July 17, 2023
Despite multiple complaints from various sources, it seems Kimley-Horn and City staff push on, continuing to base decision about the airport on "squeaky wheel" input process. This is reflected in the on line survey, and will likely be reflected in tomorrow's open house. It's clear that this process is not at all representative and is quite biased in favor of airport vested interests. Several local activists have privately called this the worst community engagement project they have seen. Kimley-Horn is being paid on the order of $250K - $350K to manage this project.
Numbers of comments seems to be a, if not 'the', key factor in decision making. For this reason, we need as much participation as possible in the open house tomorrow, and other upcoming events.
TOMORROW, Tue, 7/18, 4:00 - 6:00PM is the Airport Community Conversation Open House 2, https://bouldercolorado.gov/events/airport-community-conversation-open-house-2. We encourage everyone to attend and share your opinion, as many times as possible.
Despite multiple complaints from various sources, it seems Kimley-Horn and City staff push on, continuing to base decision about the airport on "squeaky wheel" input process. This is reflected in the on line survey, and will likely be reflected in tomorrow's open house. It's clear that this process is not at all representative and is quite biased in favor of airport vested interests. Several local activists have privately called this the worst community engagement project they have seen. Kimley-Horn is being paid on the order of $250K - $350K to manage this project.
Numbers of comments seems to be a, if not 'the', key factor in decision making. For this reason, we need as much participation as possible in the open house tomorrow, and other upcoming events.
TOMORROW, Tue, 7/18, 4:00 - 6:00PM is the Airport Community Conversation Open House 2, https://bouldercolorado.gov/events/airport-community-conversation-open-house-2. We encourage everyone to attend and share your opinion, as many times as possible.
Airport Community Conversation Open House 2
Tue, 7/18, 4:00 - 6:00PM
Via Mobility Services
2855 63rd Street
Boulder, CO 80301
Tue, 7/18, 4:00 - 6:00PM
Via Mobility Services
2855 63rd Street
Boulder, CO 80301
July 15, 2023 Community Meeting
On the beautiful, bucolic property of Valmont Community Presbyterian Church, while pelicans paddled on the pond and BDU traffic buzzed continually overhead, we had a great meeting. Grass roots and grass tops Boulderites came together to mingle and discuss BDU. We got clarity on various pieces of information, and the timeline around BDU the community engagement process and the start of the Master Plan.
Between now and August 24, our goal is to bombard City Council and staff with comments, asking them to pursue alternative uses of BDU land. While "alternative uses" could mean supporting Scenario 4 (Scenario 4), that Scenario has ambiguities with possibilities that may make it unsuitable. The best thing to ask for is simply to investigate and pursue alterantive uses.
Providing comments could be in the form of
The most effective approach is to speak at a meeting. Our ideal would be have a number of people lined up to speak as often as possible between now and August 17, and we would to some extent coordinate on topics. CC meetings are alternating Thursday nights. We have a strategies and tips on speaking. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEAK AT A CC MEETING PLEASE CONTACT US.
This week is big -
Tue, July 18 is the open house, https://bouldercolorado.gov/events/airport-community-conversation-open-house-2
Thu, July 20 is the next Community Working Group meeting. Watch this space for more information about the CWG meeting, including hour and location. The word is that most of the non pilots have mostly dropped off the CWG, presumably due to the biased balance of the group. Also, apparently it's okay for people not on CWG to show up and participate, as did a pilot in the last CWG meeting who appeared and spoke about his experience. These meeting are paid for by the City, and thus are subject to open meetings regulations. It may be worthwhile to show up and participate. While it's possible that we may be turned away, that would also be useful and leveragable information.
The online survey is now open through the end of July, https://www.beheardboulder.org/airport-community-conversation. There is no apparent limit on submissions. Submit early and often.
On the beautiful, bucolic property of Valmont Community Presbyterian Church, while pelicans paddled on the pond and BDU traffic buzzed continually overhead, we had a great meeting. Grass roots and grass tops Boulderites came together to mingle and discuss BDU. We got clarity on various pieces of information, and the timeline around BDU the community engagement process and the start of the Master Plan.
Between now and August 24, our goal is to bombard City Council and staff with comments, asking them to pursue alternative uses of BDU land. While "alternative uses" could mean supporting Scenario 4 (Scenario 4), that Scenario has ambiguities with possibilities that may make it unsuitable. The best thing to ask for is simply to investigate and pursue alterantive uses.
