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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.