey through press releases, the project website, and the Town website, (3) using the Town’s CodeRED notification system to inform every resident that has signed for the notification system about the survey, (4) distributing flyers around various public and municipal spaces promoting the survey. (5) emails blasts to those who have signed up for the plan’s email notification system, (6) and sending a mailer about the survey to every household in the Town. Overall, the survey campaign yielded 865 survey responses, 827 of which were collected from the online survey while 38 were collected via paper survey. This report is an attempt to synthesize the diverse range of perspectives of those from Aurora and identify the most pressing issues that this plan can help address. Key Findings Strong Attachment to Rural and Small-Town development in already developed areas Character – Most residents appreciate rather than large-scale expansion. This aligns Aurora’s rural nature, wildlife, and small-town with concerns over traffic congestion, loss of feel, valuing its balance between peaceful farmland, and environmental impacts. living and accessibility to nearby urban centers. Preserving this character should be a Need for Senior and First-Time Homebuyer key consideration in future planning efforts. Housing – While single-family homes remain the most preferred type of new housing (63%), Strong Preference for Conservation and there is strong demand for senior housing Open Space – The majority of residents (74%) (45%) and housing for first-time homebuyers, believe that the Town should prioritize with 71% and 68% of respondents expressing conservation and open space, followed concern over the lack of these options. This closely by recreation (66%). This indicates a suggests that future housing development clear desire to preserve natural areas and should address aging populations and maintain Aurora’s rural character. younger residents looking to establish themselves in the community. Desire to Limit New Development – Half of Aurora residents believe new development Preference for New Housing Near the Village should be limited to maintain the Town’s and Existing Neighborhoods – Nearly half of character, with a preference for infill respondents (47%) believe new housing should 133

be focused near the Village of East Aurora, measures were most frequently requested for with 40% supporting infill development in Main Street, Center Street, and Olean Road. existing neighborhoods. This aligns with concerns over preserving rural areas and Broad Support for Protecting Natural maintaining the character of the Town while Resources – Nearly all respondents (97%) accommodating growth in a controlled believe protecting natural resources, including manner. water quality and wildlife habitats, is important, with 83% stating it is very important. This Strong Satisfaction with Parks but a Desire underscores the need for conservation- for More Trails and Natural Areas – While 77% focused policies in future land use planning. of respondents are satisfied with the quality of parks and recreational facilities, there is a clear Preserving Open Space is a Key Priority – The demand for expanded outdoor recreation top environmental concerns include the loss opportunities. The top priorities include more of open space and wildlife habitats (73%), trails and bike paths (67%), additional nature followed by water pollution (48%) and climate reserves (54%), and improved community change impacts (47%). Many respondents amenities like playgrounds and outdoor fitness expressed a desire for stricter controls on areas. Many respondents also emphasized the development to better protect farmland and need for better maintenance and inclusiveness natural areas. in existing facilities. Stormwater Drainage Issues Are Localized Need for Improved Walkability and Traffic but Impactful – While most residents (71%) Calming in Key Areas – Although 52% find it have not experienced significant stormwater easy to walk or bike around town, a significant drainage or flooding issues, nearly 30% have, portion (24%) find it difficult. Areas around the with frequent issues reported in the Hamlets Village of East Aurora were identified as places of West Falls (23.8%) and Jewettville/Griffins that most need pedestrian and biking Mills (15.3%). This suggests a need for targeted improvements (64%), followed by the hamlets stormwater management improvements in and neighborhood centers. Traffic calming these areas. 134

Tell us About Your Town Of the 865 respondents who took the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan Public Survey, 63.7% live in the Town of Aurora while 28.4% live in the Village of East Aurora. The remaining survey respondents either just work in the Town (0.58%), own a business in the Town (0.46%), visit the Town often (4.16%), or other (2.7%). The responses noted throughout the rest of this section are from those only who indicated that they live in the Town of Aurora. Please select the option that best describes you 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Indicate Where You Live in Aurora Town residents participating in the public survey indicated they live in the northeast (NE) section of the Town (31%) with the northwest (NW) following close behind (26%); 19% live in the southwest (SW) and 14% live in the southeast (SE) portion of the Town. Some respondents specified their Hamlet, with 5% indicating they live in West Falls; 3% in Jewettville or Griffins Mills; and 2% in Blakeley. How Long Have You Lived in the Town of Aurora and What Best Describes Your Housing Tenure? Nearly half (48%) of respondents have lived in the Town for more than 25 years, while 30% indicated they’ve lived in the Town between 10-25 years; 12% have lived in the Town between 5-10 years and the remaining 12% for less than five years. An overwhelming majority- 90%- are homeowners, while 2% are renters and 7% live with family or friends. 135

