District judge dismisses Boulder's lawsuit against Jeffco airport; officials seek discussion
The judge found that Jefferson County could impose noise restrictions on the airport, but determined the court could not order Jefferson County to take the steps, as 'any such order would constitute local regulation of an area preempted by the federal government.'
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'This court decision is unfortunate, but it is not going to stop the Town and Boulder County from taking all legal steps available to them to protect their residents,' the municipalities said in a joint release on Friday.
According to the airport, it was the third busiest in Colorado as of 2022, and is owned and operated by Jefferson County. The airport first opened for general aviation and flight schools in 1960, and according to Federal Aviation Administration data, there were about 147,408 flights recorded in 2024.
The numerous flights have been a headache for nearby residents who have complained about the noise, the leaded fuels used by some pilots and potential devaluation of their properties.
It came to a head in March 2024, with the town of Superior and Boulder County filing a lawsuit against the airport and Jefferson County. The suit alleged that residents couldn't sleep, work or keep their windows open because of the constant disturbance created by the airport's operations.
Jefferson County responded to the lawsuit at the time by noting the airport is subject to federal laws that require the airport to be available for 'aircraft operations, including those using leaded fuel, those that make noise, and those engaged in touch-and-go and similar operations.'
'It is not a legal option for the airport to mandate a reduction in those operations,' the county continued. 'The County believes that the Community Noise Roundtable is a valuable venue for these discussions and will continue to work with community members to address their concerns where viable and legal options exist.'
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Touch-and-go operations refer to a drill done by pilots in training, where they land the plane and take off again without coming to a complete stop. The mayor of Superior told FOX31 in 2024 that the maneuver is loud and leads to lead-particulate exposure.
According to Jefferson County, when the airport was built, the area was mostly farmland, but over time, Broomfield, Louisville, Superior, Westminster and other municipalities have seen population growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Broomfield County has experienced a 5.7% population increase as of July 1, 2024, compared to April 1, 2020. The bureau's data shows that Jefferson County has shrunk by about 0.8% in the same time.
'The Town and Boulder County are disappointed with the court's ruling and are considering all options available to them, including appeal, to protect their residents. In addition, the Town and Boulder County are, again, asking Jefferson County to sit down and discuss a collaborative approach to assisting all communities negatively affected by the Airport,' Superior and Boulder County said in their joint release. 'The FAA and the court have made it clear that Jefferson County has the tools necessary to address this important issue and thus it is imperative that Jefferson County begin actively taking steps to protect the communities suffering from the negative impacts of touch-and-go operations.'
FOX31 reached out to Jefferson County for its response on the matter, but has not yet received a reply.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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