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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