Aurora planning staff outline UDO small-lot plan to expand compact single-family housing and consider tiny-home options

Brandon Cammarata, manager of Current Planning, presented the city's UDO small-lot project, describing objectives to broaden compact single-family housing options across greenfield and infill geographies while preserving neighborhood design principles.

Cammarata said the project is roughly two-thirds complete and aims to culminate in code amendments that will allow more predictable pathways for small lots, townhomes, duplexes and cottage-court configurations. "We hope to be finished with the project in '26," he said, noting staff will continue council engagement before final policy decisions and UDO changes.

The effort is organized around three buckets: greenfield (large new developments out east), infill (smaller opportunities west of E-470 and along the 225 corridor) and design standards (materials, frontage, green courts and parking). Cammarata said staff and consultant Multi Studio have conducted listening sessions, roundtables and a code audit to align the code with project goals.

On design flexibility, staff described options to reduce masonry requirements in certain circumstances if replacement materials provide durability and architectural richness. Parking remains a focal point: the consultant recommended keeping the regulation near two spaces per home while exploring layout flexibility that could alter cost structures.

Council members asked about tiny homes and zoning consistency. Cammarata said tiny homes (often around 600 square feet and sometimes portable) were not a central focus of the current package but the code contains some provisions and staff will research how they might fit. Janine Rastad, director of planning and business development, said staff will prepare a summary of existing code and consider adding the topic to the 2026 work plan.

Rastad also outlined related 2025 work that moved to council and items for 2026: UDO amendments considered by council last year (ADUs and multifamily parking changes did not pass), Colfax Corridor and 13th Avenue station-area actions (hearings set for blight and urban renewal), plugged-well setbacks, and proposed retail strategy and implementation tools. She introduced Cindy Perry, the new manager of business development, who will spearhead retail outreach and implementation.

Rastad noted a potential change to notice and appeal rights for zoning decisions (currently only adjoining property owners and HOAs receive notice and only adjoining owners can appeal) and said staff will evaluate how to balance wider notice with administrative practicality. She said staff plan periodic nonpolicy code cleanup packages and will continue stakeholder engagement before presenting final UDO amendments to council.

The committee did not take a formal vote; staff said they would return with sample code language, illustrative diagrams and recommendations as the project advances.