How long have you lived in the Town of Aurora? 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Less than 5 years 5-10 years 10-25 years More than 25 years What Are Three Things You Like the Most About Living in Aurora? When asked what three things they liked most about living in Aurora, a great majority of respondents said they like the rural nature, wildlife, and small town feel of the community the most, along with its close proximity and the accessibility to the events and businesses of major centers like the Village of East Aurora and the City of Buffalo. Respondents also singled out the family friendliness, quiet, and safety of the community. What Are Three Things You Would Like to See Improved in Aurora? When asked what three things they would like to see improved in the Town, improvements to the roads was the number one response followed by improvements to trails and parks, and improved parking in the Village. In 15 Years, What are Three Words you Would Like to be Able to Use to Describe the Town? In 15 years, residents would like to be able to describe the Town as safe (18%), friendly (17%), and quaint (10%). 136

Land Use & Zoning Do You believe the Town’s Zoning Regulations are Effectively Guiding Community Development? More than half of respondents (57%) are not sure if the Town’s zoning regulations are effectively guiding community development; however, 23% said the Town’s regulations were effective in guiding community development with 19% responding no. What types of land use should the Town be prioritizing over the next 10 years? When asked what type of land use the Town should be prioritizing over the next 10 years, 73% said conservation and open space, 64% said recreation and parks, and 43% and 42% said agricultural and residential uses respectively; 35% said mixed use with commercial uses on the bottom and residential uses on the upper floors should be prioritized. According to just Aurora residents, the land use they believe should be prioritized are conservation and open space (74.2%) and recreation (65.9%). What types of land use should the Town be prioritizing over the next 10 years? Select all the apply. 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Where should new developments be Where should new developments focused? be focused? Of the respondents that weighed in on where new development should be focused, 46% said Limit new development; maintain current character new development should be limited and the current character should be maintained. Another Infill development (utilizing vacant parcels in already… 24% said development should be limited to infill development on vacant parcels in developed In undeveloped rural areas areas and 13% said new development should be located near the Village of East Aurora. 50% of Along major transportation corridors Aurora residents said that new development should be limited. As for non-town residents (i.e. In the hamlet centers potentially new residents) they also think new development should be limited (39.5%), but a Near the Village of East Aurora significant amount also think it should be focused on infill development (31%). 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 137

What concerns do you have about current and future land use? When asked about concerns with current and future land use, 65% of respondents said both traffic congestion and loss of open space and farmland; 61% said over development and density issues were a concern; and 53% said they were concerned with the environmental impact of future land uses. Still another 42% said lack of affordable housing was a concern within the Town. Comments left by respondents also included concerns over rising taxes and housing developments that take away from the character of the Town. What concerns do you have about current and future land use? Select all that apply. 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Housing & Neighborhoods How satisfied are you with the quality of housing in your neighborhood and What New Housing Should the Town Focus on Being Built? An overwhelming majority of residents (85%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of housing in their neighborhoods. Opinions varied on what type of housing the Town should focus on building: 63% of respondents favored single-family housing, 45% said senior housing, 37% thought affordable housing was necessary, 28% thought accessory dwelling units (ADUs) should be considered, and mixed-use housing and townhouses were popular only with 19% and 17% of respondents respectively. Comparing town resident responses to responses from the villagers and non-residents. Those who live in the Village or do not live in Aurora at all were more open to the idea of different housing. Opposed to the overall response rates, villagers What type of housing should the Town focus on and non-residents being built? Select all that apply. would like to see more 70% ADUs (34%) and mixed- 60% use housing (26.8%) and 50% thought there was a 40% more pressing need for 30% senior housing (51.9%) 20% and affordable housing 10% (44.6%). 0% 138

What Aspects of Your Neighborhood Need Improvements? When asked what aspects of their neighborhoods needed improvement, 69% said roads and sidewalks. Another 21% said community amenities and 15% said safety and security needed improvement. 27% said other; those 164 comments range from the most frequent complaint of speed limits needing to be lowered or adhered to, to pedestrian safety measures, and respondents just weighing in to say that their neighborhood is fine. What aspects of your neighborhood need improvements? Select all that apply. 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Where Should New Housing Development be Focused? As to where new housing development should occur, most respondents (47%) said near the Village of East Aurora; 40% said in existing neighborhoods; 28% said along transportation corridors; 25% said hamlet centers would be appropriate for new housing; and 17% said it would be ok to develop new housing in currently rural/undeveloped areas. Where should new housing development be focused? Select all that apply. 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 139

