An open house is scheduled for July 10 to learn about a potential noise reduction strategy for Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
The open house will be at Omni Interlocken Hotel Centennial Ballroom, 500 Interlocken Boulevard in Broomfield, from 6 -7:30 p.m. The meeting will be an informational “come and go at your leisure” open house to learn about the airport’s Part 150 Study, according to airport officials.
Information boards will be available for review, and airport sponsor and consulting staff will be there to answer questions and gather input, an informational brochure states.
The Part 150 Airport Noise Study will develop modeled noise contours, a Noise Exposure Map and identify potentially incompatible land uses, according to Jefferson County, which owns and operates the airport.
According to Jefferson County, the study may also lead to the development of a Noise Compatibility Program. That requires an airport to not only identify and evaluate noise issues but also present to the FAA potential and actionable measures for noise abatement and/or mitigation, according to the Jefferson County website. There is also the opportunity for more community involvement through public open houses.
The FAA considers participation from adjacent jurisdictions to be an important part of a Part 150 study, according to the county.
The study, which began in the fall of 2024, is partially funded by an FAA Airport Improvement Program grant. The study is expected to take approximately two years to complete. Airport stakeholders should monitor the airport’s website for engagement opportunities in the first quarter of 2025, say officials.
Critics of the airport – including Westminster residents – have claimed persistent airport operations are damaging the local environment through noise and leaded fuel usage. The Westminster City Council has asked the Jefferson County Commissioners to put more restrictions on planes taking off and landing at the airport.
Between 1990 and 2023, airport operations increased at RMMA by about 98 % with the population of the surrounding communities increasing by around 72%.
Airport supporters point out that the facility contributes about 5,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in total economic impacts to the surrounding area.