AURORA | Aurora could get much bigger, fast, if a move to annex 3,000 acres on the east side of the city gets final support from city lawmakers, who gave the proposal an initial green light at a regular city council meeting Monday.
City lawmakers unanimously approved 10 petitions that could lead to the annexation for mostly residential development, but the move was essentially administrative. Some city council members say they probably won’t support the annexation as the process unfolds.
“We’re not doing any anything in regard to annexation or consideration of annexation. All we’re doing is accepting these reports,” said Councilman Bob Roth before the votes on the 10 petitions were taken.
Nancy Bailey, an administrator with development assistance for the city, said in June the city clerk accepted 10 petitions from property owners for annexation of 3,046 acres just beyond the eastern city limits. The residential development would be owned by five separate landowners, according to city documents. Landowners are represented by Michael Sheldon and Diana Rael. The properties would be located northeast of Hayesmount Road and East Yale Avenue, east of Buckley Air Force Base.
“The process to consider these requests from the property owners is regulated by state law and comes before council in four steps,” she said. “The first two steps are not decisions on the merits of the annexations. They’re administerial in nature.”
According to city documents, this was the first meeting in the annexation process. The annexations will be considered over three more meetings. The second meeting will happen Sept. 14 and will be a public hearing on the annexations. The third and fourth regular city council meetings are where council members will be able to approve or shut down the potential annexations.
“My vote for this in no way indicates what my position would be during the other steps of the annexation process,” said Councilwoman Molly Markert.
Before the regular city council meeting Monday, council members also met in executive session about the potential annexations.
In March Aurora City Council awarded Denver-based consultant Mark A. Nuszer $531,200.00 to conduct a land use study of the land that could become residential and commercial development associated with Denver International Airport.
Aurora Water Director Marshall Brown said during a study session on the proposed development last fall that the new properties would use 4,600 acre feet of the city’s water supply, which would require the city to acquire additional water sources.
“Water supply and acquisitions themselves are the biggest challenge related to water and new demands,” he said. “Water acquisitions are becoming exorbitantly more expensive year to year.”
To learn more about the city’s annexation study, visit auroragov.org/eaas.
Who are the four owners?
What a coincidence, these annexations are in the area that the proponants of a city and county said must be “squared off” before Aurora becomes a city and county because it is almost impossible to annex land once Aurora becomes a city and county. And the coincidence does not stop with Aurora becoming a city and county.
About a year and a half ago Aurora’s city council reduced residential tap fees by an average of $8,000 per residentail unit. This annexation will include about 10,000 residential units that will generate 80 million dollars less than the old water tap fees would have generated.
Would’t it be nice to know if the person that helped draft the water tap fee reduction is connected to these annexation.
My grandfather alway said “coincidence is a good excuse to conceal planning.”
Just follow the money and you’ll find the back room deal makers. I’ll bet Hogan and Markert were both in on the deal making.