How Concerned Are You About the Following Housing Issues? Several potential housing issues were presented to get survey respondents’ opinions on how concerned they were with each issue. Respondents were asked to indicate if they are “very concerned”, “somewhat concerned”, “not concerned”, or “not sure”. Lack of Affordable Housing: 64% were somewhat or very concerned, while 33% were not concerned with the lack of affordable housing within the Town. Rising Housing Costs: 75% of respondents were somewhat or very concerned about the rising costs of housing, while 23% were not concerned. Housing Quality: 47% of respondents were somewhat or very concerned about the quality of housing within the Town, while 49% were not concerned. Lack of Housing for Seniors: 71% expressed concern with the lack of senior housing within the Town while 25% were not concerned and 4% were not sure. Lack of Housing for First-Time Homebuyers: 68% of respondents said they were somewhat or very concerned about the lack of housing for first-time homebuyers, while 29% were not concerned and 3% were not sure. Parks. Recreation, and Cultural Assets How Satisfied Are You with the Quality of Parks and Recreational Facilities in Aurora and What Type of Recreational Facilities Does the Town Need More of? When it comes to satisfaction with the quality of the Town’s parks and recreational facilities, 77% of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied, while only 8% were dissatisfied. Still there are several types of recreational facilities and assets that respondents think the Town needs more of. 67% said that the Town needs more trails and bike paths; 54% said that they’d like to see more nature reserves; and receiving nearly identical support was the need for community centers (23%), playgrounds (21%), and outdoor fitness areas (21%). Within the 101 written responses, most people think there are enough facilities and playgrounds, they just need to be better maintained and more inclusive, while others think the Town should expand pools and splash pad options, and the number of pickleball courts. Comparing Town residents’ responses to village and non-resident responses, more village and non- residents (75%) think the town needs more trails compared to town residents (64%) What types of recreational facilities does the Town need more of? Select all that apply. 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 140

Transportation Systems & Walkability How do You Primarily get Around in the Town? An overwhelming 95% of survey respondents report that they use a personal vehicle to get around the Town while 54% also walk and 30% use a bike to get where they need to go. Only 1% ride share or use public transportation, and a number of write-in responses said they would be willing to bike more if it were safer. How Satisfied Are You With the Conditions of the Town's Roads and Streets? When asked about their satisfaction with the conditions of the Town’s roads and streets, 42% said they were satisfied with road conditions, 31% were dissatisfied and 27% were neutral about the condition of roads. How Easy is it for You to walk or Bike Around the Town and Which Areas Need Improvements for Walking and Biking Infrastructure? How easy is it to walk or bike around the Town? A little over half of respondents (52%) said it was easy or very easy, while 24% found it difficult or very difficult; 24% didn’t express an opinion. When asked to select the areas that need improvement in the Town’s walking and biking infrastructure, 64% said near the Village of East Aurora needs the most improvement; Hamlets and neighborhood centers (27% and 28% respectively) were next in line, and parks and recreational areas were next with 21% of respondents weighing in. There were 135 write-in comments, most calling out major areas in the Town in which sidewalks and bike lanes should be included in improvements for safer pedestrian and bicycle travel, including near the high school and on major roadways. Which areas need improvements for walking and biking infrastructure? Select all that apply. 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 141

What Transportation Improvements Would You Like to See and What Areas Would Benefit From Traffic Calming Measures? The major transportation improvements that are most desired, according to the survey, are better road maintenance (51%), more bike lanes and paths (53%), improved sidewalks and crosswalks (51%), and traffic calming methods (44%). There were 412 responses to the areas in the Town that would benefit from traffic calming measures, with Main Street and the Village being the most mentioned. Center Street and Olean Road were also mentioned several times. What transportation improvements would you like to see? Select all that apply. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Agriculture & Natural Resources How Concerned Are You About the Loss of Farmland and Natural Areas to Development and How Important is it for the Town to Protect its Natural Resources? An overwhelming 87% of survey respondents said that they were concerned about the loss of farmland and natural areas to develop in the Town, with 59% of them being very concerned. Almost 97% of respondents said that it’s important that the Town protects its natural resources including water quality and wildlife habitats, with 83% stating it’s very important to them. What Environmental Issues Concern What environmental issues concern You the Most? you most? Select all that apply. A list of several environmental issues 80% was given and survey respondents 70% could choose any number of them that they felt were their most important 60% concerns. The two most frequently 50% chosen were loss of open space and 40% loss of wildlife habitats (73%) with water 30% pollution (48%), the impacts of climate change (47%), and air pollution (37%) 20% following. 10% 0% Water Loss of Air Impacts Soil Flooding Loss of Other pollution open pollution of erosin wildlife (please space climate habitats specify) change 142

If You Could Change One Thing About How Agricultural and Natural Resources are Managed in the Town, What Would It Be? Asked to change one thing about how agricultural and natural resources are managed in the Town, the majority of responses to this open-ended question said protecting open space and limiting development on green space and farmland were important changes to consider. Utilities, Government Services & Infrastructure Have Your Experienced Issues with Stormwater Drainage or Flooding? About 71% of residents have never or rarely experienced any stormwater drainage or flooding issues, while 29% have experienced with 7% experiencing issues frequently. Respondents who live in the Hamlets of West Falls (23.8%) or Jewetville and Griffins Mills (15.3%) were the residents who most indicated issues with stormwater drainage or flooding. Are Government Services Easily Accessible and If You Could Change One Thing, What Would It Be? The majority of respondents (86%) find that government services such as police, fire, medical, are easily accessible, while less than 1% say they are not. When asked to comment on changing one thing about utilities or government services, most said they were happy with the services, but wished utilities and taxes were cheaper, and wanted to have improved service and more options when it came to internet and phone services. Still others wanted to see more stormwater control to prevent flooding. Tell Us About Yourself Of the 653 respondents that answered the following questions, the majority (35%) were 65 years old or older, 23% were aged 55-64, and 18% were ages 35-44. There was a gap in the number of young people that took part in the survey, with fewer than 0.5% under the age of 18 and only 2% between the ages of 18-24. 60% of survey respondents are employed while 38% are retired; 86% are white, 10% preferred not to say what race they are, and less than 0.5% were any other race or ethnicity. About 86% of respondents held a college degree with 39% holding a graduate or doctorate degree. 143

