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Meadowlake Airport challenges county approval of nearby wind turbine, files for injunction
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Summary
Meadowlake Airport staff told the Colorado Aeronautical Board the airport filed a court injunction after El Paso County planning administratively approved a wind turbine roughly 2,500 feet from the runway centerline; staff say FAA Part 77 evaluation shows the turbine penetrates obstruction surfaces and would affect approaches and visual aids.
Dave Elliott of Meadowlake Airport told the Colorado Aeronautical Board on Jan. 27 that the airport has initiated court action to stop construction of a wind turbine approved administratively by El Paso County planners.
Elliott said the County approved the turbine without public hearing, despite the airport’s assertion that Colorado Revised Statute 43‑10‑113 requires compatible land‑use planning around airports. He said a federal Part 77 obstruction evaluation from the FAA indicates the proposed turbine penetrates protected surfaces, would affect instrument and visual approaches (including circling approaches), and could invalidate visual approach lighting such as PAPIs.
"We immediately filed with the court for an injunction to stop construction on it," Elliott said, adding that the turbine installation would affect the airport’s instrument approaches, visual approaches and PAPI lighting because of terrain and obstacle proximity. He said Meadowlake planned to provide a fuller briefing after the court filing.
Board members acknowledged Meadowlake’s intent to be a test case and reserved deeper discussion pending the legal process. Todd Green and division staff noted the board’s awareness of multiple airports facing similar issues and welcomed a later, fuller briefing once the litigation proceeds.
No vote or board action was taken; the item was presented as an informational briefing and a notice of legal action by the airport operator.
