Seniors win round in Aurora against development
Carrie Porter
Published July 24, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
The Aurora Planning Commission handed about 30 senior citizens a small victory Wednesday.
They gathered at the Aurora Municipal Center to speak against a 13-acre building development close to their homes.
The panel voted 4-2 against a site plan extension that would have developed four-story apartment complexes at the Heritage-Eagle Bend housing complex.
In June, senior residents issued an appeal to Templeton Development Corp.'s extension proposal.
They fear the senior independent-living housing would compromise seniors' safety and would be incompatible with existing senior communities.
"We don't think (the plan) is very suitable to seniors because all the walkways are exposed and none of the garages are attached to the building," said Toni Smythe, a neighborhood delegate who spoke at the commission meeting.
"You don't just stick a four-story next to two-story," said Michigan Hill, a commissioner who voted against the extension.
He also voted against the original proposal in 2005.
"We feel strongly that our project is a fantastic benefit to the city of Aurora, and time will tell," said Templeton Vice President David Duncan.
The City Council will vote in the next month on whether to overturn the commission's decision.
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