Appendix C: Town of Aurora Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Interview Summary Report 144

Participants Interviewees: • Victoria Sturman – Greater East Aurora • Jesse Griffis – East Aurora Tree Board, Chair Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director • Jen Gurbacki – Hall Ricketts Gurbacki P.C. Village of East Aurora Focus Group: • Doug Ford – Town Resident • Peter Mercurio – Village of East Aurora, • Dave Newell – Loptr LLC, CEO Mayor • Gary Schutrum – B&G Club • Randy West – Village of East Aurora • Bryan Smith – GHD Consulting Services, Planning Board, Chair Vice President • Kristin Cameron – Village of East Aurora • Peter Sorgi – Aurora Arsenal Soccer Cluib, Board, Trustee President • Allen Ott Jr. – Village of East Aurora • Bill Kramer – Former Town Building Planning Board, Member Inspector • Rachel Chrostowski – Western New York Town of Aurora Department Head Focus Group: Land Conservancy • Donna Bodecker - Town of Aurora Senior Center, Recreation Leder Agriculture & Natural Resources Focus Group: • Chris Musshafen – Town of Aurora • Sharon Bachman – Cornell Cooperative Recreation Department, Director Extension • Stephen Pigeon – Town of Aurora • Mark Gaston – Erie County Soil and Water Assessor’s Office, Assessor District, Field Manager • Raymond Wrazen – Town of Aurora Town • Jeanne Leccese-Beiter, Buffalo Niagara Board, Councilmember Waterkeeper, Senior Program Manager • Rich Miga – Town of Aurora Building and Housing & Neighborhoods Focus Group: Code Enforcement, Assistant Code • Donna Bodecker – Town of Aurora Senior Enforcement Officer. Center, Recreation Leder Contacted: 29 Interviewed: 22 Key Takeaways 1. Balancing Growth with Preservation of Aurora’s Small-Town and Rural Character Stakeholders highly value Aurora’s rural, scenic character and small-town feel, yet there is recognition that controlled residential growth and economic development are necessary. The community is concerned about development pressure on green space, the rising cost of housing, and the need for zoning updates to guide future growth in a way that preserves Aurora’s identity. 2. Diversifying Housing Options for a Thriving Community Stakeholders indicated that Aurora’s housing market is increasingly financially inaccessible for first- time homebuyers, young families, and seniors looking to downsize. Limited housing diversity is also making it difficult for businesses to attract employees. 3. Enhancing Parks & Recreation for Future Needs While Aurora’s parks are well-maintained, some need upgrades, and there is interest in expanded recreational opportunities like trails, splash pads, and a community center. The lack of indoor gathering spaces was also noted. 4. Promoting Environmental Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Many stakeholders emphasized the importance of green initiatives such as tree planting, flood management, solar energy, and sustainable infrastructure. There is strong support for protecting natural resources and preparing for climate impacts. 145

5. Investing in Infrastructure and Digital Connectivity Reliable internet access is a growing concern, with some residents experiencing connectivity issues. Stakeholders also highlighted the need for infrastructure investments, particularly in water, sewer, tree maintenance and county/state roads. 6. Strengthening Hamlets as Vibrant, Self-Sufficient Hubs Stakeholders acknowledged the Town’s hamlets already serve as unique, community-focused centers, reducing the need for residents to travel to the Village for services. Stakeholders see an opportunity to further develop these areas while maintaining their character. 7. Supporting the Local Ag Economy and Protecting Farmland from Development Pressure Agriculture remains a defining feature of Aurora, but farmland is threatened by development, largely perceived due to the expensive and tight housing market. Stakeholders see opportunities to grow the agricultural economy through agritourism, local food initiatives, and conservation strategies. 8. Strengthening Coordination Between the Town and Village The Village serves as Aurora’s cultural and economic hub, and its future is closely tied to the Town’s. Stakeholders emphasize the need for continued collaboration to maintain shared services, manage growth, and preserve the area’s character. General Questions From your perspective, what are the Town’s greatest strengths and assets? Most of the stakeholders and focus groups identified the small town feel and rural, scenic character of the Town as a major asset. The number of parks, farms, and small businesses were also areas of strengths along with quaint commercial centers such as the Hamlets and the Village of East Aurora, where basic needs can be met. Proximity to locally sourced produce and farm to table options is also a draw. Another major strength acknowledged is the civic mindedness of the local organizations and people that live in the Town and their willingness to serve on boards, volunteer their time, and boost their communities. Residents are pleased with the number and quality of services the Town provides and praise the ease of travel and convenient travel corridors and feel of safety. What are the Town’s Greatest Weaknesses? Although answers varied across stakeholders, more than one response focused on the Town’s lack of a comprehensive plan and doing things “the way they’ve always been done” as a weakness considering the challenges that the Town is facing. Development pressure on green space, the increasing cost of housing, and limited availability of transportation infrastructure for any other mode but cars were also seen as a weakness as it limited the number of new people moving into the Town and available for employment. Some stakeholders felt that the Town and the Village of East Aurora were competing with each other instead of working together. Two stakeholders said there were no weaknesses in the Town. What opportunities do you see the Town being able to capitalize on? Stakeholders identified several opportunities including zoning updates to guide development and conservation areas; solar energy development; attracting more services to commercial areas so that residents wouldn’t need to leave the Town for medical, shopping, and other services; the need for increased residential development; encouraging economic development that is consistent with community vision; and attracting additional internet providers. 146

