SOS | SAVE OUR SKIES ALLIANCE
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  • Affected Areas
    • Arapahoe County >
      • City of Aurora
      • City of Centennial
      • City of Cherry Hills Village
      • City of Englewood
      • City of Glendale
      • City of Greenwood Village
      • City of Littleton
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    • City and County of Broomfield
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      • City of Erie
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      • City of Lafayette
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      • City of Louisville
      • Town of Superior
      • Unincorporated Boulder County
    • Jefferson County >
      • City of Arvada
      • City of Edgewater
      • City of Golden
      • City of Lakewood
      • City of Westminster
      • City of Wheat Ridge
  • Front Range Airports
    • Boulder Municipal Airport | BDU
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    • Erie Municipal Airport | EIK
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    • Greely-Weld County Airport | GXY
    • Meadow Lake Airport | FLY
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City of Westminster

Your Local Representatives

Jefferson County Commissioners
   commish@jeffco.us
Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Jefferson County Commissioner, District 1
  
tktharp@jeffco.us
Andy Kerr, Jefferson County Commissioner, District 2
  
akerr@jeffco.us
Lesley Dahlkemper, Jefferson County Commissioner, District 3
  
ldahlkem@jeffco.us
Rocky Mountain Metro Airport Community Noise Roundtable Representative
   kskulley@cityofwestminster.us
   llsmith@cityofwestminster.us
Westminster City Council
   Contact Form
Anita Seitz, Mayor
   aseitz@cityofwestminster.us
David DeMott, Mayor Pro Tem
   ddemott@cityofwestminster.us
Rich Seymour, Westminster City Council
   rseymour@cityofwestminster.us
Kathryn Skulley, Westminster City Council
   kskulley@cityofwestminster.us
Lindsey Smith, Westminster City Council
   llsmith@cityofwestminster.us
Jon L. Voelz, Westminster City Council
   jvoelz@cityofwestminster.us
Ed Pearlmutter, US Congress, 7th District
   Contact Form
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Michael F. Bennet, US Senate
    Contact Form
John Hickenlooper, US Senate
   Contact Form
Senator Faith Winter, Senate District 24
    faith.winter.senate@state.co.us
Representative Shannon Bird, House District 35
    Shannon.bird.house@state.co.us
Senator Rachel Zenzinger, Senate District 19
   rachel.zenzinger.senate@state.co.us
Representative Lindsey Daugherty, House District 29
  
lindsey.daugherty.house@state.co.us

Issue Overview

The city of Westminster is divided by two counties: Adams county, which makes up the larger eastern side of the city while a smaller portion to the west is in Jefferson county. A review of the records suggests that the city has been willing to sacrifice the health and well-being of its Jefferson county residents to become an eager partner in Jefferson County’s ambitious plans for the growth of Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (RMMA, formerly known as Jefferson County airport). 

Jefferson County set the standard in 1979 when it permitted development of a residential area just east of the airport despite objections from the FAA. The FAA objected to development of residential areas in the approach and departure zones, citing danger and excessive noise from airplanes flying overhead. In fact, the FAA had voiced the same concerns when the area was zoned for residential development 10 years earlier. In making this decision, Jeffco Commissioners overrode its own planning commission which had unanimously recommended denial of the plat because of the anticipated noise problem They had been following the FAA’s advice that noise levels could rise to 90 decibels, far exceeding the 55 decibel limit which constitutes a public nuisance. Although developers agreed to use soundproofing features in the construction of the homes, no such provisions were ever mandated for builders. 

As Westminster grew and annexed previously unincorporated areas of Jefferson County, they created an alliance with Jefferson County in fulfilling its plan for growth of the airport. The 2006 Northeast Comprehensive Development Plan lists the following item as an Intent or purpose of the plan:
Protect the economic viability of the Jefferson County Airport by allowing development within the Jefferson County Airport Critical Zone that is compatible with the function of this Critical Zone.
Jefferson County returned the favor by favoring flight paths that concentrated operations in certain areas of Westminster to minimize the inevitable (and politically negative) reactions from the Westminster citizens. Westminster enjoys a position on the powerful Airport Advisory Board (AAB) to ensure that RMMA plays a part in the city’s plan for its own economic development.  Stephanie Troller, a member of Westminster’s Economic Development Office, is one of eight AAB members. The AAB’s stated mission is to serve as the primary advisor and advocate for the airport in its plan for growth and development. There is no mention of public welfare in the AAB’s purpose or duties.
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Make Your Voice Heard!

Westminster City Council members have listened to complaints from their citizens about RMMA for many years, both in public and private meetings. They offer sympathy but little else. Their intent on the Community Noise Roundtable is clear. They perceive that, with fewer citizens to appease than Boulder County and other affected areas, they don’t have to disrupt their relationship with Jefferson County to deal with the significant negative impacts of RMMA (noise, air and LEAD pollution) on their own constituents. Participate in public comments during the Roundtable and Airport Advisory Board meetings. Let them know just exactly how these flight operations are affecting you. Contact your local representatives, listed above, and tell them the same.
Brought to you by concerned citizens from all across the Front Range and beyond.
  • Background
    • FAQs
    • News + Updates
  • Affected Areas
    • Arapahoe County >
      • City of Aurora
      • City of Centennial
      • City of Cherry Hills Village
      • City of Englewood
      • City of Glendale
      • City of Greenwood Village
      • City of Littleton
      • City of Sheridan
    • City and County of Broomfield
    • Boulder County >
      • City of Boulder
      • City of Erie
      • City of Gunbarrel
      • City of Lafayette
      • City of Longmont
      • City of Louisville
      • Town of Superior
      • Unincorporated Boulder County
    • Jefferson County >
      • City of Arvada
      • City of Edgewater
      • City of Golden
      • City of Lakewood
      • City of Westminster
      • City of Wheat Ridge
  • Front Range Airports
    • Boulder Municipal Airport | BDU
    • Centennial Airport | APA
    • Colorado Springs Municipal Airport | COS
    • Denver International Airport | DIA
    • Erie Municipal Airport | EIK
    • Front Range Airport | CFO
    • Greely-Weld County Airport | GXY
    • Meadow Lake Airport | FLY
    • Northern Colorado Regional Airport | FNL
    • Parkland Estates Airpark
    • Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport | BJC
    • Van Aire Skyport |
    • Vance Brand Municipal Airport | LMO
  • Issues
    • Plane Crashes
    • Lead Exposure
    • Health Impacts
    • Noise Pollution
    • Economic Impact
    • Environmental Impact
    • Security Issues
    • Proposed Solutions
  • Press
    • Plane Crashes
    • Media Coverage
    • aviation perspectives
  • Contact
    • Get Involved