Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (commonly called Jeffco) will undergo an FAA Part 150 Noise Compatibility Planning process to address increasingly loud calls for the closure of the airport over noise complaints and, more recently, leaded avgas emissions. It’s a formal process designed to determine the overall noise signature of the facility and identify mitigation efforts. “Our goal is to be as good of a neighbor as we can,” Airport Director Eric Dahl said. “To listen to what people are saying and try to figure out how we can minimize what impacts we can and to the degree that we’re able to.” A well-organized group of anti-airport activists has been lobbying against the airport for years and there have been lawsuits launched also.
Public input is key to the overall process, and the first phase is mostly about analyzing the thousands of noise complaints already registered. It will also measure sound levels around the airport to determine where excessive noise for the land use is encountered. For the purpose of the studies, the FAA has set a “day-night level” (DNL) of an average of 65 decibels of airport noise to be the trigger point for mitigation. That’s the sound level of a “busy office” or “normal conversation.” A noise level map will be generated by the data and areas with land use incompatible to noise at those levels. Then the authorities can implement mitigation measures to try to get all areas under the “65 DNL.”
While all the data will be useful, a significant component of the process is political. The noisy protests from neighbors have caught the ears of government reps at all levels and the media. Democratic State Representative Kyle Brown told the local NBC affiliate that Jeffco bought some good will with its willingness to take part in the process. “Just standing here in Superior, you can tell we have serious concerns about the noise contours in this area,” Brown said. “We have concerns about the impact that noise is having on the community.” The process will take about two years.
Not just that one. KFLY is also. The city and surrounding areas are encroaching on the airport. With a land grab vengeance. Colorado is getting overwhelmed with people fleeing California. Their political pull and power will soon show its ugly self. Stay tuned…
This is far from being a “noise study”, this is just the next step in the scorched earth policy of anarchists, who by the way, built their houses long after Jeffco airport was there out in the middle of no where. The only thing acceptable to these people, is the airport closing, and being bulldozed like Chicago Meigs was. I flew out of Denver Spaceport for 32 years before leaving that state, I have seen how rabid these people can be.
I whole heartedly agree with performing a noise study and the creation of an “impact map”. When it is published, all homes and businesses in the areas that exceed the limits should then be demolished and removed at the owner’s expense. If the people complaining about the airport want extreme measures taken, perhaps this concept might be considered.
Fair is fair.
Do an ecological impact study on developers who are destroying that sensitive high plain valley area with unchecked construction growth.
This post wins the interwebs today…
Hahahah. What a joke. Move in near an existing airport and want it closed. NIMBY
Much? Oh and 65db “a busy office” noise level? What a joke. The airport is being victimized by “we, the people” activist clowns. Good luck to this awesome reliever airport, there gonna need it. These schmos will continue to spend their money in an effort to wear you down until they get their way. Sad.
When I was a kid, this airport was in the middle of the back of beyond…down a dirt road.
Many years later, our ranch was 30 air miles south of DIA – we could hear jets take off if the wind was from the north.
People are just dumb…probably why things are the way things are.
D
For those of you not in the CO/KBJC area the Colorado Pilots Association has been doing a lot on the advocacy for the impacted airports which can be found at Airport Advocacy - Colorado Pilots Association - many of these articles are curated for not just the local pilots, but for organizations who may not be “airport friendly” so they can find a good source of information. The advocacy isn’t just noise related, but also fuel related, including both the pro’s and cons as well as the challenges.
There are many organizations statewide that are working on this from an aviation perspective and the CPA is just one of them.
It’ll be interesting to see how the community reacts when they find out the “noise study” involves no microphones - and there are legitimate reasons microphones aren’t involved. The Town of Superior has noise stations being used around the community to do their own “study” which does include microphones.
For those of you not in the know, the community in Superior is tracking every aircraft operation out of BJC using ADSB and logging it. This is being done 24x7x365 and they are building a body of work to use for legal purposes yet to be seen.
I would be willing to bet that, behind all this organized effort, is a group of land developers who want the airport to close so they can turn the land into revenue producing urban sprawl. Anyone who built or bought a house around the airport in the last 20 years has to be either deaf or stupid, or both. The sales people selling lots or houses probably told prospective buyers not to worry, because the airport would be closing down soon. My question is why a noise survey was not done by the land developers before they built all the houses to see if home construction was appropriate within the vicinity of a long-established airport?
You have not chosen wisely.
The majority of colorados growth from migration is from TEXAS Gen Z is Moving to Colorado in Droves. Where Are They Coming From? | Westword
When it comes to local politicians and developers in bed with each other and the people that buy houses around airports, as George Carlin said: “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
Having flown out of Jeffco in the early 1960’s,
I can testify that the airport was in the middle of nowhere and that the town of Superior was not much more than a wide spot in the road.
I agree with Waldom’s post that the incompatible land use has to be removed, but that the town of Superior should be held responsible for correcting their error.
Rather than beat on the foolish homeowners for underestimating the noise impact of being under an airport approach, we should hold the town planning commission responsible for their faulty plan.
If airports were to actively sue irresponsible planning commissions for their ill conceived plans,
we wouldn’t lose so many airports to encroachment.
“Their political pull and power will soon show its ugly self.”
I think that ship sailed about 15 ears ago my friend. Colorado transitioned from red to purple to bright blue years back. Look at the balance of the legislature, the leftist politics of the governor, AG and Sec State along with the majority of state admin positions…long, long gone.
KBED was closed by an unholy alliance of noise nimby folks and a few “climate activists” for three hours 4/20/2024. At least one individual was convicted of trespassing and acquitted of other criminal charges, sentenced to one year probation.
Make no mistake. They are organized, well-lawyered and THEY ARE COMING FOR YOUR AIRPORT. That is unless your airport is way out in the boonies. Get ready.