AURORA | A controversial proposal to limit the number of businesses in Aurora that some say pose health and safety risks to neighborhoods is back at city council Monday night for a first vote.
Lawmakers have so far consistently supported moving forward with a so-called socioeconomic impact permit proposal, which would restrict certain businesses, such as vape and liquor stores, from concentrating next to one another.
The proposal is sponsored by Councilmember Alison Coombs, who said the intention is to encourage diversity in business types and deter crime in high-risk areas.
“The main purpose is essentially to allow the city to have some levers to ensure that when we’re licensing businesses in an area that we’re promoting a broader mix of business uses in any given area and that we’re not having a high concentration of uses that have a tendency to negatively impact health or public safety within that area,” Coombs said in earlier city council discussions.
Mayor Mike Coffman echoed Coombs in his support, saying the proliferation of these kinds of businesses can create a predatory environment in poor neighborhoods. Council proponents of the permit say it will reduce crime, encourage other businesses to move in and support a more equitable distribution of businesses.
Previous city councils have been split in supporting the proposal, though the divide has not been partisan, with past concerns focused on over-regulation by local government, impacts on small businesses and the potential for gentrification.
The proposal targets vape and smoke shops, pawnshops and second-hand buyers, check-cashing businesses, cannabis dispensaries, liquor stores and extended-occupancy motels. Convenience stores that sell age-restricted items are also included, as well as bars, hookah lounges and event spaces that operate after midnight in high-risk areas.
Exceptions are convenience stores that mostly sell groceries, large grocery stores that also sell liquor and tobacco products and specialty secondhand stores.
While existing targeted businesses would be allowed to continue operating, future, new businesses would be limited under the proposed distance restrictions. Existing businesses will be subject to the permit criteria of not having significant code violations or patterns of neglect.
If an established targeted business leaves a vacancy, the proposal would allow a landlord to lease to the same kind of business — but only within six months.
The proposal calls for at least 300 feet between the restricted business types, which would effectively prevent multiple targeted businesses in most strip malls and retail centers. If approved, it would preclude, for example, a liquor store from being closer than 300 feet from a vape shop.
Two restricted businesses of the same type would have to be at least 2,000 feet apart, according to the proposal, further limiting concentrations of businesses like vape shops.
In addition, restricted businesses would have to be 500 feet from light-rail stations and major bus junctions.
There are also specific restrictions for extended-occupancy motels that would require 1,000 feet of distance from any other targeted business and a restriction on any of the targeted businesses from locating in a blighted or mostly vacant retail center.
Permits would cost businesses $138 and be good for two years. The city estimates there to be 350 permit holders. The revenue from permits will pay for a $24,000 per year risk terrain modeling software, which identifies environmental factors contributing to crime.
Risk terrain modeling shows some businesses attract police calls for a variety of issues and crimes. By limiting the concentration of those businesses, cities hope to reduce the need for police activity and profiling people who patronize them as possible suspects.
The permits can be revoked for a pattern of neglect, public nuisance violations and closing for more than six months. The city hopes to encourage businesses to implement environmental elements to deter crime, such as lighting, landscaping and fencing.