Aurora council approves UDO changes to allow light manufacturing near Buckley

Aurora’s City Council on Nov. 3 unanimously adopted a change to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that restores light manufacturing as a permitted use in the Accident Potential Zone (APZ) around Buckley Space Force Base.

Jeremiah Fettig of the Planning and Business Development Department told the council the amendment “promotes additional development opportunities in the Accident Potential Zone” and that staff removed two items in the original draft that Buckley had flagged. Fettig said the proposal adds light manufacturing, permits a narrower set of accessory uses for existing residential properties, and sets a 38‑foot height maximum for residential uses. He said no property would be made nonconforming by the changes and that the public health, safety and welfare of the APZ would be maintained.

Sal Perdomo, a representative of Titan Development, urged approval during public comment, saying Titan “is the contract purchaser of a 76‑acre vacant land parcel within the APZ” and that the parcel is “slated for light industrial and commercial uses” that would bring jobs to Aurora. “We are excited to be investing in your city,” Perdomo said.

Council members asked staff whether Buckley’s concerns had been addressed; Fettig confirmed Buckley reviewed the referral, supported returning light manufacturing as a permitted use after staff removed the two disputed items, and did not anticipate changes to Buckley operations. Fettig also noted that uses involving large gatherings would remain restricted per the Department of Defense installation manual.

Council Member Lawson moved to approve Item 11a; after a second the ordinance passed on a unanimous vote.

Staff said a more comprehensive APZ update could return to the council in the future to address additional refinements and to capture broader application types when applying evaluation criteria.