An edition of the Littleton Independent
WEEK OF AUGUST 17, 2023
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 37
$2
Residents say aircraft noise from Centennial Airport has ‘gotten worse’
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Despite months of raising concerns about aircraft flying over residential areas surrounding Centennial Airport, residents say the issue of frequent traffic and noise persist. “I’ve been attending these meetings for the last, feels like close to a year. And I have to say, it hasn’t gotten better. It’s gotten worse,” said Amy Friedman, who lives in unincorporated Arapahoe County. She was among 11 residents who spoke during the Aug. 2 Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable meeting. The roundtable — made up of local elected officials from Arapahoe and Douglas counties, appointed community representatives, airport staff, and others — is meant to work with the airport to find ways to reduce and mitigate the impact of aircraft noise, according to its website. Although residents expressed frustration, members of the roundtable said progress has been made. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently joined a subgroup that involves
AUTO EXCELLENCE Students win national competition
On Aug. 2, 2023, members of the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable spoke with concerned residents. From left: Brad Pierce, chair of the roundtable, Alison Biggs, a Douglas County representative, Greenwood Village Councilmember Donna Johnston and Arapahoe County Commissioner Leslie Summey.
P2
NO TAX QUESTION
Arapahoe County to skip election P6
PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW
Centennial Airport leaders and flight schools to address community concerns. “That’s really positive progress,” said Centennial Airport Executive Director and CEO Mike Fronapfel. “We’re one of only a handful of airports in the country where the … FAA has come around and gone down this path, with setting up a technical committee to address
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19
some of the noise concerns.” Fronapfel encouraged community members to offer comments on the FAA’s noise policy review, given that the FAA extended the deadline for public comment to Sept. 29. Those interested in learning more can visit faa.gov/ noisepolicyreview. SEE AIRPORT, P10
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Local swimmer comes back P11
CENTENNIALCITIZEN.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
HANDS-ON HISTORY
From dinosaurs to trains, museums make learning fun
P16