AURORA | The Aurora City Council this week approved rezoning approximately 4 acres of open space south of East Jewel Avenue and South Joliet Street to allow for a controversial multi-family project.
City staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the site, while a group of local residents opposed allowing higher-density housing on the pasture-like space.
The proposed development by Urban Cottages LLC includes 30 paired homes or duplex units, down from an initial 40-unit proposal after neighborhood feedback and site plan revisions. The site plan was unanimously approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in September 2025.
“Aurora needs more housing and more housing diversity, and this is a small bit of missing middle housing that you all should be very excited to welcome into our city,” Councilmember Curtis Gardner said Monday.
The residents who spoke in opposition to the development said they were concerned about neighborhood compatibility, traffic safety, drainage, infrastructure capacity, developer experience and density. Some residents said the rezoning would alter the neighborhood’s character.
Gardner said the plan is consistent with surrounding zoning. Councilmember Francois Bergan pointed out that a site plan accompanying the rezoning request would have addressed many of the complaints and that a denial could lead to a higher-density apartment proposal in the future.
City council approved the zoning map amendment in a 9–1 vote, with Councilmember Stephanie Hancock opposed.