Aurora Council OKs new code to allow larger, digital signs on city property after contentious debate

The Aurora City Council voted to adopt an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance to create a new category of signage for city-owned property, allowing up to 25-foot monument signs and electronic message centers on certain municipal sites. The council passed the measure 6-3 on Monday, March 24.

The change, introduced in item 11C, was presented by Brandon Kemirata, manager with the Planning and Business Development Department. Kemirata said the amendment would allow the city to place larger off-premise advertising signs on city-owned land, restricted to locations deemed suitable by the city. He told the council the signs could be up to 25 feet tall, include electronic message centers and roughly 280 square feet of display — roughly twice the size of typical signs in Aurora. Planning staff said the ordinance is limited to city-owned property and that not every city parcel would be suitable for such signage.

The council and staff repeatedly distinguished the zoning change from any contract or implementation agreement. City Manager Bachelor and staff explained that passing…