Aurora planning commission recommends rezoning of 242-acre Sandy Point site to airport district

The Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission on July 23 voted 7-0 to recommend that Aurora City Council approve a zoning map amendment to rezone about 242 acres known as Sandy Point in Ward 2 from Adams County A-3 agricultural to Airport District (AD).

City planner Rasheed Raba presented the staff report, saying the parcel is roughly two miles east of Jackson Gap Street and is bordered on the south and east by Aurora city land already zoned AD. Raba said the application is consistent with the Aurora comprehensive plan, which designates the area as an “industrial hub” place type. He told commissioners that five existing property owners and two registered neighborhood organizations were notified and that no public comments were received during the review or when hearing notices were posted.

The applicant, Airport Logistics LLC, was represented by Diana Riel of Norris Design. Riel said the annexation agreement template has been signed by the applicant and that the annexation compliance hearing had been completed. On questions about water service, Riel said the applicant has been working with Aurora Water and said, “I think that if council felt that the, the water was an issue there, they would not have approved that compliance hearing. … We’ve had no indication otherwise that Aurora Water would not be able to serve the property.” She also said the applicant would deed water rights to the city as part of the annexation process.

Commissioners asked about proximity to airport infrastructure and compatibility with surrounding industrial uses. Riel described the site as being between roughly a half-mile and a mile from airport-owned land and said the surrounding area has developed consistently for industrial uses, including larger-format buildings and solar fields. Staff recommended approval to City Council on the grounds that the requested AD zoning aligns with the comprehensive plan’s industrial-hub designation and that the site is vacant, creating no tenant dislocation.

There were no members of the public signed up to speak on the item. After questions and brief discussion, Commissioner Venkat moved to recommend approval to Aurora City Council; Commissioner Busch seconded. A roll-call vote recorded approval by all seven commissioners present, and the commission formally recommended the rezoning to City Council.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (July 9, 2025): Chair moved; seconded by Commissioner Busch; no objection recorded. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Adopt agenda / Adopt amended agenda: moved and seconded; outcome: adopted (unanimous). Note: item 8B was removed from tonight’s hearing and postponed to a later date as recorded below. - Postpone agenda item 8B (King’s Auto conditional use, Ward 4) to Aug. 13, 2025: motion by the chair; seconded by Commissioner Jacek. Outcome: approved (7-0). - Agenda item 8A — Sandy Point zoning map amendment (recommendation to City Council): motion by Commissioner Venkat; second by Commissioner Busch. Outcome: recommended to City Council (7-0).

Next steps and context

Staff and the applicant said annexation is proceeding under state statute timelines, with compliance already determined. The commission’s action was a recommendation to City Council; final annexation and zoning ordinances require council action. The applicant indicated coordination with Aurora Water is ongoing and that customary dedications and conveyances of water rights would be part of the annexation process. No additional conditions or amendments were recorded by the commission at the time of the recommendation.

The commission also postponed item 8B (King’s Auto conditional use in Ward 4) to the Aug. 13 meeting because additional homeowners’ associations were added to the notice list after initial mailings and the applicant agreed to re-notice.