Southtowns Record

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DRAFT

Government
Town of Aurora
Board
Town Board
Meeting
Feb 4, 2026
Kind
Other
Topics
Zoning and land use, Water, sewer and drainage, Parks and recreation, Budget and taxes, Roads and traffic, Housing, Energy and data center siting, Public safety

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 147 of 154

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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.

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