SSB Airport Actions

This page was developed to provide Soaring Society of Boulder members and the Boulder aviation community generally with important information on the proposed rezoning of the airport property to be consistent with affordable housing. Please make your comments and suggestions to the SSB web manger at planned@boulder.net This page will be updated frequently.

Background

On February 23, 2000 it was discovered that on February 24 City of Boulder Planning staff would be presenting to the City of Boulder Planning Board recommendations asking the Board to consider changing the land use designation for the Boulder Municipal Airport to allow for affordable housing by changing the zoning from PE to MUD, MXRE and MHE. Such zoning changes are not compatible land use for airport operations.

In addition the Planning Board was to consider a citizen application to revise the five-year Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan along essentially the same lines. Subsequent to this application another citizen application was made to revise the text of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) to: Enforce land use regulations and strengthen language and enforcement of comp plan policies to EXCLUDE glider-tow operations. The Staff recommended that the BVCP be reviewed relative to the municipal airport.

The February 24 Planning Board Meeting was well attended by the Boulder aviation community. Many articulate and well reasoned arguments where put forward in support of the airport. Unfortunately in the end the Planning Board voted to accept the Planning Staffs recommendation to include the airport property in a review of all existing City property (excluding parks and open space) as to its suitability for affordable housing.

In the next several weeks there will be additional meetings on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan and it is very important to stay engaged in this process by checking this web site often, attending meetings and making your opinions heard.

Calendar of Events

MARCH 7/00- City Council Meeting. The Airport was not on the agenda but public testimony was allowed. Only a limited number of speakers could be accommodated in 45 minutes of public feedback or after the Council secession. This was a good opportunity to address the City Council and voice concerns on the airport closure and alternative land use. The main thrust was to encourage Council to see the importance of the airport issue and to instruct staff to take the facility off the list of city properties to be inventoried for alternative use.

This meeting was attended by several concerned citizens and users of the Boulder Airport. Public testimony in support of the airport was given. Specifically Council was respectfully asked to preserve the airport by instructing staff to take it off the list of city properties to be inventoried for alternative use.

MARCH 14/00 - There was a City Council Study Session that addressed the proposed airport rezoning issue and alternative use. Study sessions are used by the Council to gather information on and to informally discuss a particular issue. These meetings are open to the public. As a matter of practice no verbal public comment is allowed as study sessions.

The outcome of this study session was quite positive with all but one Councilman voicing support to keep the airport open for the foreseeable future. There was a clear message sent that the airport should be removed from any additional consideration as a possible site for alternative use. The Council did acknowledge that the airport land was a valuable resource which might be considered for other uses 20-50 years out, but felt it was a waste of time and money to look at this now.

There needs to be follow-up at the Thursday, March 16 Planning Board meeting and then again at the March 21 City Council Meeting. This is being organized but I encourage you to attend these meeting if possible.

MARCH 16/00 - A Planning Board Comprehensive Plan Analysis meeting was held. At this meeting the Airport was preserved as the Planning Board officially removed from it from the list of city properties to be inventoried for alternative use. This effectively closes the door on the alternative use question for the airport property.

MARCH 21/00- There was a City Council meeting held on this date which addressed the Boulder Comprehensive Plan. The majority of the City Council members were thanked for preserving the Boulder airport and their forward looking and reasonable stance on the facility.

Speaking At Meetings

All citizens are encouraged to speak at these public meetings. It is important to be concise and courteous. Always start with what you want the participants to do (preserve the Boulder Airport by instructing staff to take it off the list of city property to be inventoried for alternative use). Make your case on why. Close by asking the participants to do what you suggested in the beginning.

Directions to Meetings

City Council meetings are held in the same room used for the February 24 Planning Board meeting. For those who did not attend the Planning Board meeting the City Council meeting room is in the Municipal Building on the SW corner of Broadway & Canyon UPSTAIRS on the Left. There is parking to the West of the Municipal building.

Important Web Addresses

Boulder Airport Web Address
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/airport/

State ratings of economic activity generated by airports including 1V5 http://www.dot.state.co.us/public/aeronautics/eiga.asp

Here are some important URL's for the City Council.

Boulder City Council Main Web Page
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/council.html

Boulder City Council Agenda
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/clerk/agenda/index.html

What you need to know about speaking at a City Council Meeting
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/cmo/citycouncil/speaking.html

A page giving the details of the March 20 feed back & discussion meeting
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/comm/fyi/351.html

Boulder City Mayor, Deputy Mayor & Manager

Mayor William Toor toorw@ci.boulder.co.us

Deputy Mayor Don Mock mockd@ci.boulder.co.us

City Manager Ron Secrist Secristr@ci.boulder.co.us

City Council Members - e-mail

E-mail Addresses and contact information for City Council Members
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/cmo/citycouncil/leaders.html

Dan Corson CorsonD@ci.boulder.co.us

Tom Eldridge EldridgeT@ci.boulder.co.us

Spense Havlick Havlicks@ci.boulder.co.us

Rich Lopez lopezr@ci.boulder.co.us

Lisa Morzel Morzell@ci.boulder.co.us

Françoise Poinsatte Poinsattef@ci.boulder.co.us

Gordon Riggle riggleg@ci.boulder.co.us

City Council Contact Information

Address: Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80306

Mailing Address: City Council Office, P. O. Box 791, Boulder, CO 80306

Home Phone Number: (303) 449-0844

Fax Number: (303) 441-4478

Important Phone Numbers

City Managers Office (303) 441-3019

City Planning Office (303) 441-3270

City Planning Board Secretary (303) 441-4464

AOPA Involvement

The local representative for AOPA is involved and will be managing the dialog with the organization.

Airport Facts

The Boulder airport has been at its present location since 1928

A 1998 Colorado Department of Transportation Report concluded the Boulder Airport brings in over 13 million dollars in economic activity annually.

One estimate, made 20 years ago, concluded that it would cost the City of Boulder 25 million dollars to close down the airport.

All information on this page is believed to be correct but should be
checked independently before use.

Web created by John Seaborn, Doug Weibel, Mark Terry, Colin Barry
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