Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council grants moratorium hardship to Loaves and Fishes for warehouse expansion
Summary
The council approved a moratorium-hardship appeal allowing Loaves and Fishes to proceed with a planned warehouse addition. The nonprofit said it has invested about $4.1 million, plans an $8 million expansion to add cold storage and capacity, and serves roughly 10,000 people weekly across four counties.
Aurora City Council approved a moratorium-hardship appeal that will allow Loaves and Fishes to construct an addition to its existing Aurora warehouse despite a temporary moratorium on new data centers and warehouses.
Tracy Basic, director of zoning and planning, reviewed the five statutory hardship criteria and said planning and zoning recommended approval. Basic told the council that the moratorium adopted Sept. 25, 2025, includes a hardship-appeal process for applicants who can demonstrate economic hardship, reasonable reliance on prior rules, compliance with other regulations, and substantial investment.
Mike Abella, CEO of Loaves and Fishes, described the hub as a 30,000-square-foot food distribution center opened in 2021 that serves about 10,000 people weekly and roughly 18,700 unique Aurora residents in the last fiscal year. Abella said Loaves and Fishes bought adjacent land roughly two-and-a-half years ago, has invested about $4.1 million in the properties to date, and plans a roughly $8 million expansion that would add about 32,000 square feet and substantially increase cold and dry storage capacity.
"The sooner we get this online, the sooner we can help people in the community that are food insecure," Abella said, warning that further delay risks donor funding and project feasibility. Councilors asked clarifying questions; staff confirmed the project had been considered and recommended by the planning and zoning commission.
On roll call, the hardship exception was approved 9–0. The mayor and staff thanked the applicant and noted next steps would include permitting and compliance checks before construction.
Next steps: The applicant will proceed with permitting and staff will ensure project compliance with applicable regulations; staff will track implementation and report as required.
