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Buena Vista trustees stand up airport Design Review Committee, approve hangar lease and AIP entitlement transfer
Summary
The Town of Buena Vista board approved creating a Design Review Committee (DRC) to oversee airport development, adopted a new ground lease for Hangar C1, and agreed to waive certain FAA AIP entitlements to other municipal airports, moves meant to prepare the municipal airport for expanded hangar development and federal funding coordination.
The Buena Vista Board of Trustees on April 28 voted to create and staff an Airport Design Review Committee and approved multiple airport-related measures intended to prepare the municipal airport for increased hangar development and federal grant coordination.
Mayor Libby Fay presided as airport advisory board members described a 2026 function-and-focus plan emphasizing hangar construction, safety and coordination with FAA and CDOT. Chris Martez, representing the airport advisory board, said the board wants to "support airport staff and town staff in getting ready for future development, construction and ultimately expansion at the airport." (Chris Martez, Airport Advisory Board member.)
Trustees discussed how the municipal code delegates quasi-judicial authority for initial development review to a Design Review Committee (chapter 18, development review process, §18-2-93). A trustee cited the code language noting the DRC "will review and approve plans and specifications of any development" on municipal airport property and that appeals of DRC decisions go to the Board of Trustees. After clarifying composition (three regular voting members and one alternate as proposed), the trustees adopted Resolution 31 to appoint the DRC and stood it up to process pending applications.
The trustees also approved termination of an existing ground lease and execution of a new ground lease for Hangar C1 with tenant Wes Erickson’s Arc Valley Hangar LLC. Staff said the new template sets a 25-year primary term with two 10-year options to allow more frequent review after the initial 25 years. The trustees voted in favor of Resolution 33 to approve the new ground lease.
Separately, trustees approved waiving certain Airport Improvement Program (AIP) entitlements to other municipal airports as part of routine inter-airport entitlement sharing tracked by the FAA; the board recorded a roll-call approval for Resolution 34. Staff said the FAA tracks and returns entitlements on a regular cycle.
What this means: The DRC will give trustees an earlier, specialized review of development proposals on town-owned airport land and is intended to speed permitting and conform projects with FAA and town requirements while providing an appellate path back to trustees. The new ground lease and entitlement actions are steps to enable private hangar development and leverage federal funding opportunities.
Next steps: The DRC will convene to adopt its statement of purpose and procedures and begin application reviews; staff said they will report back as applications are submitted and requested trustees arrange familiarization (site visits and maps) so board members understand where proposed hangars sit on the airport property.
