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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