AURORA | Aurora’s future homes could be built with fewer bricks and resemble those of the 1980s if city officials pass an ordinance next month to decrease the amount of brick required for home construction.

Opponents of the proposal say alternatives to brick like cement fiber, vinyl or engineered wood composite are much harder to maintain and will look unattractive.

Homebuilders say market research shows that potential homeowners are not as concerned about the outside of a house as they are with the energy-efficient features inside the house.

According to city officials, Aurora is the only municipality in the state with a masonry requirement.

More than a decade ago, city officials instituted a design control standard that required home builders to construct new houses using at least 50-percent brick, in response to the city’s inventory of low-quality housing.

By mid-decade, that standard was reduced to 30-percent brick to meet the demands of home builders.

Now, controversy is brewing at City Hall about whether to decrease that requirement to 15 percent, leaving the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, the Colorado Brick Council and some city council members at odds.

Under the drafted ordinance, a convoluted and lengthy document, home builders would still be required to use at least 30-percent brick in any subdivision that is more than 50-percent built out and where houses were built with 30-percent or more average masonry.

Traditionally, home builders have contributed heavily toward municipal and state elections, meaning lawmakers who oppose the changes could risk campaign contributions in 2013.

That means the Beacon Point, Sorrel Ranch, Cross Creek and Wheatlands neighborhoods in Aurora would all maintain the 30-percent rule, said Jim Sayre, the city’s manager of zoning and development review.

In other neighborhoods like Rocking Horse, South Shore and High Point, home builders would have to abide by the 15-percent masonry standard, under the draft regulations.

The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission vehemently opposed the brick changes at their meeting in May.

According to city documents, the six commissioners unanimously voted against recommending the amendments to the city’s residential design standards because “brick is a quality material that adds quality to a home … and will require less maintenance by the homeowner.”

The commissioners also said the draft ordinance was too complicated and the 15-percent masonry standard would “reduce residential quality, resulting in a return to the poor quality of homes experienced by Aurora in the 1980s.”

Aurora City Council members were pressed for time to discuss the issue at an Aurora City Council meeting June 11 and decided to defer it to a study session on July 9.

“I have way more questions than can be answered in 10 minutes,” said Councilwoman Molly Markert at the meeting. “I might never come around to supporting this, but I certainly will be vehement in opposition if it’s crammed down tonight.”

Markert said she was concerned about the effect the proposal would have on homeowners who own a mostly-brick house next to future development that would be constructed with mostly-vinyl or other materials.

The 15-percent masonry requirement change is being pushed by officials from the Home Builder’s Association, who cite studies that show buyers prefer nicer appliances, more energy-efficient homes and landscaped backyards over a masonry facade. HBA officials also say a four-bedroom brick home appraises for about the same as one without brick.

Councilman Bob Roth, who works in the construction industry, said he understands their concerns.

“We have lost a lot of jobs in this market and they’re not coming back until we do something to give this segment relief,” he said.

Councilwoman Marsha Berzins said she’s all for the change in the ordinance.

“I think it’s a good thing to change every now and again,” she said.

But if the changes go forward, the city will be changing the baseline for the quality housing expected in Aurora, said Jessica Ibanez, community planning consultant for the Colorado Brick Council, a nonprofit organization comprised of brick manufacturers in the Rocky Mountain region.

She said masonry has a proven history of being a durable material.

“It’s not something that the homeowner is going to have to put a lot of time or money into being maintained,” she said.

Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.