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Resident raises airport noise, health concerns; mayor cites solar parking and runway upgrades
Summary
A Grand Junction resident urged the City Council to investigate aircraft noise and potential runway expansion. Mayor Cody Kennedy, who serves on the airport commission, described an ongoing solar-covered parking project, terminal and runway improvements, and offered to connect the resident with airport staff for follow-up.
A Grand Junction resident told the City Council she is hearing “multiple sonic blasts every day” from departing aircraft and asked the council to check whether the airport is using noise-abatement procedures and whether a proposed runway addition would increase noise for nearby neighborhoods.
The concern matters because the resident said aircraft noise is affecting quality of life and health for people living north of I‑70, and the city is simultaneously pursuing airport projects — including an expanded parking area with solar-covered canopies and runway and terminal improvements.
At the June meeting, the resident, identified only as Martha, said she and neighbors “experience multiple sonic blasts every day” and that she is worried the airport’s possible new runway “will only compound the problem.” She asked council to “please check with the airport and see if they're taking any steps to, any noise abatement procedures.”
Mayor Cody Kennedy, who said he serves on the airport commission, described recent commission activity and an unscheduled meeting about federal funding. Kennedy said the airport has secured funding to build covered parking with solar canopies for about 100 spaces and to double the size of the parking lot; he said that project is expected to be finished by Thanksgiving. He also said runway and terminal improvements are underway and offered to connect with the resident for follow-up: “maybe we can connect later, Martha, as far as that goes, and I can help you with that a bit.”
Kennedy told council the solar element came about after local conversation with a business, identifying Alastis Solar as involved in early discussions. He said the city intends the solar portion to be cost-neutral over time and to reduce utility costs for the airport. No formal council action or vote on noise-abatement policy or runway construction was taken during the meeting.
The record shows the mayor volunteered to link the resident with airport staff and commissioners for more information; no schedule or formal direction to staff was recorded at the meeting.
Short-term next steps are limited to informal follow-up: the mayor’s offer to connect the resident with airport commissioners and staff. The council did not vote on any airport-specific motions during this meeting.
