Risky Colorado airport ballot measure defeated

The voter decision to reject Pitkin County ballot question 200, “Citizen Initiated Home Rule Charter Amendment,” was in the best interests of both the local community and aeronautical users.

The FAA Denver Airports District Office had expressed concerns regarding the proposed Pitkin County ballot ahead of the election. The FAA letter sent October 17 noted that the ballot initiative, which would make runway relocation or expansion at the airport subject to voter approval, would likely be contrary to agreements that the county made with the federal government when accepting federal funds for airport upgrades.

AOPA continues to work in a supporting role with local aviation stakeholders to promote the best courses of action and push back against political efforts that could place the airport in jeopardy.

"As we continue to work with airport tenants, airport administration, and the community to resolve airport-related concerns, it will be important for all to understand the critical nature of working together and within the bounds of what we can control," said AOPA Northwest Mountain Regional Manager Brad Schuster. "The FAA letter was particularly noteworthy in that it was issued prior to the ballot measures being voted on. Failure to get airport development plans in line with FAA standards would have jeopardized future FAA airport maintenance and development funding—and could have been a violation of federal law if local voters had chosen to support the ballot measures.

“Preserving harmony between airports and airport communities is always a goal we endeavor to achieve,” Schuster continued. “Community input and engagement with airport users and airport sponsors should always be a two-way conversation to ensure problems can be addressed and achievable solutions can be realized.”

AOPA continues to work with local aeronautical users and the airport administration on a wide range of concerns and agrees with the FAA’s preemptive approach to the ballot initiative because it’s usually less problematic for all concerned if airport sponsors modify potentially risky policies before they are finalized, rather than trying to modify those policies after they are enacted.

Moreover, AOPA encourages more outreach and solutions-oriented discussions surrounding the airport and how we can work together to achieve positive outcomes that work for the airport and the community as a whole.