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Proposed private airstrip near Franktown has some concerned
A Franktown resident is asking Douglas County commissioners for permission to fly a small airplane in and out of his property up to 45 times per month.
By By: Christine McManus
A Franktown resident is asking Douglas County commissioners for permission to fly a small airplane in and out of his property up to 45 times per month.
County planners are reviewing Larry Romrell's application for a special-use permit. Romrell wants to use about 26 acres of his 1,100-acre property as an airstrip.
Only Romrell and his guests would use the private airstrip, which would remain a hay field, the application said. No formal runway would be constructed, and the airstrip would be used only during the day, the application said.
The regional office of the Federal Aviation Administration said it had no objections to the proposal. The FAA said it considered ground safety and surrounding air traffic patterns from Centennial, Colorado Springs and Denver International airports.
Several neighbors sent letters to the county, both for and against the permit. Neighbors within a mile were preliminarily notified of the airstrip proposal as part of the county's process of reviewing a special-use permit application, said planning director Peter Italiano.
Neighbors who are concerned about the permit are likely uninformed, Italiano said. Because the permit would allow no more than 45 flights per month, the effect would be innocuous, Italiano said. Douglas County agricultural zoning allows private airstrips.
Romrell renamed the property Reed Hollow Ranch. Historically, the property was known as the Newton Ranch. Romrell is reportedly a cable television executive and runs a herd of cattle on the ranch.
The proposed airstrip is just south of Russellville Road and Colorado 83, and is less than two miles southeast of the main Franktown intersection at Colorado 83 and 86. The proposed airstrip is about a mile south of Franktown Elementary School.
Small, private, lightweight aircraft would take off and land in northwest/southeast directions, the application said.
The original application for the special-use permit, filed with the county this summer, said the proposed airstrip was four miles from Franktown. The original application, reviewed by the FAA also said that the airstrip was 2,600 feet long, not 2,000 feet.
Some Franktown residents learned of the proposed airstrip from a bulletin posted in the local post office last month. The post office eventually took the notice down.
Neighbor Richard Savage, a pilot, said he has multiple objections to the proposed airstrip. He said the proposed airstrip is too close to Franktown. He said the application should list what type of aircraft would be permitted because some light aircraft would need more room to take off.
Several neighbors said they do not want the noise and safety risk. The application said that the airstrip is more than 800 feet from bordering properties and would not present a noise problem.
The reason airstrips are allowed in agricultural zoning is at the heart of the debate, said Deerfield Homeowners' Association President Stacey M. Mosko.
"Private aircraft were historically used in the West because ranches were severely isolated from other means of transportation," Mosko said. "With Interstate 25 located 15 miles west, Colorado 83 and 86 in the immediate area and Centennial Airport 20 miles north, the ranch has excellent and immediate transportation linkages."
Another neighbor wrote in favor of the airstrip, with conditions.
"We have had an excellent rapport with the Romrell family and look forward indeed to maintaining that relationship," said David Ayers. "Being civic-minded the Romrells have been, from the outset, most sensitive to the environment as well as the surrounding community."
Ayers suggested the following three conditions. Only single-engine airplanes should be allowed, with no more than 30 flights per month. No runway lights should be allowed; making the airstrip a daytime operation. Finally, Ayers said, the special-use permit should not carry with it the deed of the property if Romrell sells.
Romrell could not be reached for comment. William E. Payne & Associates engineering firm represents Romrell. Attempts to contact the firm were unsuccessful.
County planners are reviewing Larry Romrell's application for a special-use permit. Romrell wants to use about 26 acres of his 1,100-acre property as an airstrip.
Only Romrell and his guests would use the private airstrip, which would remain a hay field, the application said. No formal runway would be constructed, and the airstrip would be used only during the day, the application said.
The regional office of the Federal Aviation Administration said it had no objections to the proposal. The FAA said it considered ground safety and surrounding air traffic patterns from Centennial, Colorado Springs and Denver International airports.
Several neighbors sent letters to the county, both for and against the permit. Neighbors within a mile were preliminarily notified of the airstrip proposal as part of the county's process of reviewing a special-use permit application, said planning director Peter Italiano.
Neighbors who are concerned about the permit are likely uninformed, Italiano said. Because the permit would allow no more than 45 flights per month, the effect would be innocuous, Italiano said. Douglas County agricultural zoning allows private airstrips.
Romrell renamed the property Reed Hollow Ranch. Historically, the property was known as the Newton Ranch. Romrell is reportedly a cable television executive and runs a herd of cattle on the ranch.
The proposed airstrip is just south of Russellville Road and Colorado 83, and is less than two miles southeast of the main Franktown intersection at Colorado 83 and 86. The proposed airstrip is about a mile south of Franktown Elementary School.
Small, private, lightweight aircraft would take off and land in northwest/southeast directions, the application said.
The original application for the special-use permit, filed with the county this summer, said the proposed airstrip was four miles from Franktown. The original application, reviewed by the FAA also said that the airstrip was 2,600 feet long, not 2,000 feet.
Some Franktown residents learned of the proposed airstrip from a bulletin posted in the local post office last month. The post office eventually took the notice down.
Neighbor Richard Savage, a pilot, said he has multiple objections to the proposed airstrip. He said the proposed airstrip is too close to Franktown. He said the application should list what type of aircraft would be permitted because some light aircraft would need more room to take off.
Several neighbors said they do not want the noise and safety risk. The application said that the airstrip is more than 800 feet from bordering properties and would not present a noise problem.
The reason airstrips are allowed in agricultural zoning is at the heart of the debate, said Deerfield Homeowners' Association President Stacey M. Mosko.
"Private aircraft were historically used in the West because ranches were severely isolated from other means of transportation," Mosko said. "With Interstate 25 located 15 miles west, Colorado 83 and 86 in the immediate area and Centennial Airport 20 miles north, the ranch has excellent and immediate transportation linkages."
Another neighbor wrote in favor of the airstrip, with conditions.
"We have had an excellent rapport with the Romrell family and look forward indeed to maintaining that relationship," said David Ayers. "Being civic-minded the Romrells have been, from the outset, most sensitive to the environment as well as the surrounding community."
Ayers suggested the following three conditions. Only single-engine airplanes should be allowed, with no more than 30 flights per month. No runway lights should be allowed; making the airstrip a daytime operation. Finally, Ayers said, the special-use permit should not carry with it the deed of the property if Romrell sells.
Romrell could not be reached for comment. William E. Payne & Associates engineering firm represents Romrell. Attempts to contact the firm were unsuccessful.
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