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Aurora staff outline proposed 'high‑risk business' permit to limit clustering of liquor, vape, pawn and payday businesses
Summary
Licensing staff presented a permit proposal that would attach spacing and operational standards to the general business license, propose a $138 renewal fee to fund risk‑modeling, and set spacing (commonly 300 ft) and revocation rules; existing businesses would be grandfathered while continuously operating.
City licensing staff revisited a proposal to create a "high‑risk business" permit aimed at preventing harmful clustering of certain retail uses and encouraging healthier retail corridors.
Trevor Pervon, Manager of Licensing, told the committee the permit would attach to the general business license so issuance is streamlined and initial issuance would be automatic, with renewal tied to the regular license cycle. Asked to summarize the spacing approach, Pervon said the proposal would impose buffer distances between like uses and related categories: "this is what we proposed here is 300 ft spacing between the operations," with larger buffers proposed for certain uses in some configurations and a 500‑ft buffer proposed around major transit stations in elevated‑risk areas.
The proposal would cover convenience stores that sell alcohol or tobacco, vape shops, pawn shops, payday lenders, and certain late‑night bars in designated elevated‑risk areas. Pervon said exemptions would include large format healthy grocery stores and specialty secondhand dealers (for example, comic‑focused shops). The staff presentation emphasized Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (SEPTED) and proposed using a paid risk‑train modeling software to identify 'areas of elevated risk' and to monitor outcomes over time. The staff suggested a proposed $138 renewal fee to fund the modeling software.
On enforcement and transition, staff said existing businesses would generally be grandfathered while continuously operating; vacancy or discontinued operation for six months could remove grandfathering. Licensing staff also noted code compliance and existing licensing (for example, liquor or tobacco licenses) could be used as leverage to require premises maintenance. Committee members asked about sales or license transfers; staff clarified the restrictions apply to new entrants and that transfers could be subject to review.
Members signaled support for moving the proposal to a study session and for additional outreach, including to landlords and business stakeholders in affected corridors.