Providing comments could be in the form of
- attending the open house on Tue, 7/18 (see above) and providing lots of comments
- filling out the survey, early and often
- speaking at a CC meeting
- writing letters, sending opinions to CC, Daily Camera
- signing our online petition for local control, Petition for local control of BDU
- meet with us at the Farmers Market and elsewhere and sign our paper petition asking City Council to investigate alternative uses of BDU land
The most effective approach is to speak at a meeting. Our ideal would be have a number of people lined up to speak as often as possible between now and August 17, and we would to some extent coordinate on topics. CC meetings are alternating Thursday nights. We have a strategies and tips on speaking. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEAK AT A CC MEETING PLEASE CONTACT US.
This week is big -
Tue, July 18 is the open house, https://bouldercolorado.gov/events/airport-community-conversation-open-house-2
Thu, July 20 is the next Community Working Group meeting. Watch this space for more information about the CWG meeting, including hour and location. The word is that most of the non pilots have mostly dropped off the CWG, presumably due to the biased balance of the group. Also, apparently it's okay for people not on CWG to show up and participate, as did a pilot in the last CWG meeting who appeared and spoke about his experience. These meeting are paid for by the City, and thus are subject to open meetings regulations. It may be worthwhile to show up and participate. While it's possible that we may be turned away, that would also be useful and leveragable information.
The online survey is now open through the end of July, https://www.beheardboulder.org/airport-community-conversation. There is no apparent limit on submissions. Submit early and often.
Boulder Airport Community Meeting
July 15th, 2:00PM
Valmont Presbyterian Church, 3262 North 61st Street, Boulder, CO
July 15th, 2:00PM
Valmont Presbyterian Church, 3262 North 61st Street, Boulder, CO
Please attend this meeting to discuss the true costs of hosting BDU, and joining forces to let the City Council know that Boulder residents are tired of subsidizing this pollution engine.
What does it cost to host Boulder Municipal Airport?
Noise impacts from BDU drives families from their homes. Other families would move if they could, but they are stuck. Most of the planes burn leaded fuel. Nanoparticles of lead are emitted constantly, falling on homes, schools, farms, open spaces, where it is taken up by plants and animals. The carbon-based fuel burned by these machines also contributes to ozone and particulate pollution, just as the EPA is proposing to downgrade the Denver area from a “serious” to a “severe” violator of federal ozone standards.
BDU produces roughly ~$80,000 per month of current tax revenue, about .2% of total sales tax revenue. (A chunk of this revenue comes from sales tax on leaded fuel, which is then burned over our heads.)
179 acres of BDU land is worth ~$358,000,000, provided to BDU for free. BDU capital improvements are provided via Federal tax dollars. BDU is heavily subsidized.
This land could be used for so many other purposes that could benefit many Boulder residents, such as housing, commerce, recreation, parks, etc. Besides benefitting many people, these uses can actually produce significant revenue for the city.
Alternative viewpoints deserve to be, and must be, part of the conversation!
What does it cost to host Boulder Municipal Airport?
Noise impacts from BDU drives families from their homes. Other families would move if they could, but they are stuck. Most of the planes burn leaded fuel. Nanoparticles of lead are emitted constantly, falling on homes, schools, farms, open spaces, where it is taken up by plants and animals. The carbon-based fuel burned by these machines also contributes to ozone and particulate pollution, just as the EPA is proposing to downgrade the Denver area from a “serious” to a “severe” violator of federal ozone standards.
BDU produces roughly ~$80,000 per month of current tax revenue, about .2% of total sales tax revenue. (A chunk of this revenue comes from sales tax on leaded fuel, which is then burned over our heads.)
179 acres of BDU land is worth ~$358,000,000, provided to BDU for free. BDU capital improvements are provided via Federal tax dollars. BDU is heavily subsidized.
This land could be used for so many other purposes that could benefit many Boulder residents, such as housing, commerce, recreation, parks, etc. Besides benefitting many people, these uses can actually produce significant revenue for the city.
Alternative viewpoints deserve to be, and must be, part of the conversation!
Summary of key dates and activities
July 12 - 31: online questionnaire. (See "Open House 2 and Questionnaire 2")
July 15: Airspace for All Community Meeting (See above)
July 18: Airport "Conversation" Open House
August 25, City Council hears about airport options from Kimley-Horn
July 15: Airspace for All Community Meeting (See above)
July 18: Airport "Conversation" Open House
August 25, City Council hears about airport options from Kimley-Horn
July 8, 2023
Critical events regarding BDU are happening now and through the rest of the summer.
Despite this project being called the "Airport Community Conversation", as we have said here before, this project is not a conversation. The majority of residents haven't even heard of it, while pilots are well informed and organized. The events to date have been framed by and highly biased towards pilots and airport businesses. Important aspects of hosting an airport have not been discussed, such as noise, pollution, and safety. Housing advocates are frustrated because the discussion around using the land for housing, as designated in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, has not happened.
There will be a second in-person "open house" event about the airport project. This open house is essentially the community's chance to vote on the future of the airport.
