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Aurora committee begins comprehensive overhaul of parks dedication and development manual
Summary
City planning staff told the Planning and Economic Development Policy Committee on Oct. 8 that a consultant-led audit and rewrite of the PROS (parks, recreation and open space) dedication and development criteria manual is under way to resolve inconsistencies with the UDO and other technical manuals, with final approvals expected in 2026.
The Planning and Economic Development Policy Committee heard a status update Oct. 8 on a city-led, consultant-driven overhaul of Aurora’s PROS (parks, recreation and open space) dedication and development criteria manual.
Nicole Ankeny, manager of planning, design and construction for Aurora’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department, told the committee the manual was first adopted into city code in the early 2000s and a separate manual established in 2006. She said the city contracted Logan Simpson to perform a line-by-line audit, lead stakeholder engagement and draft a new manual, with discovery and assessment continuing in 2025 and drafting and final approvals planned in 2026.
The manual guides planning, design, construction, management and operation of parks and open space and sets minimum criteria for both city projects and private developers. Ankeny said the update seeks to resolve conflicts between the PROS manual and the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the roadway design manual and the stormwater manual; incorporate the August 2022 water-conservation ordinance; and review land-dedication calculations, cash-in-lieu provisions, and development and capital impact fees.
Ankeny described the stakeholder engagement that began in August: 112 stakeholders were invited, and about 30 participated in listening sessions that included developers, design professionals, PROS staff and other development-review staff. She summarized recurring themes: a desire for “predictable flexibility” so the manual is less prescriptive; a request to reward developers that exceed standards; concerns that acreage-based, purely acreage-driven formulas can be a barrier to infill and higher-density projects; and a need to better align the PROS manual with the UDO and other technical manuals.
Council member Matthew Jurinski pressed staff on the project’s timeline and on repeated issues the council has raised since he was elected in 2021. “I just don't understand why, why it's taken this long, why the timeline is gonna drag out all the way through 2026,” Jurinski said, adding later that applications are “down 94%.” Ankeny acknowledged the frustration and said staff aim to be thorough so the rewrite avoids unintended consequences across different development types.
Ankeny said the consultant will also examine technical standards — for example, specifications for pickleball courts, dog parks and assets in flood plains — and will explore a digital version of the manual to make it easier for staff and developers to navigate. She said the city has built internal coordination with planning, public works and water staff to reduce late-stage, conflicting comments to applicants.
No formal action was taken by the committee beyond questions and direction to continue with the outreach and drafting schedule. City staff said they plan to present milestones and draft sections to council and return to the committee as the update progresses.
The consultant-led work and additional engagement are intended to produce a single, reorganized PROS manual that aligns with the UDO and other technical standards. Staff anticipate returning with milestone presentations and a final manual for review and approvals in 2026.
