4 Scenarios for the future of BDU
The consulting company conducting the Airport Community Conversation, Kimley Horn, has put forth four scenarios to the community regarding the future of BDU.
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.
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, yet residents are being asked to vote on them. 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. As is the nature of biases, it may be that the consultants are so engrossed and saturated in their fields that they can not see their own biases.
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.
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, yet residents are being asked to vote on them. 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. As is the nature of biases, it may be that the consultants are so engrossed and saturated in their fields that they can not see their own biases.
A Word About Housing
While many people would like to see BDU land used for something else, not everyone wants housing at BDU. Airspace for All's position is simply to let the people decide, not the FAA and the general aviation industry.
With that said, it is worth pointing out what developing the site for housing could mean. It's a very rare opportunity to have acreage of this size for development. Unlike the infill development the City usual must generally pursue, BDU land presents an opportunity to design a modern, green, walkable, more sustainable living situation from the ground up. City Planners have specifically said that the development would a mix of single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and also apartment buildings, including permanently affordable properties. Green spaces and services would be mixed in to minimize the need to drive.
While many people would like to see BDU land used for something else, not everyone wants housing at BDU. Airspace for All's position is simply to let the people decide, not the FAA and the general aviation industry.
With that said, it is worth pointing out what developing the site for housing could mean. It's a very rare opportunity to have acreage of this size for development. Unlike the infill development the City usual must generally pursue, BDU land presents an opportunity to design a modern, green, walkable, more sustainable living situation from the ground up. City Planners have specifically said that the development would a mix of single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and also apartment buildings, including permanently affordable properties. Green spaces and services would be mixed in to minimize the need to drive.