Adams County says Colorado Air and Space Port predevelopment on schedule as water, power studies continue

Adams County officials and private-sector partners told county commissioners on a recent study-session that predevelopment work at the Colorado Air and Space Port is on schedule and that utility planning—especially water and power—will determine the pace of future development.

Alicia, an Adams County staff member leading the presentation, told commissioners, "we'll be back monthly to give progress reports," and said the predevelopment agreement (PDA) executed in February remains on its 18-month timetable toward negotiating a master development agreement (MDA).

The county and Altitude X have completed several early deliverables, Alicia said, including property surveys, a site assessment and mineral-interest coordination. Gisela, a county project lead, said those deliverables are informing ongoing MDA negotiations and the conceptual land-use plan scheduled for Nov. 15. "The primary intention... is to develop that conceptual land use plan," she said, calling it a critical guide for how the property will be developed.

Why it matters: Utilities and site studies will shape whether and when large aerospace or manufacturing tenants can locate at CASP. County and private speakers emphasized a phased approach to utilities to allow some near-term tenancy while planning for long-term needs.

Water planning and timelines

Rob, a project team member working on water planning, outlined a layered supply strategy: maintain and optimize the existing on-site well and distribution for near-term tenants; use nearby private suppliers such as Tallgrass for medium-term supply; and connect to a long-term Weld County reservoir pipeline. Rob said the Weld County reservoir project is "on track to have the state dam permit fourth quarter of this year, and looking for construction to start, quarter 1 of next year." He added the long-term solutions would support build-out beyond on-site groundwater.

County staff said some short-term solutions could include drilling additional wells or tapping groundwater the county controls, but cautioned that new groundwater infrastructure would be costly and would require regulatory steps. Rob said near-term options could supply "up to 1 to 2,000,000 gallons a day" for a large user if needed.

Commissioners pressed for clarity about how the CASP-focused utility work will tie into a broader countywide water analysis the county has commissioned. Kristen, a county utilities staff member, said the PDA-focused utility studies are "meant to answer" on-site capacity and that the broader county study covers multiple vendors and a wide scale; she and others said the CASP analyses are being coordinated with—but are more granular than—the countywide water study.

Power and other utilities

Speakers said power and water are the top priorities for feasibility. Jeff, who described the airport's recent infrastructure and business recruitment work, said the county is pursuing modernization projects including replacing 40-year-old underground fuel tanks with aboveground tanks and preparing for industry shifts away from leaded avgas. He said the airport anticipates being "ahead of the curve" on unleaded alternatives the industry is developing.

Presenters said utility studies under the PDA will include power, water, wastewater, fiber, and stormwater; the studies will be iterative and will continue to be updated as the land-use concepts and tenant needs evolve. County staff and Altitude X representatives emphasized that certain elements—especially power and water—may be sequenced earlier in the study process to avoid losing early development opportunities.

Private partner, workforce and research partnerships

Altitude X, selected through the county's P3 solicitation, is negotiating the MDA while Altitude X and partners described early marketing and tenant-recruitment work. Jack Buffington, who identified himself as director of the supply chain program at the University of Denver, described a planned DU "center of excellence" to support workforce, applied research and collaboration across regional universities and industry. "Collaborations with operational excellence leads to industrial growth," Buffington said, noting DU is underwriting part of the center and seeking to coordinate with other local universities.

Concerns about timing and incentives

Commissioners repeatedly pressed staff about timing and the risk of losing opportunities while studies and MDA negotiations continue. One commissioner asked whether the utility analyses would miss market opportunities if they last the full 12 months allocated for MDA negotiations. County staff said the PDA process is iterative and that the county and Altitude X have planned for "early opportunities" that could proceed before final MDA execution.

Multiple speakers also raised incentives and competitiveness. A commissioner noted Colorado's state-level incentives are less generous than some other states and said the county should not be expected to fill a state's incentive gap. County staff said economic-development incentives and financing structures are part of MDA discussions and will be considered alongside private financing options.

Next steps and public engagement

County staff said they will return to the board in September for a property takedown review and financial discussions and that monthly progress updates will continue. The conceptual land-use plan is due Nov. 15 and the parties expect to complete the MDA negotiation within the PDA's 18-month window, barring amendments. Presenters also said outreach and a marketing strategy will accompany the MDA so the community can respond as specific development proposals are refined.

What was not decided

No formal votes or final agreements were taken at the study session. Staff and Altitude X are continuing negotiations and studies; county leaders said key decisions about sites, infrastructure funding and incentive packages will be set in future actions tied to the MDA or future permitting steps.

Credits and attribution

The account above is based on remarks during the Adams County study session on the Colorado Air and Space Port by Adams County staff (Alicia; Gisela; Kristen), airport staff (Jeff), water planning team members (Rob), Altitude X/partner representatives (Garrett; John), and University of Denver representative Jack Buffington.