Text · page 73 of 154
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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.