What challenges does the Town face that may hinder progress? Fiscal challenges and fear of change were the most identified challenges that the Town may face. Others suggested lack of access to resources without a vehicle and lack of sewer and water access as other issues that may hold the Town back from its goals. Stakeholders stressed that the Town and Village must work together for progress and the Town should identify what progress means and move in that direction. Other challenges mentioned include lack of opportunities for kids in childcare, parking, traffic, deer overpopulation, development from Elma moving into the Town, and the need for updated zoning in conjunction with a comprehensive plan. If the Town had extra money in its budget, what would you define as the highest priority for spending? Stakeholders most frequently mentioned planting more trees and investing in existing parks as the highest priority for spending. Other responses include raises for Town employees, making high school and subdivisions more accessible to the village by adding sidewalks, maintaining infrastructure such as roads and sewers, adding new programs and services instead of embellishing existing ones, policing loud vehicles, tax reductions, and improving and preserving green space. What types of development would you like to see more of or less of in Aurora? Several stakeholders agreed that more residential development was needed and could be an asset if it was controlled. Some stakeholders wanted to see more reuse of existing historic structures such as barns that would keep the existing character but add needed small business or residential space. Other stakeholders had conflicting views saying that no new development was needed, and the Town should focus on ag development or conversely that the Town needed density and mixed-use style development and less agricultural or industrial development. What are the biggest transportation challenges you experience when traveling within Aurora, such as traffic congestion, road conditions, or lack of sidewalks? Stakeholders appeared to agree that roadways were well maintained but that there was minimal shoulder space for bicyclists to safely traverse the roads and dedicated bike lanes and facilities should be explored. Several stakeholders called for more sidewalks, crosswalks within and around the Village but agreed that throughout most of the Town, they were impractical. Another stakeholder pointed out that there were not many bus routes available and roadways and public parking lots in the Village were very congested on weekends. What types of recreational activities or facilities do you feel are missing or underrepresented in Aurora? Although the most popular answer among stakeholders was that there were no activities missing in Aurora, there were several others with suggestions, such as moving pickleball courts to South Street; additional bike paths in the southern part of town; splash pads in parks; a community pool; more athletic fields within the Hamlets; and additional places where nature hikes can occur. How would you envision a successful Aurora in the next 10-20 years, and what role do you think this comprehensive plan should play in achieving that vision? Although articulated in different ways, the most common theme among stakeholders was that they think the comprehensive plan should allow the Town to grow with minimal impact on the land and residents, and within public water and sewer areas. Many agreed that a Comprehensive Plan should go hand in hand with an updated zoning code to match the goals of the plan and that the plan should be reviewed every six months to make sure decisions are on track. 147

One stakeholder pointed out that if there is an increase in residential units, other things need to go with it, including additional public transit and improved parking. Another was concerned about bringing down the cost of housing and still another wanted to see an increase in walking paths and bicycle opportunities. Do you have any concerns about how this comprehensive plan will be implemented, or do you see any challenges in putting it into action? Challenges that were acknowledged by stakeholders included residents that may be hesitant to accept change; getting a plan approved and followed by the Town; how the partnerships necessary to carry out the plan would be forged; and money. Housing & Neighborhoods Focus Group Strengths The Housing and Neighborhoods Focus Group celebrated the Town’s rural, large lots with an abundance of nature right near your home as a big draw. They also called out the number of old but well-maintained historic homes and properties. They applauded the Hamlets for being unique and providing residents’ needs without having to leave or go to the Village. Weaknesses The housing focus group lamented that first time home buyers are priced out of the market and that seniors don’t have the ability to downsize within their community, so they’re staying in their homes and not selling, which is hurting the market. They call for ADU’s to be allowed to allow seniors the ability to stay with family. The amount of land on each property could also be seen as a detriment as not everyone can take care of a lot of land and there should be a diversity of lot sizes. Businesses are having trouble recruiting new talent because there are no homes to purchase and a lack of transportation options. Threats The focus group stated that there are not enough young families moving in and that owners of new businesses in East Aurora weren’t able to move to the community they worked in. Housing that does go on the market is overpriced due to demand and additional housing would reduce the overvaluation. Opportunities The group identified planned developments with mixed use that could make rural areas more accessible, focusing on the Hamlets for new development. Design guidelines for new housing could be used to reflect the historic nature of existing homes. They also suggested zones of intensity of development on corridors leading into the Village which would alleviate the high price of rent within the village while still taking advantage of proximity. What types of housing do you think Aurora needs the most? Senior and affordable housing was the emphasis of the group, while also acknowledging that housing should be complemented with transportation improvements. Imagine you’re reading a newspaper about housing and neighborhoods in Aurora 10 years from now. What would you want the headlines to say? “Aurora Friendly to All! They can offer all avenues of housing – newcomers, resident graduates, and seniors.” “We are thriving and welcoming – Keeps on growing while honoring the past.” 148

