The Airport Community Conversation began from an identified need to have a broader community conversation about the future of the airport site before the next Airport Master Plan update, which is a separate, FAA-prescribed process. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, which guides long-range planning in Boulder, states:
Policy 6.23: Municipal Airport
Boulder Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport that has been in existence since 1928. The airport will continue to ensure it meets the needs of the community by providing a safe environment for aviation business and business-related travel, scientific and research flights, recreation and tourism, flight training and vocational education, aerial fire-fighting, emergency medical flights as well as flood and other disaster-related support for the city and county. The city will seek to mitigate noise, safety and other impacts of airport operation while assuring that new development in proximity will be compatible with existing and planned use of the airport. 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
In addition to this direction to explore alternative uses, the Airport Community Conversation will consider city goals and policies included in the East Boulder Subcommunity Plan and Transportation Master Plan, while also recognizing the city’s commitments to the FAA and the relationship between the airport and the broader Boulder community.
The Airport Community Conversation will help the city understand the community's vision for the future of the airport.