AURORA — City officials are thinking about eastward expansion after a group of property owners in Arapahoe County asked it to annex nearly 3,000 acres of vacant land for prospective residential developments.
The City Council considered rough cost projections for at least seven different impact studies to determine the value of expanding eastward during a special study session Monday. Projected study costs are about $450,000.
The four interested property owners have offered to pay for the financial impact study themselves in addition to all infrastructure and building costs they would need to take care of if the annexation and development were approved.
Planning department staff asked council members if they wanted to move forward with conducting the land, transportation, water and feasibility studies and, if so, whether those wanting to be annexed should foot the bill for evaluation and planning.
“The only way the city will grow is to the east and south. We’ve always known this,” Councilwoman Marsha Berzins said. “I think we need to plan for the future, because it’s now, it’s here. And I don’t think (the proposers) need to pay for an extended comprehensive plan.”
The property owners — Steven Cohen, Marc Cooper, James Spehalski and Andy Chaikovsky — estimate that the project could take 10 to 30 years to complete and could include retail development.
The land in question is roughly northeast of Hayesmount Road and Yale Avenue, just outside the existing boundaries of Aurora.
After debate about general expansion and the future of development in Aurora, the council voted 9-1 to amend the study area to include more land to the east. Councilwoman Molly Markert was the dissenting vote.
“I’m all for moving forward and looking at a bigger picture area,” said Councilman Bob LeGare.
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or
