4 Scenarios for the future of BDU
The consulting company conducting the Airport Community Conversation, Kimley Horn, has put forth four scenarios regarding the future of BDU. Each is shown in the following pages.
Scenario 1: Existing Airport with Enhanced Maintenance
Scenario 2: Airport with Aviation Improvements
Scenario 3: Airport with Neighborhood Serving Uses and Housing Lite
Scenario 4: Decommission Airport and Create New Neighborhood, with "landing area"
As usual, a critical piece of information is missing. Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all require FAA involvement. Scenario 4 may require FAA involvement. FAA involvement means taking FAA money, which means NO LOCAL CONTROL of equipment, operations, fuel, etc. We believe the community should know this when making decisions about the airport's future. Consider Scenario 4, assume the landing area is a helipad. If the FAA played a part in funding that helipad, then there could no limits on who could use it and when. Imagine wealthy celebrities dropping in to Boulder for recreation at any hour of the day, such as to take in a football game.
With the FAA in charge growth and expansion is always on the menu. With the FAA in charge, who decides? Answer: The industry decides. Thus, Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all allow for expansion of airport operations and facilities.
These scenarios are vague and ambiguous. Residents will likely make assumptions about them, many of which may just be wrong. It is irresponsible to present these in this form without further clarification.
These options came from the consultants. These consultants market their airport consultation experience, particularly helping airports write master plans. The pro aviation bias in these scenarios seems to reflect their background and perspectives.
Scenario 1: Existing Airport with Enhanced Maintenance
Scenario 2: Airport with Aviation Improvements
Scenario 3: Airport with Neighborhood Serving Uses and Housing Lite
Scenario 4: Decommission Airport and Create New Neighborhood, with "landing area"
As usual, a critical piece of information is missing. Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all require FAA involvement. Scenario 4 may require FAA involvement. FAA involvement means taking FAA money, which means NO LOCAL CONTROL of equipment, operations, fuel, etc. We believe the community should know this when making decisions about the airport's future. Consider Scenario 4, assume the landing area is a helipad. If the FAA played a part in funding that helipad, then there could no limits on who could use it and when. Imagine wealthy celebrities dropping in to Boulder for recreation at any hour of the day, such as to take in a football game.
With the FAA in charge growth and expansion is always on the menu. With the FAA in charge, who decides? Answer: The industry decides. Thus, Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all allow for expansion of airport operations and facilities.
These scenarios are vague and ambiguous. Residents will likely make assumptions about them, many of which may just be wrong. It is irresponsible to present these in this form without further clarification.
These options came from the consultants. These consultants market their airport consultation experience, particularly helping airports write master plans. The pro aviation bias in these scenarios seems to reflect their background and perspectives.