AURORA | A long-stalled development near East Iliff Avenue and Interstate 225 continues to upset residents who worry it will forever alter the character of a decades-old neighborhood.
A proposal from the developer Century Communities aims to build 94 single-family detached homes on the northwest corner of Toledo Way and South Troy Street and the northeast corner of Tucson Way and Troy Street. Each home would contain two to three bedrooms and range from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet. Parking would include two spaces for each home, with about 65 parking spaces for guests.
This is the second design Century Communities has brought to the site on South Troy Street. In 2005 the developer proposed a large-scale condo project near East Iliff Avenue and Interstate 225, with more than 150 units spread out over seven buildings.
That project riled many nearby residents who argued it would crowd neighborhood streets, many of whom also were concerned about Century’s track record as a builder in the city. Century is responsible for an unfinished condo project it started in 2005 at East Tennessee Avenue and Sable Boulevard where residents have long complained about it being an “eyesore” and a dumping ground.
“We’re perplexed why the city would allow them to screw up another neighborhood when they still have collateral damage at Tennessee and Sable,” said Frank Gunn, a resident of Danbury Park who also serves as one of the neighborhood association’s board of directors.
At a Jan. 27 Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission meeting for the project, Century spokeswoman Lisa Albers said the economic downturn prevented Century from completing the East Tennessee Avenue and Sable Boulevard condos.
Albers said Century took over ownership of several of those condo units during the recession to keep the site’s HOA funded, and that Century is now being proactive about removing items dumped near the units.
Century also changed its plans last March in response to neighbors’ criticism, which is why the developer said it is now proposing the 94 home garden-court development at Troy and Iliff.
“We met with the neighboring subdivisions, and after working closely with them, we feel our current 94 single-family home project would benefit everyone,” Albers said. “The product we are proposing has been very successful in other communities, and we are looking forward to bringing them to Aurora.”
Century is building similar homes in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood.
When the 94-home proposal was brought before residents in nearby neighborhoods of Chateaux, Danbury Park and Shamrock Park, the residents yet again sent the city concerns about the site plan’s density, traffic implications, and lack of open space provided in the plan.
“This is very short-sighted of the city to consider such a dense community at this location,” wrote Diana Doyle in a public comment. “Aurora needs to consider the existing taxpayers’ requests when adding housing to an already dense area of the city.”
According to city documents, hundreds of residents have attended Aurora City Council meetings over the last three months to express their concerns about Century and the new application.
That’s largely because the plan would require the city to approve a General Development Plan amendment for the project to be rezoned to account for its density. The amendment would allow Century to nearly double the density of single family detached homes, which are now allowed at 6 units per acre under the site’s GDP.
The Shamrock Park Home Owners Association Board of Directors oppose the amendment.
Philip M. Volk, vice president of the Shamrock Park HOA, said such an amendment would forever change the character of the South Troy Street neighborhood.
“The need to require an amendment to the existing GDP zoning indicates Century Communities wants to build something that just doesn’t fit,” Volk said in a letter to Aurora City Council members.
To appease residents, Century plans to install a gate at South Troy Street where it connects with Danbury Park that could only be opened by Danbury Park residents to prevent traffic on private roads. Danbury Park would then manage and maintain the gate, if the plan is approved.
Volk said that gate would make getting in and out of his Shamrock Park home nearly impossible as it would only leave him Iliff as a travel option. He is also concerned about the lack of a traffic light at the intersection of Iliff and Troy when the project is completed.
“Shamrock Park is not against development of this property,” Volk said. “What we’re asking for is a responsible development.”
This project however does satisfy the city’s goal to create “infill development that is of sufficient quality to promote neighborhood revival,” according to the city’s planning commission.
Neighboring Danbury Park and Chateaux HOAs have also expressed “no objection” to the project as part of a letter they submitted to the city’s planning commission in January.
Century’s new proposal failed on a tie vote for and against it at a Jan. 27 planning commission meeting and will next be heard at a March 14 regular Aurora City Council meeting.