This open house will be a critical step in gathering community preferences among four potential future scenarios for the airport site. See below for details of each of the scenarios. In summary, they are:
As usual, a critical piece of information is missing from the conversation. Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all 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.
The end game of this community visioning process is that the project team (staff and consultants) will recommend one or more "preferred scenarios" to Boulder's City Council late this year or early next year. Since this is a community visioning process, results from the open house should weigh heavily in selecting a preferred scenario.
The last airport open house event was organized and dominated by pilots and airport users. If residents want City Council to assess the potential of the airport site to serve many residents instead of just a priveleged few, it will be critical for diverse folks to participate in this event.
Attend! Cast many votes! Submit lots of comments! Put up many sticky dots for your favorite airport options! The more sticky dots the better! This chaotic, uncontrolled process is the avenue that project managers have provided for residents to make their voices heard. At the open house, it's the number of people present and aggressive voting that wins the game. Vote early and often!
Housing advocates have pointed out that the acreage could alternatively provide a new neighborhood with potential for 2000+ units of housing including permanently affordable middle income housing. But, so far, this level of discussion has not been part of the "conversation".
Critical events regarding BDU are happening now and through the rest of the summer.
Despite this project being called the "Airport Community Conversation", as we have said here before, this project is not a conversation. The majority of residents haven't even heard of it, while pilots are well informed and organized. The events to date have been framed by and highly biased towards pilots and airport businesses. Important aspects of hosting an airport have not been discussed, such as noise, pollution, and safety. Housing advocates are frustrated because the discussion around using the land for housing, as designated in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, has not happened.
There will be a second in-person "open house" event about the airport project. This open house is essentially the community's chance to vote on the future of the airport.
- Tuesday July 18
- 4-6 PM
- Location: Via Mobility Services, 2855 N. 63rd Street
- Link to more information about the open house
- Participants can stay as long or leave as early as they'd like.
This open house will be a critical step in gathering community preferences among four potential future scenarios for the airport site. See below for details of each of the scenarios. In summary, they are:
- Scenario 1: existing airport with enhanced maintenance
- Scenario 2: airport with aviation improvements
- Scenario 3: airpot with aviation improvements plus limited neighborhood serving uses and a small amount of live/work housing over hangars, and
- Scenario 4: decommission the airport and plan a new neighborhood at the site, but maintain a helipad that can be used for emergency services
As usual, a critical piece of information is missing from the conversation. Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 all 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.
The end game of this community visioning process is that the project team (staff and consultants) will recommend one or more "preferred scenarios" to Boulder's City Council late this year or early next year. Since this is a community visioning process, results from the open house should weigh heavily in selecting a preferred scenario.
The last airport open house event was organized and dominated by pilots and airport users. If residents want City Council to assess the potential of the airport site to serve many residents instead of just a priveleged few, it will be critical for diverse folks to participate in this event.
Attend! Cast many votes! Submit lots of comments! Put up many sticky dots for your favorite airport options! The more sticky dots the better! This chaotic, uncontrolled process is the avenue that project managers have provided for residents to make their voices heard. At the open house, it's the number of people present and aggressive voting that wins the game. Vote early and often!
Housing advocates have pointed out that the acreage could alternatively provide a new neighborhood with potential for 2000+ units of housing including permanently affordable middle income housing. But, so far, this level of discussion has not been part of the "conversation".
May 3, 2023, City Planning Board letter to City Council and staff
The City Planning Board, having already written to the City Council on Apr 5, 2023, unanimously approved a follow up letter to Boulder City Council that "emphasized that the Airport Community Conversation should include presentation of housing and hybrid scenarios for community consideration. We also recommended that examination of housing potential at the airport site precede the next update of the Airport Master Plan."
"Staff had previously stated that any consideration of alternate land uses (such as housing) at the airport site was “out of scope” for the scenarios to be vetted with the public this year during the Community Conversation. "
The Planning Board reminded the City Council that the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan states, "At the time of the next Airport Master Plan, the city will work with the community to reassess the potential for developing a portion of the airport for housing and neighborhood-serving uses.”
The Planning Board was "pleased to note that in the intervening weeks, staff has made public statements indicating that housing and hybrid airport/housing scenarios MAY be developed for this Airport Community Conversation. We note that this is no guarantee that housing and hybrid scenarios WILL be developed..."
"Additionally, Boulder’s Interim Director of Transportation and Mobility stated at the April 10, 2023 Transportation Advisory Board meeting that if Council asks staff to proceed with a detailed housing study for the airport site at the conclusion of the Community Conversation, staff would not proceed with the Airport Master Plan update at the same time. This is also reasonably aligned with our recommendations."