Infrastructure & Public Utilities Are there specific infrastructure or utility areas that you believe require immediate improvement or attention? If so, which ones and why? Stakeholders focused on infrastructure and public utilities emphasized the need for additional internet providers, cited spotty cell service, called on the need for more trees and more maintenance for trees, and identified sidewalks as needing improvement. How would you rate the overall reliability of essential services like water, electricity, waste management, and internet access? Are there any recurring issues? All stakeholders agreed that the reliability of services has been good and said they haven’t experienced any issues. To what extent do you think the town’s infrastructure planning should focus on climate resiliency (for example, flood management, stormwater systems, and green energy)? Stakeholders said the focus on climate resiliency is critical and the Town should have a heavy focus on environmental impacts. They specifically call out water systems, flood lands, water and snow management to hone in on. Are there emerging technologies or sustainable infrastructure practices you think Aurora should consider to improve municipal services? Stakeholders mentioned several different technologies or practices that Aurora should consider including solar farms, Town-wide composting, more trees to provide shade, and using mass timber for large structures. Are there any specific issues or opportunities in Aurora that you feel we haven’t covered today as they relate to Infrastructure & Public Utilities but should be included in the comprehensive plan? A specific issue raised is putting in new internet services or other infrastructure and then cutting down trees as a result. This stakeholder thinks the Town should hire their own arborists to maintain the trees and trim them instead of being cut down because of communication services being added. Land Use & Zoning How well do you think current zoning regulations reflect Aurora’s character and the community's vision for growth? Are there zoning or land use changes that you believe would enhance the quality of life in Aurora? Stakeholders focused on land use and zoning offered these comments: utility zoning needs work for better siting; while appreciative of the lack of big box stores, now how do we promote local retail stores; and area and use variances seem to offer flexibility. Are there any specific areas within Aurora that you feel are overdeveloped or underutilized? The focus group offered many varying suggestions with some liking the new development on Mill Road; others pointing out that if there is new development it should offer a healthy mix of uses. Development should occur in commercial centers like the hamlets and the village, supporting growth where there is already retail and existing housing and reducing transportation needs. One stakeholder said reuse of older vacant buildings should occur before anything new is built and another offered that Olean Road and Center Street near the school should be a focus area for new development. Another stakeholder said that new development is already occurring outside of the Town limits and that sidewalks should be installed to connect Town residents to that development. Are there any specific issues or opportunities in Aurora that you feel we haven’t covered today as they relate to land use & zoning but should be included in the comprehensive plan? 149

One stakeholder wants to see Aurora have a community/recreation center to consolidate uses and reduce costs for maintenance of services and facilities. Parks & Recreational Facilities How would you describe your overall satisfaction with the current parks and recreation facilities in Aurora? Most stakeholders agreed that the parks were well maintained but that some needed upgrades like the community pool and adding bicycle facilities. One said that parks should contain all tennis courts instead of pickleball courts to avoid resident complaints, and another offered that the soccer club has a great field set up at Knox Farm. How accessible do you find Aurora’s parks and recreational spaces for all residents, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities? Stakeholders say that accessibility is satisfactory for a town of this size, but they can’t speak from a disabled perspective. Another stakeholder offered that improvements can always be made to make parks more accessible. Do you feel that Aurora’s parks and recreational areas are well-maintained? What specific areas, if any, could use better maintenance? Stakeholders agreed that the parks are well maintained but that some of them need updates, such as Warren Drive Park and West Falls Park. What types of community events or recreational programming would you like to see offered in Aurora’s parks and public spaces? Two stakeholders said that there is already an engaged community, and they couldn’t think of anything to add to it, while another said that bicycle facilities and related programming would be nice. Are there any specific issues or opportunities in Aurora that you feel we haven’t covered today as they relate to Parks & Recreational Facilities but should be included in the comprehensive plan? Stakeholders offered three responses: - No- facilities for existing population is adequate - Lack affordable venues in the Town for meeting spaces for groups/forums - Knox soccer area should be included as a Town asset with an objective of seeking ownership from the state Transportation Systems How would you rate the overall quality of roads and street infrastructure in Aurora? Are there specific areas that need improvement? There is agreement that the conditions are good, but some roadside vegetation could be used for maintenance. What is your experience with traffic flow and safety in Aurora’s school zones or near other high- traffic public areas, such as parks and community centers? No difficulty with traffic flow or safety. How safe do you feel walking or biking in Aurora, especially in areas with higher traffic? What infrastructure improvements could make these activities safer? Each stakeholder offered a much different take on whether or not they felt safe: - I don’t walk on the roads much because there are so many parks to enjoy. 150

