Aurora proposes new setbacks and easements for plugged oil wells in development rules

Aurora — The City Council advanced an amendment Monday to the Unified Development Ordinance that would create setback areas, recorded surface easements, and a process for replugging or remediation around plugged oil wells on future development sites.

Jeffrey Moore, manager of the energy and environment division, told the council the city currently has 68 plugged wells and expects many more over time as wells are replugged. The proposal would establish a roughly 150‑by‑150‑foot (about half‑acre) setback area with no buildings within 50 feet of the well and no residences, schools or hospitals within 100 feet. A 25‑foot prohibition on utilities would also apply.

Moore said the intent is to preserve an area for safe replugging work — which requires space to erect drilling rigs and support equipment — and to allow limited city access to conduct annual, noninvasive surface testing under a recorded easement. He said the state Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) typically handles downhole replugging and that the city’s approach aligns with other front‑range jurisdictions that already have setback rules.

“When we do a replugging … we have to put the drilling rig right over that pipe in the ground, and other equipment has to be brought in around the rig to support the operation for safety, and to do the job right,” Moore said, describing a recent replugging in South Shore.

The draft includes three prongs: a development setback area (150' x 150' or 22,500 sq ft), a permanent recorded surface easement granting staff access for periodic noninvasive soil checks, and an operator replugging authority that requires operators to restore the surface to its original condition. Moore said the city reduced an earlier 200' by 200' proposal to the half‑acre dimension after developer input, added an option for a city‑engineer‑approved variance for certain utilities, exempted existing structures, and added schools and hospitals to the 100‑foot no‑building buffer.

Moore showed an aerial example where a setback square would be sited and noted permitted uses such as parks, parking lots and attention ponds that comply with engineering standards. He said staff has briefed advisory bodies and will bring the amendment back for formal adoption; the council advanced the item to the next step with no objection.

If adopted, the amendment would require developers to locate plugged wells on site plans, grant the city limited surface easements for monitoring, and preserve space appropriate for safe replugging work.