"The City faces a weighty decision later this year: whether to advance into a 2024 Airport Master Plan update that will serve as a capital improvement plan for that facility over the next decade(s), or to initiate a more detailed study of housing potential at the airport site. We are grateful for staff and the consultant team’s work to help ensure the Airport Community Conversation will consider diverse community values and vision and provide well-informed input for Council’s upcoming deliberations."
The City Planning Board, having already written to the City Council on Apr 5, 2023, unanimously approved a follow up letter to Boulder City Council that "emphasized that the Airport Community Conversation should include presentation of housing and hybrid scenarios for community consideration. We also recommended that examination of housing potential at the airport site precede the next update of the Airport Master Plan."
"Staff had previously stated that any consideration of alternate land uses (such as housing) at the airport site was “out of scope” for the scenarios to be vetted with the public this year during the Community Conversation. "
The Planning Board reminded the City Council that the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan states, "At the time of the next Airport Master Plan, the city will work with the community to reassess the potential for developing a portion of the airport for housing and neighborhood-serving uses.”
The Planning Board was "pleased to note that in the intervening weeks, staff has made public statements indicating that housing and hybrid airport/housing scenarios MAY be developed for this Airport Community Conversation. We note that this is no guarantee that housing and hybrid scenarios WILL be developed..."
"Additionally, Boulder’s Interim Director of Transportation and Mobility stated at the April 10, 2023 Transportation Advisory Board meeting that if Council asks staff to proceed with a detailed housing study for the airport site at the conclusion of the Community Conversation, staff would not proceed with the Airport Master Plan update at the same time. This is also reasonably aligned with our recommendations."
"The City faces a weighty decision later this year: whether to advance into a 2024 Airport Master Plan update that will serve as a capital improvement plan for that facility over the next decade(s), or to initiate a more detailed study of housing potential at the airport site. We are grateful for staff and the consultant team’s work to help ensure the Airport Community Conversation will consider diverse community values and vision and provide well-informed input for Council’s upcoming deliberations."
| pb_letter_to_cc_05.03.23.pdf |
April 27, 2023, City of Boulder Housing Advisory Board letter to City Council and staff
The City of Boulder Housing Advisory Board wrote to Boulder City Council strongly recommending that "housing options be fully examined with other scenarios for the future of the Airport. HAB would like to see this process yield a high-level and visionary overview of what is possible for housing on the airport property. A hybrid option that would allow continued airport uses represents another potentially positive outcome."
"The potential to create much needed “Missing Middle” housing on up to 180 acres owned by the city could present a once-in-a-generation opportunity where the city controls the outcomes. If repurposed, the site could fit as many as six Holiday neighborhoods, an award-winning project that is widely acknowledged for providing an integrated, multi-use community including all kinds of housing, including for-sale “Missing Middle” housing and permanently affordable housing."
"HAB strongly recommends that housing options at Boulder Airport be thoroughly examined through the CWG and fully considered by City Council as it decides the airport’s future."
The letter is below.
The City of Boulder Housing Advisory Board wrote to Boulder City Council strongly recommending that "housing options be fully examined with other scenarios for the future of the Airport. HAB would like to see this process yield a high-level and visionary overview of what is possible for housing on the airport property. A hybrid option that would allow continued airport uses represents another potentially positive outcome."
"The potential to create much needed “Missing Middle” housing on up to 180 acres owned by the city could present a once-in-a-generation opportunity where the city controls the outcomes. If repurposed, the site could fit as many as six Holiday neighborhoods, an award-winning project that is widely acknowledged for providing an integrated, multi-use community including all kinds of housing, including for-sale “Missing Middle” housing and permanently affordable housing."
"HAB strongly recommends that housing options at Boulder Airport be thoroughly examined through the CWG and fully considered by City Council as it decides the airport’s future."
The letter is below.
| hab_letter_to_council_airport_4.27.23.pdf |
Letter from FAA to Mayor Brockett and City Council regarding BDU
Also, on Apr 27, 2023 the FAA Denver Airports District Office Manager, sent a letter to Mayor Brockett admonishing him that Boulder is under contractual obligation to maintain BDU as an airport. The letter misquoted Council member Mark Wallach as saying, "we are going to close the airport." Wallach responded with a reproach for the misquote, reiterated his commitment to allowing the citizens of Boulder to decide the fate of the airport, and reminded the FAA that he represents 108,000 constituents, rather than the 100+ pilots that use the airport.
Also, on Apr 27, 2023 the FAA Denver Airports District Office Manager, sent a letter to Mayor Brockett admonishing him that Boulder is under contractual obligation to maintain BDU as an airport. The letter misquoted Council member Mark Wallach as saying, "we are going to close the airport." Wallach responded with a reproach for the misquote, reiterated his commitment to allowing the citizens of Boulder to decide the fate of the airport, and reminded the FAA that he represents 108,000 constituents, rather than the 100+ pilots that use the airport.