- Will go to village to walk - Biking I don’t feel safe at all- widened and paved shoulders would increase safety for both walkers and bikers - Well maintained shoulders help - Feels safe enough What future transportation initiatives or innovations would you like to see in Aurora to improve the quality of life, such as EV charging stations, complete streets, or multi-use paths? Several suggestions for transportation initiatives were offered including multi use paths, rail trail, EV charging stations, and complete streets around the schools, however some stakeholders said that situations in which the Town didn’t own the roads, or a path would require an easement would be a tough sell and difficult to implement. Agriculture & Natural Resources Focus Group Strengths People enjoy living here because of the natural resources, open space, and the many parks located within the Town. The proximity to locally grown produce and meat is also a bonus. Weaknesses The Agriculture and Natural Resources Focus Group identified weaknesses such as the need for updated zoning, high housing prices driving out families, limited farmland being threatened with development, and lack of environmental stewardship. Habitat conservation strategies were stressed as a weakness that needs to be remedied to respond to climate change, increased flooding in parts of the Town, and stream bank erosion. The need to manage invasive species was also recognized. Threats The decreasing availability of land to farm and the threat of solar farms on available fertile land was identified as a threat to the Town and the agricultural foundation on which it was built. The focus group was concerned about farmland not being protected as farms were sold and subdivided and called for the need for education and outreach. Some in the group said that Aurora used to feel much more rural but was losing that feeling. Opportunities The focus group identified several opportunities including connecting with landowners, the opportunity for small scale farming and niche markets, and supporting agritourism events and bringing agriculture awareness into the schools. They think the Town should first focus on identifying conservation districts and areas where development is prohibited instead of the other way around. What role do you believe Aurora’s agricultural sector should play in the town’s economic development? Stakeholders focused on agriculture and natural resources and point out that the Town’s economy is “built on the backs of farmers” and that creating a farm friendly community is vital to retaining the Town’s rural character. Supporting the local ag economy makes it easier for farmers to continue farming. Do you think there are opportunities for more agritourism (like farm tours, pick-your-own farms, or farmers’ markets) in Aurora? Yes, stakeholders say there are plenty of opportunities for Town initiatives to support seasonal agritourism activities. In what ways do you think the town should address climate change impacts on agriculture and natural resources, such as shifting weather patterns or increased flooding? 151

Stakeholders agree that the Town should consider conservation of natural lands as a means of managing climate change, as those lands can better absorb rainfall from severe storm events. Vegetative stream buffers also minimize erosion and improve water quality. They also advocate for retaining mature trees as they recycle more carbon. What types of natural areas or resources (e.g., wetlands, forests, wildlife habitats) do you feel are most important to protect in Aurora? Stakeholders identified forests, stream corridors, wetlands, and prime agricultural soils as the most important to protect in the Town. Are there partnerships or initiatives (like community-supported agriculture or land trusts) that you think could benefit Aurora’s agricultural and natural resource conservation efforts? WNY Land Conservancy is a proud partner, while Providence Farm Collective out of Orchard Park may be able to provide additional opportunities to access farmland. New farmers are using a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) approach to farming, with community members purchasing shares of produce from the farm. Imagine you’re reading a newspaper about agriculture and natural resources in Aurora 10 years from now. What would you want the headlines to say? Although the specific headlines are varying, all in the focus group agree that they want to see agriculture operations remain a strong part of the Town in the future, with Smart Growth concepts and low-impact development preserving viable farmland. Do you have any best practices/models from other areas related to agriculture and natural resources that could be utilized in Aurora? Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) for agriculture, conservation easements, and matching land seekers and farmers with owners of prime farmland are seen as best practices that could be replicated in the Town. What are some issues/topics that you believe we should specifically cover in the plan that have not been mentioned yet? Stakeholders believe that the Town should identify priorities for conservation first rather than on areas for redevelopment and make conservation of natural and agricultural resources a priority. The nursery businesses within the Town rank high in the state, and focus on native plants and pollinators, and long-term sustainability. The focus group also called out fishing as an economic opportunity and sledding hills and trails throughout the Town. They believe there should be a focus on economic development and small business support for farming. Town Department Heads What are the Town’s greatest strengths and assets? Town department heads identified several things that were strengths and assets that already exist in the Town. One of them was the diversity of zoning districts that allow people the opportunity to build within the Town. The areas in which to build are rather restricted as there is limited sewer and water accessibility and concentrated areas of commercial development, preserving the rural character, green space, and slower pace of life in the Town which has been identified as one of its core assets. People have great pride in their communities and are active in Town activities. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the Town over the next 10-20 years? One of the biggest challenges facing the Town is its aging population. Since growth is so limited, there are few opportunities to downsize, and the few new homes that are built are very expensive. There is no dedicated senior housing or affordable housing within the Town, which limits the number 152

