Collaborations protect two Colorado airports

One dispute involved two 2024 ballot initiatives seeking to close Boulder Municipal Airport so the land could be redeveloped for affordable housing. The Save Boulder Airport organization was formed to counter the ballot initiatives put forward by the Airport Neighborhood Campaign.

The Airport Neighborhood Campaign had collected signatures to place two petitions, “Repurpose Our Runways” and “Runways to Neighborhoods,” on the November 5 ballot. The fight over the airport took an unexpected turn in June, when the city of Boulder filed a lawsuit against the FAA seeking clarification from the agency regarding how long the city is obligated to maintain the airport in return for federal Airport Improvement Program grants used to purchase airport land in the past. One result of the lawsuit was the adoption of a wait-and-see attitude by many parties opposed to the airport, according to the Airport Neighborhood Campaign, which has since withdrawn its petitions.

“Since the litigation filing, Boulderites across the political spectrum have expressed a desire to wait for resolution of the Boulder v. FAA litigation before weighing in on the future of the airport site,” the group said in a statement on its website. “According to the City Attorney, federal courts are scheduling new cases for about two years out. This means the Boulder v. FAA case will not conclude before the election.”

The Boulder airport’s battle has been unfolding for years and includes a letter to the city from John P. Bauer, manager of the FAA’s Denver Airports District Office, indicating that the city cannot close the airport – ever.

“Since 1982, the City has entered into agreements with the FAA for the acceptance of Federal funds for airport development projects and land acquisition under the Airport Improvement Program. In accepting over $12.7 million in AIP funds, the City has agreed to specific Federal obligations, including a commitment to keep the Airport open,” Bauer said in the letter. “Since the City acquired land with AIP funds, this obligation runs in perpetuity.” Closing the airport would require FAA consent, which is rare in such cases, Bauer said. “We encourage you to review your Federal obligations before taking steps that are counter to your contractual obligations with the FAA,” he added.

While those seeking to close the airport have relented for now, they say they will continue to pursue their goals over the long term.

“Given that airport closure and repurposing is a long-term project - potentially through May, 2040 - Boulder has time to make this decision as a community, the group said in its statement.

In a second case involving Vance Brand Airport in Longmont, a developer had proposed building a mixed-use residential and business project near the airport. Critics said the planned community, called ModernWest 2, would be too dense and too close to the airport.

The developer said the project complies with the city’s Envision Longmont strategic plan, which has been in effect since 2016 and promotes higher density housing and sustainable land use. Longmont’s planning and zoning commission voted to recommend approval of ModernWest 2 during a public meeting in June; however in the early morning hours of August 28, the city council voted unanimously against the project after hearing opposition from both airport stakeholders and Longmont residents.

Both of these cases demonstrate the power of airport advocacy. AOPA brought 85 years of aviation and airport advocacy experience to assist with these efforts ending up with two well-organized, well-messaged, and ultimately successful advocacy campaigns. AOPA considers both potential airport closures and airport encroachment existential threats to aviation overall, and the vigorous defense of airports will always be among the organization’s top priorities.