Westminster staff to submit comment on Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Taxiway K; council seeks faster unleaded‑fuel option

City planning staff and councilors reviewed Jefferson County's referral for two airport projects at a post‑meeting study session April 28: construction of a new Taxiway K and reconstruction of a portion of Taxiway D at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

Staff said Taxiway K is in the airport's master plan and is intended to provide access to southwestern airport property for aviation‑related manufacturing, maintenance and private hangar space; it is a taxiway — not a runway — and is not itself a takeoff/landing surface. "I just wanna be really, really clear for everyone who's listening: a taxiway is very different from a runway. Planes cannot take off and land from a taxiway," Planning Manager John McConnell said.

Councilors asked technical questions and sought assurances the project would not substantially increase flight operations. Staff said the county and airport expect Taxiway K to open property for economic development (manufacturing, MRO and hangars) and do not expect a significant increase in takeoffs and landings.

Councilor Elizabeth Ireland asked staff to reflect a target date the airport had mentioned for installing an unleaded fuel option. City staff agreed to add language noting the airport's goal to have an unleaded fueling station available by July and to describe the expected uptake period for aircraft conversion.

Next steps: staff will finalize a referral comment letter with the requested edits, send it to Jefferson County/airport staff and supply council with a copy; staff said the airport had requested a response in time for their schedule and that the city will transmit the letter the next day.