April, 2023 The Middle Income Down Payment Pilot program has launched
The $10M program will provide some families with up to $200K of down payment assitance. Compare with assistance with creating new housing on BDU land.
The $10M program will provide some families with up to $200K of down payment assitance. Compare with assistance with creating new housing on BDU land.
April 24, 2023
It is disappointing, but not surprising, to find that the Airport Community Conversation is actually a conversation among airport community vested interests. This is unsurprising because community concerns have never actually been heard when it comes to the airport. Is this because the project may be funded by the airport?
A random two day survey of visitors to the Farmer's Market shows that the Boulder Community is unaware of the conversation. Of roughly 100 people, 2 were aware of it. Those two are volunteers involved in housing issues.
However, the pilot community is very aware of the "Conversation". Indeed, they can fly in to participate in the discussion and events. Bear in mind, the pilot community has the full support and weight of the FAA, the AOPA, and other aviation vested organizations and systems. They know each other and are already organized. Whereas, the Boulder community is a loose collection of individuals with little information and no resources or clout. It is a David and Goliath situation.
The Open House was a promotion for the airport, paid for by airport tenants. It was propaganda in the guise of a conversation.
Community members are not aware of the online questionnaire, though the pilot community knows it well. The survey can be gamed by submitting multiple responses. Unique responses can easily be generated by automated tools, allowing further gaming of the system. Will decisions be based on these responses?
Community Working Group (CWG) membership is 40 - 50% from the pilot community. As pilots are a tiny percentage of the population, this is not remotely representative of the community in general. A Meeting Summary has been provided for the 3/14 CWG meeting, but no information has been provided for the 4/13 meeting, leaving the community in the dark. The plan for the next CWG meeting is for an FAA representative to speak. As they always do, the FAA will only repeat self-serving FAA rules. This leads people unfamiliar with aviation to assume the FAA framing is the only view there is. It is not. This is biased.
An option to provide comments to the CWG was provided for a very brief period before the 1st CWG meeting. This was not publicized. While some people did find the comment page and took the time to provide comments, it seems these comments have not been provided to the CWG or discussed. Is this a way to let community members to think they have a say when they actually don’t?
The ACEP desperately needs a course correction ASAP.
We deserve discussion as soon as possible about alternative land uses. The City Planning Board and the Housing Advisory Board are both asking the CC to include housing as part of the conversation. They argue, rightly, that it is not a conversation if alternative uses are not part of the discussion. As the Planning Board wrote, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, 6.23 states, “At the time of the next Airport Master Plan, the city will work with the community to reassess the potential for developing a portion of the airport for housing and neighborhood-serving uses.” This is not happening. Does the City intend to follow it's own Comprehensive Plan?
Other important and relevant aspects of the airport have yet to be raised for discussion, such as: lead, noise, other pollution, and safety. Recall, there were six crashes in and around Boulder County in 2022, 10 people died. Where is the community discussion around these very real costs and risks? Will these facts be presented to the Boulder Community for our consideration?
Where is the honest, transparent discussion about the airport’s economics? One which includes enumeration of all the subsidies it receives, and includes pollution costs and negative health impacts on residents? And that also includes the economic benefits of using the land in alternative ways that produce taxes and commerce opportunities?
Conversations at the Farmer's Market show that people do care about what happens at the airport. There are many who would like to have an honest conversation about the airport based on valid, verified data. This is not happening.
Here are some ideas about information that would be more balanced and informative to the community:
This endeavor needs much more publicity so that community members are as informed as the pilot community. After we have held the above real discussions, THEN the City should create a rigorous, reliable survey should be provided that reflects the takeaways from the discussions in a balanced manner. Our community needs and deserves this!
A letter to this effect was sent a week ago to Conversation project organizers, asking for a course correction. So far, there has been no response.
It is disappointing, but not surprising, to find that the Airport Community Conversation is actually a conversation among airport community vested interests. This is unsurprising because community concerns have never actually been heard when it comes to the airport. Is this because the project may be funded by the airport?
A random two day survey of visitors to the Farmer's Market shows that the Boulder Community is unaware of the conversation. Of roughly 100 people, 2 were aware of it. Those two are volunteers involved in housing issues.
However, the pilot community is very aware of the "Conversation". Indeed, they can fly in to participate in the discussion and events. Bear in mind, the pilot community has the full support and weight of the FAA, the AOPA, and other aviation vested organizations and systems. They know each other and are already organized. Whereas, the Boulder community is a loose collection of individuals with little information and no resources or clout. It is a David and Goliath situation.
The Open House was a promotion for the airport, paid for by airport tenants. It was propaganda in the guise of a conversation.
- Introductory remarks by city transportation staff confirm that the event was to showcase the airport.
