The Boulder Chamber announced last week that it is “firmly opposed” to proposed ballot measures that would decommission the city’s airport and use the land to build housing. The organization, which represents businesses across Boulder County, is the latest to take a stance in a thorny debate that is shaping up to be the most contentious issue of this year’s local election.
“There are significant economic vitality, transportation and public safety benefits of access to this community asset that far outweigh the red-herring argument for converting our municipal airport to future housing,” the chamber said in a statement.
Earlier this month, organizers with the ballot measure committee, Airport Neighborhood Campaign, gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the November ballot to decommission the Boulder Municipal Airport “as soon as reasonably feasible.” A separate but related measure to redevelop the land into a “sustainable, mixed-use neighborhood” also qualified for the ballot.
The Boulder Municipal Airport began as a dirt landing strip in 1928 in the city’s northeast corner. It is used primarily by private pilots, trainees, glider pilots and scientific researchers, according to surveys. Proponents of closing the airport cite concerns over noise, potential lead pollution and need for land to build housing.
In its statement, the chamber referred to decommissioning the airport as a risky “legal adventure.” The Federal Aviation Administration has given the city grant money to buy land and maintain landing strips. An FAA official has told the city that grant assurances for land purchased with federal aid do not expire and that the land must be used “in perpetuity for its originally intended purpose.”
However, proponents of closing the airport have said they have reviewed the city’s contracts with the FAA and argue they do not require the city to keep the airport open in perpetuity and that terms related to repayment of grant money for land purchases have expired.
The Boulder City Council is scheduled to receive an update from city officials on the future scenarios of the airport at a July 25 meeting. Later this summer, the Boulder City Council will decide which ballot measures appear on the November ballot.
For once I can agree w/the Chamber.
If they succeed in closing this airport Boulder will lose some of its identity and potential for future growth
It it goes away the city will NEVER be able to have another one
I’m tired of hearing about more housing overbuilding creates it’s own set of issues
Our infrastructure cannot handle more growth
They should think about a rt 36 bypass instead
This should not be a surprise anyone and it’s too bad that the Chamber is still seen as simply an organization that “represents businesses” when it’s really a strongly right wing organization opposed to climate and pollution cuts.
Local chambers of commerce are generally independent, but often follow similar politics to the US Chamber of Commerce. The US Chamber of Commerce has an abysmal climate and environmental record. For example, they are rated “E” (just above F), which is worse than Chevron for example.
https://lobbymap.org/influencer/US-Chamber-of-Commerce/projectlink/US-Chamber-of-Commerce-In-Climate-Change
The best choice for the health and safety of Boulder it to close the airport.
Mike, the Boulder Chamber is emphatically NOT a member of the US Chamber of Commerce specifically for the reasons you cite.
The airport doesn’t serve as home base for any major air tanker units. Those are all based at Rocky Mountain Metro. Helicopters can’t carry enough fire retardant to make a significant impact. How much did helicopter tankers help with the Marshall fire (answer: zero). The vast majority of the air traffic from it are joy-riders (recreational users) . If the airport is so essential to Boulder’s economy then relocate it to a less populated area (like Denver relocated Stapleton airport to DIA) so it isn’t constantly inundating residents with lead and noise pollution and posing a hazard (yes, planes do crash which is why airports should be located far from population centers).