The Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 22 voted 7-0 to recommend that City Council approve a set of Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendments affecting the Accident Potential Zone (APZ) district around Buckley Space Force Base.

Jeremiah Fettig, presenting the item for Planning and Business Development staff, said the amendments are intended to clarify which dimensional standards apply in the APZ district, reintroduce light manufacturing as a permitted use consistent with pre‑2019 code, and add several accessory residential uses such as short‑term rentals and home day care as permitted accessory uses. He said no property would become nonconforming under the proposal.

Fettig explained the APZ boundaries are determined by runway‑oriented measurements from Buckley and include a clear zone, APZ‑1 and APZ‑2 areas. He said the APZ previously functioned as an overlay but was converted to a standalone zone in the UDO update in 2019, and the proposed changes largely return permitted light manufacturing to parity with what underlying B and M districts previously allowed.

Fettig said Buckley Space Force Base reviewed the proposal and submitted written comments (included in exhibit C of the packet) expressing concern about language that had originally been proposed to change residential density; staff removed the density changes from the ordinance before it was brought to the commission. He said the base had no objection to the light manufacturing use as now proposed and that staff planned a more comprehensive future review of the APZ district.

Sal Perdomo, representing Titan Development and the contract purchaser of a 76‑acre site within the APZ, spoke in support and thanked staff for coordination with Buckley. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing.

After discussion, the commission moved and seconded a recommendation that Council approve the text amendment; the motion passed 7-0. Staff recommended the change on the basis that the amendments align with the Aurora Places comprehensive plan goals for a strong economy and do not create material risks to public health and safety, noting that Buckley’s comments were included in the packet and that the most substantive proposed density changes had been removed prior to the hearing.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for ordinance action. Any further changes resulting from follow‑up consultation with Buckley or other stakeholders would be handled in subsequent ordinance drafting and Council review.