- Inputs were solicited for a selected set of choices, making it a highly limited conversation. (More hangars or a cafe?)
- Alternative uses of airport land were glaringly missing at this open house. One bullet out of 25 poster boards mentioned "alternative uses", as if it was a singular thing.
- No alternative voices were presented.
- No negatives impacts of the airport were represented. Nothing about pollution, complaints, community relations.
- The lack of local control over airport activities due to FAA grant restrictions was not discussed.
Community members are not aware of the online questionnaire, though the pilot community knows it well. The survey can be gamed by submitting multiple responses. Unique responses can easily be generated by automated tools, allowing further gaming of the system. Will decisions be based on these responses?
Community Working Group (CWG) membership is 40 - 50% from the pilot community. As pilots are a tiny percentage of the population, this is not remotely representative of the community in general. A Meeting Summary has been provided for the 3/14 CWG meeting, but no information has been provided for the 4/13 meeting, leaving the community in the dark. The plan for the next CWG meeting is for an FAA representative to speak. As they always do, the FAA will only repeat self-serving FAA rules. This leads people unfamiliar with aviation to assume the FAA framing is the only view there is. It is not. This is biased.
An option to provide comments to the CWG was provided for a very brief period before the 1st CWG meeting. This was not publicized. While some people did find the comment page and took the time to provide comments, it seems these comments have not been provided to the CWG or discussed. Is this a way to let community members to think they have a say when they actually don’t?
The ACEP desperately needs a course correction ASAP.
We deserve discussion as soon as possible about alternative land uses. The City Planning Board and the Housing Advisory Board are both asking the CC to include housing as part of the conversation. They argue, rightly, that it is not a conversation if alternative uses are not part of the discussion. As the Planning Board wrote, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, 6.23 states, “At the time of the next Airport Master Plan, the city will work with the community to reassess the potential for developing a portion of the airport for housing and neighborhood-serving uses.” This is not happening. Does the City intend to follow it's own Comprehensive Plan?
Other important and relevant aspects of the airport have yet to be raised for discussion, such as: lead, noise, other pollution, and safety. Recall, there were six crashes in and around Boulder County in 2022, 10 people died. Where is the community discussion around these very real costs and risks? Will these facts be presented to the Boulder Community for our consideration?
Where is the honest, transparent discussion about the airport’s economics? One which includes enumeration of all the subsidies it receives, and includes pollution costs and negative health impacts on residents? And that also includes the economic benefits of using the land in alternative ways that produce taxes and commerce opportunities?
Conversations at the Farmer's Market show that people do care about what happens at the airport. There are many who would like to have an honest conversation about the airport based on valid, verified data. This is not happening.
Here are some ideas about information that would be more balanced and informative to the community:
- Presentations: Economics, Land use, Safety
- Panel debates: Alternative land uses; Economics: boon or bust?; Safety: is it an issue?
- A session on resident experiences. The community experience is very real. The airport has had a profoundly negative impact on many people, affecting them mentally and financially. Yet, this experience is never part of the conversation.
This endeavor needs much more publicity so that community members are as informed as the pilot community. After we have held the above real discussions, THEN the City should create a rigorous, reliable survey should be provided that reflects the takeaways from the discussions in a balanced manner. Our community needs and deserves this!
A letter to this effect was sent a week ago to Conversation project organizers, asking for a course correction. So far, there has been no response.
4/6/23 - 5/4/23: Airport Community Conversation Questionnaire
The City has published a questionnaire, "to better understand the community's perception of the airport and gain a better understanding of the community's desires for it's future."
The City has published a questionnaire, "to better understand the community's perception of the airport and gain a better understanding of the community's desires for it's future."
Apr 9, 2023 Happy Easter!
The Community Working Group (CWG) has been established and met once, in March. The list of members is on page four of the CWG 1 Meeting Summary. Summary information is provided here. The next meeting is TBD.
Of the 35 members, roughly 45 - 50% are airport vested interests. And with this we see, yet again, that aviation vested interests are overweighted in representation, as these proportions do not reflect balance and diversity of the Boulder community. We remind you again that the aviation industry has the weight of the FAA, the State of CO, and numerous well funded and well organized support organizations support behind it. We, on the other hand, are just people.
Questions have been raised within the CWG and beyond about the scope and design of this Community Engagement Project. In particular, those with questions regarding alternative uses of the airport site, including housing, have been told that housing is out of scope. The justification is that this project is being run under Transportation, not Planning.
