Adams County approves predevelopment agreement with Altitude X for Colorado Air and Space Port

Adams County commissioners on Feb. 4 approved a resolution authorizing an 18‑month predevelopment agreement with Altitude X to study a master development arrangement for the Colorado Air and Space Port. The vote was 5‑0.

The predevelopment phase will fund due diligence and planning for roughly a thousand acres at the site, county staff said, to determine utilities, infrastructure needs, private investment opportunities and workforce and education partnerships that would support aviation and aerospace uses.

Why it matters: The county described the PDA as the first formal step toward a long‑term public‑private partnership intended to spur private investment, create jobs, and expand education and training pipelines for aerospace careers. Alicia Reese, senior deputy county manager, said the PDA is "the outline of a journey we'll be going on over the next 18 months to set the boundaries for negotiations" and to provide a foundation for a future master development agreement.

What was presented: Jeff Kloska, director of the Colorado Air and Space Port, told commissioners the county aims to make the facility self‑sustaining as an enterprise fund and to rebalance aviation and aerospace operations. John Roitman, president and CEO of Altitude X, described his firm as an aviation and infrastructure team with experience at major U.S. airports and said Altitude X has early investor interest in infrastructure funds and private credit to underwrite projects. Roitman said Altitude X has begun tenant outreach to define what aviation and aerospace companies would need at the site.

Commissioner questions focused on workforce, infrastructure and educational partnerships. Kloska and Roitman said planning work would address power, water, wastewater and transportation access; Roitman also emphasized workforce development and university partnerships as a draw for potential tenants.

The motion: A commissioner moved to approve the resolution authorizing the predevelopment agreement; the board voted 5‑0 to approve.

Next steps: County staff said the PDA will guide negotiations toward a master development agreement that would return to the board for formal authorization if both parties agree. The PDA also foresees work on infrastructure plans and tenant outreach during the 18‑month period.

Quotes: "We're at this juncture here today," Roitman said. "Our vision is really informed by the space industry and the aviation industry." Jeff Kloska said the PDA is intended to address infrastructure needs and increase the economic impact of the airport and spaceport.

Ending: The board congratulated staff and the Altitude X team and invited them to join a photo at the dais following the vote. The resolution passed 5‑0.