COLORADO HOA SUES AIRPORT OVER NOISE

In December 2020, the Master Homeowners Association of Rock Creek, a residential community in Superior, Colorado, filed a lawsuit against Jefferson County Colorado, owner/operator of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) in Broomfield. The lawsuit originated over noise complaints from residents but also asserts that the avigation easement signed by property owners has since expired. The case is scheduled to be heard in Boulder County District Court beginning October 11, 2021.  

The homeowner’s group, airport management, and other stakeholders have established a noise roundtable, the purpose of which is to enable residents to voice complaints and to discuss possible solutions. FAA personnel from the Denver District Office and RMMA tower have also attended the meetings. They have provided residents a substantial amount of critical information regarding the control of the airspace around the airport, aircraft routing procedures, and standards, including the utmost importance of safety considerations.  

The Rock Creek subdivision is located northwest of the airport and sits squarely under the traffic pattern for the parallel runways 12L/R-30R/L. The number of complaints has risen significantly during the pandemic, likely because a greater number of people are working from home and are thus more aware of airport traffic. When plans for the subdivision were announced in the 1990s, the developer was put on notice by the airport that the placement was problematic for precisely the reason that has emerged over the past year.