of new, younger homebuyers able to move in. There is also limited public water and sewers, which is a drawback to new homeowners. What infrastructure investment or maintenance needs do you foresee as critical to the Town’s continued success? More initiative on flood plains and wetlands is needed. We also need to address the negative impacts of climate change including stormwater management. The NW portion of the Town has no water lines as the state decided they didn’t want to expand them past Knox Farm. There is an aging population and a lack of housing that suits their needs. Since they can’t move, there is no housing for young people to move in. There is aging and declining housing on Old Glenwood Road that aren’t selling because the lots are small, and the homes are too close together. What services or facilities will be needed to support seniors in the future? We will need increased shuttle or van service from the senior center, a larger senior center with recreational programming, and affordable housing and progressive care facilities. There are currently not many downsizing options; housing demand outweighs supply. We are looking at rezoning to allow in-law suites to alleviate that. Are there areas in Town where you believe growth or redevelopment should be encouraged or restricted? What types of development would you like to see? We should encourage growth along major roads and within population centers like the Village. Olean Road is underdeveloped and within the sewer district, which would be a good place for housing. Residential growth is self-limiting as there are minimum lot sizes because of septic system limitations. It’s hard for homeowners to expand their homes because of the septic systems, so subdivisions are cost prohibitive. What are the biggest transportation challenges you experience when traveling within Aurora, such as traffic congestion, road conditions, or lack of sidewalks? Safety leading to high school is a huge transportation challenge; a lot of kids walk, but there are no sidewalks. The Town doesn’t own all the roads so adding sidewalks is not always feasible. Topography also restricts the installation of sidewalks. There is a lack of public transportation. Winter is hard on roads leading to harsh conditions on the roads not maintained by the Town. There are no issues with congestion. What are the biggest operational challenges your department faces? We need more employees at the senior center- most are volunteers. The Building and Code Enforcement Department should have a full-time clerk, Town provided vehicles, and an electrical inspector. The Department should be self-funding, however this would cause permit prices to increase significantly so it isn’t practical. Are there new technologies or systems that could improve your department’s efficiency or effectiveness? We would love to have an online payment option for permits and applications; it would increase our efficiency. Currently, the department only takes cash or checks which delays the process. The current software meets daily needs for operations. How effectively does your department coordinate with other Town departments and where could it be improved? The Building and Code Department has strong working relationships with both the Town and Village departments and is the point of contact for the public regarding zoning and land use questions. 153

Are there any specific issues or opportunities in Aurora that you feel we haven’t covered today as they relate to land use & zoning but should be included in the comprehensive plan? The state of the Town’s County and State roads are not good. How would you envision a successful Aurora in the next 10-20 years, and what role do you think this comprehensive plan should play in achieving that vision? We envision the same. Not much different, maybe more grocery options. Do you have any concerns about how this comprehensive plan will be implemented, or do you see any challenges in putting it into action? Without money or resources, how will any suggestions get done? What happens after the plan is adopted? Will we have to make changes to the zoning map? We need better communication on what a comprehensive plan is so we can push against the pushback. Village of East Aurora Focus Group Strengths We have a supportive development plan; the Village encourages development in the Village, housing can be concentrated in the village, and there’s a gentle density transition between the Village and the Town. The Village acts as the cultural and population center for the Town. We share services. It’s cost effective and efficient, although we would like to see the expansion of the East Aurora Fire Department. Weaknesses The Route 219 expansion in Springville bypassed the village and lead to huge chain development and loss of small businesses, the Town and Village don’t want that. As development within the Town increases, walkability will decrease. The Town and Village need to work together to mitigate that. Other safety aspects are also needed like bike lanes and sidewalks leading to the high school. The Town’s existing character is also important. Threats Housing affordability is a huge threat. The downsizing options for seniors and the ability for new families to move in is nonexistent. The construction of McMansions should be avoided. There is a lot of development pressure from big box stores. The Town should allow less plaza development outside of population centers and look at light industrial or housing instead. Opportunities We want the Town to have input on the Village plan. Smart expansion of the water and sewer lines makes sense as does industrial development. We should continue to maintain and prioritize the area’s natural beauty, retain Hamlet centers, and improve architectural standards. What is the #1 issue in the Village that would like to see addressed in this plan? The Village is the economic driver for the Town and that should be retained. The Town should not allow unsupportable density. The weekday traffic along Main Street should also be addressed. Imagine you’re reading a newspaper about the State of the Town 10 years from now. What would you want the headlines to say? The trees all grew back, cooperation equals success, and the charm and community between the Town and Village has been preserved. 154