On ~4/4/23, the City of Boulder Planning Board, submitted a strongly worded and comprehensive letter to the City Council. It leads with this:
"It is our strong recommendation that the Airport Community Conversation stand up diverse visions ("scenarios") for the airport including continuation / improvement of the airport, conversion of the land to housing and neighborhood serving uses, and some hybrid of both airport and housing; then evaluate all the scenarios on a level playing field against the same criteria; and bring these scenarios to the community for input before seeking Council direction on the future of this 178 acres of public land. Critically, the city and community should have a good sense of whether or not there is a desire to repurpose this site for housing BEFORE we go into the next airport master plan update that will serve to guide what would likely be significant aviation-focused capital improvements over the next 10 years."
Here is the full letter.
Airspace For All wholeheartedly agrees with the Planning Board. The BDU site is the largest developable site in Boulder. For comparison, the density of the Holiday neighborhood, in North Boulder, is 16 units/acre. At that density, 150 acres could hold 2,400 housing units. The site is completely within Service Area 1, ready for development, according to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
The Boulder community is providing these businesses 140 acres of land for free, while they pollute our skies. We deserve clear, honest information about site usage tradeoffs in order to make sound, well-informed decisions and guide our own future regarding our land and our sky. Airspace For All continues to advocate for a comprehensive, balanced land use study, coupled with local control, so that we can achieve that. Let the people decide.
The Community Working Group (CWG) has been established and met once, in March. The list of members is on page four of the CWG 1 Meeting Summary. Summary information is provided here. The next meeting is TBD.
Of the 35 members, roughly 45 - 50% are airport vested interests. And with this we see, yet again, that aviation vested interests are overweighted in representation, as these proportions do not reflect balance and diversity of the Boulder community. We remind you again that the aviation industry has the weight of the FAA, the State of CO, and numerous well funded and well organized support organizations support behind it. We, on the other hand, are just people.
Questions have been raised within the CWG and beyond about the scope and design of this Community Engagement Project. In particular, those with questions regarding alternative uses of the airport site, including housing, have been told that housing is out of scope. The justification is that this project is being run under Transportation, not Planning.
On ~4/4/23, the City of Boulder Planning Board, submitted a strongly worded and comprehensive letter to the City Council. It leads with this:
"It is our strong recommendation that the Airport Community Conversation stand up diverse visions ("scenarios") for the airport including continuation / improvement of the airport, conversion of the land to housing and neighborhood serving uses, and some hybrid of both airport and housing; then evaluate all the scenarios on a level playing field against the same criteria; and bring these scenarios to the community for input before seeking Council direction on the future of this 178 acres of public land. Critically, the city and community should have a good sense of whether or not there is a desire to repurpose this site for housing BEFORE we go into the next airport master plan update that will serve to guide what would likely be significant aviation-focused capital improvements over the next 10 years."
Here is the full letter.
Airspace For All wholeheartedly agrees with the Planning Board. The BDU site is the largest developable site in Boulder. For comparison, the density of the Holiday neighborhood, in North Boulder, is 16 units/acre. At that density, 150 acres could hold 2,400 housing units. The site is completely within Service Area 1, ready for development, according to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
The Boulder community is providing these businesses 140 acres of land for free, while they pollute our skies. We deserve clear, honest information about site usage tradeoffs in order to make sound, well-informed decisions and guide our own future regarding our land and our sky. Airspace For All continues to advocate for a comprehensive, balanced land use study, coupled with local control, so that we can achieve that. Let the people decide.
Mar 18 2023
The Community Working Group (CWG) was selected, though neither names nor affiliations have been provided. The public had an opportunity to comment to the CWG up until noon on 3/13/23, though his was not publicized. The CWG met once, on 3/14/23. Reports are that this initial meeting was mostly focused on getting to know one another. No further updates been provided. Information, including CWG purpose and goals is here: https://bouldercolorado.gov/airport-community-conversation-community-working-group.
Mark your Calendar!!
The first Airport Community Conversation Open House is scheduled for Tues, 4/11/23. Further details are pending: see the City's Open House page. This is the place to make a showing and make your voice heard!!
The Community Working Group (CWG) was selected, though neither names nor affiliations have been provided. The public had an opportunity to comment to the CWG up until noon on 3/13/23, though his was not publicized. The CWG met once, on 3/14/23. Reports are that this initial meeting was mostly focused on getting to know one another. No further updates been provided. Information, including CWG purpose and goals is here: https://bouldercolorado.gov/airport-community-conversation-community-working-group.
Mark your Calendar!!
The first Airport Community Conversation Open House is scheduled for Tues, 4/11/23. Further details are pending: see the City's Open House page. This is the place to make a showing and make your voice heard!!
Mar 12 2023
The Community Working Group for the Airport Community Conversation project has been selected. They will hold their first meeting on Tue, 3/14. The City has not provided information about the group. There is no information about its members, its size, nor how they have been charged.
Although it has not be publicized in any way, the public is offered a chance to comment to the CWG before their first meeting. Comments must be received by Mon, 3/13 at noon. Here is the contact form.
