By BOB MOOK News - |
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It's a prickly subject for
Mekelburg, who might lose her job sometime in the next three years due in
large part to the competition. Between the two airports, the
Fort Collins-Loveland Airport, which is jointly owned by the two cities, has
a clear advantage in For starters, The airport recently qualified
for $1 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. Usage of
Fort Collins-Loveland Airport, located just west of Interstate 25 near
Meanwhile, "We are just breaking even," Mekelburg said.
"It's a struggle every day." |
In the late '70s and early
'80s, the airport was home to a carrier that provided commuter service to
Currently, the state's largest
privately owned airport generates revenue from plane owners who rent about 30
hangars on the site. In addition to making money
from fuel sales, the airport collects commercial use fees from companies that
provide maintenance and instructional service, as well as other hangar
rentals. But for several years, the
airport's expenses have nearly outnumbered it revenues. After nearly 40 years in
operation, the airport's owners are trying to sell the facility in hopes of
finally getting a return on their investment. Clair McMillen, who owns 60
percent of the airport, has almost single-handedly kept the facility running
in recent years. McMillen, who also owns the
Best Western Kiva Inn at An airplane owner himself,
McMillen said he bought the shares with the intention of sustaining the
airport. But as the cost of fuel and upkeep continue to surge, so do property
taxes on the facility. McMillen said owners paid about $30,000 in property
taxes last year. "That's more than what ( Five investors, including
McMillen; Loren Maxey, founder of the Maxey Cos.; and three local
businessmen, own the bulk of the airport. Each of the remaining 25 investors
owns less than a $650 stake on the facility, McMillen said. The board of the Community
Airpark Association, a group of about 30 investors who own shares in the
facility, recently made a deal with Denver developer Lloyd Goff, who wants to
convert the 135-acre site for possible commercial and residential use. If Goff gets a plan approved
by the city of Fort Collins and Larimer County, the developer would have the
option to buy the land. That would mean the airport
would cease operations and businesses surrounding the facility -- including
two flight schools -- would likely close down, as well. Goff, who has been associated
with various residential projects in Denver, Hawaii and New Mexico, expects
the process of getting approval for a plan to take about three years. While the area is not
designated for residential use under Fort Collins' City Plan, Goff said he
might be able to build a case for an exception if he presents plans to
improve roads, access, flood-plain diversion and landscaping. Goff said the site could be a
logical place for the city of Fort Collins to grow. The site, which is in
unincorporated Larimer County, falls under the city's growth management area,
meaning the city could annex it for future development. But Pete Wray, senior planner
for Fort Collins Advance Planning, said Goff has a lot of work in front of
him. Whether or not Goff's
ambitions see the light of day, the prospect of the airport closing could
have a huge effect on Fort Collins' tiny aviation industry. Gerald Gates, owner of the
Pilot Center at 200 Racquette Drive, has said his flight school, which
employs 15 full-time and part-time workers, would have to go out of business
or relocate if the airport closes. The airport, which employs
five full-time workers, is primarily used by a small group of local pilots
who own aircraft. With patio furniture and a neatly manicured lawn near the
tarmac, the airport has the ambiance of a small country club. Mekelburg said the airport's
small but loyal client base enjoys the intimacy and location of the airport. Airplanes may be perceived as
a hobby for the rich, but it's less expensive than owning a horse, said Ted
Will, a retired professor from the Colorado State University's College of
Business, who often flies a plane from the airport. If the downtown airport
closes, the Fort Collins-Loveland Airport is poised to absorb the additional
traffic, said Dave Gordon, director of the airport. "We hope to get a lion's
share of the aircraft here," he said. While the staffing of the
airport won't need to change, Gordon said more hangars will need to be built.
Currently, 245 planes are
based at Fort Collins-Loveland Airport. Gordon estimates about 50 more would
move to the airport if the downtown airport closes. Mekelburg, who has managed the
airport for 13 years, said she'll probably "go back to real estate"
if the airport closes. But she makes no secret about
the fact that she enjoys her job, despite long hours and a modest salary. "Most people are happy to
be here and not at the office," she said. But most of all, Mekelburg
said she'll miss the pilots. "It's like a community of
sailors," she said. "It doesn't matter how big your yacht is, they
all look out for each other." |