It is disappointing that important information is not being provided or published, let alone in a timely fashion, even as the process is moving forward.
A Community Open House is scheduled for 4/11/23.
The Community Working Group for the Airport Community Conversation project has been selected. They will hold their first meeting on Tue, 3/14. The City has not provided information about the group. There is no information about its members, its size, nor how they have been charged.
Although it has not be publicized in any way, the public is offered a chance to comment to the CWG before their first meeting. Comments must be received by Mon, 3/13 at noon. Here is the contact form.
It is disappointing that important information is not being provided or published, let alone in a timely fashion, even as the process is moving forward.
A Community Open House is scheduled for 4/11/23.
The Community Working Group
Boulder is currently taking applications to sit on the Airport Community Working Group, CWG, for dialog around the airport and to make recommendations for the future. It is unclear how many people will sit in this group, nor how they will be selected. The application window is now open.
Ever since BDU began, its direction and management has been determined by vested interests, as if theirs were the only interests that mattered. 98 years later, this is the first ever that residents are being included in planning in any way. However, BDU vested interests continue to expect to be treated as if they are the primary or sole stakeholders. They are not.
Council member Yates, a strong BDU advocate, in the Jan 12, 2023 study session, pushed to stack the CWG with vested interests regardless of their degree of vesting (e.g. a flight school instructure that works a few hours per week or a business where some portion of profit comes from the airport). In Yates' world, non vested interest concerns would be fewer and thus count less.
A committee with 10 vested interests and 2 community members is NOT reflective, it is biased. Assume 1/100 of community members are vested interests. Then a reflective representation would include 100 non vested interest members for every vested interest. While this argument may seem preposterous on its face, it clearly demonstrates how currently biased forces work in favor of vested interests and against the community.
From the City website:
Ever since BDU began, its direction and management has been determined by vested interests, as if theirs were the only interests that mattered. 98 years later, this is the first ever that residents are being included in planning in any way. However, BDU vested interests continue to expect to be treated as if they are the primary or sole stakeholders. They are not.
Council member Yates, a strong BDU advocate, in the Jan 12, 2023 study session, pushed to stack the CWG with vested interests regardless of their degree of vesting (e.g. a flight school instructure that works a few hours per week or a business where some portion of profit comes from the airport). In Yates' world, non vested interest concerns would be fewer and thus count less.
A committee with 10 vested interests and 2 community members is NOT reflective, it is biased. Assume 1/100 of community members are vested interests. Then a reflective representation would include 100 non vested interest members for every vested interest. While this argument may seem preposterous on its face, it clearly demonstrates how currently biased forces work in favor of vested interests and against the community.
From the City website:
Comments on Jan 12, 2023 Council study session
Kimley-Horn provided some intial results to the Boulder City Council on Jan 12, 2023. A link to the video of the Study Session is below.
KH has established a goal for the Community Conversation: to identify alternatives for the airport's future, and then to identify the preferred alternative.
Two City Council members, Yates and Benjamin, (Matt Benjamin may be a pilot), objected to the term of "alternatives". Apparently to them the term has a negative connotation. It's pretty clear that these two members want BDU to be managed just as it is now. They want to make sure that 'status quo' is an option (possibly an "alternative"??) for the airport.
'Status quo' - what does that mean? Status quo means unregulated growth. For example, the airport grew 20 - 25% between 2018 and 2022. That growth was not described in the 2007 MP. It just happened. It happened because it suited airport users and the City has no local control and there are no limiting factors to the airport usage and operations.
Yates and Bemjamin objected to the categories 'on-airport' and 'off-airport' stakeholders. They don't offer a better alternative, but here's one: "vested interest" and "no vested interest". Every since the airport has existed, up until now, it's growth and development have been steered solely by vested interests.
KH has established a goal for the Community Conversation: to identify alternatives for the airport's future, and then to identify the preferred alternative.
Two City Council members, Yates and Benjamin, (Matt Benjamin may be a pilot), objected to the term of "alternatives". Apparently to them the term has a negative connotation. It's pretty clear that these two members want BDU to be managed just as it is now. They want to make sure that 'status quo' is an option (possibly an "alternative"??) for the airport.
'Status quo' - what does that mean? Status quo means unregulated growth. For example, the airport grew 20 - 25% between 2018 and 2022. That growth was not described in the 2007 MP. It just happened. It happened because it suited airport users and the City has no local control and there are no limiting factors to the airport usage and operations.
Yates and Bemjamin objected to the categories 'on-airport' and 'off-airport' stakeholders. They don't offer a better alternative, but here's one: "vested interest" and "no vested interest". Every since the airport has existed, up until now, it's growth and development have been steered solely by vested interests.