Longmont City Council candidate Jake Marsing will be hosting a town hall event tomorrow, May 17, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. specifically related to the Vance Brand Airport. The event will be at Clover Meadows Park and will include a discussion with community members about “one of Longmont’s most important assets.”
“Vance Brand is a longstanding part of Longmont’s infrastructure and identity,” Marsing’s campaign told the Longmont Leader. “It supports small businesses, provides space for flight training, medical and emergency services, and recreational use. The economic impact of the airport is significant, and it’s clear that many residents, pilots, and local businesses see it as a deeply valuable community asset.”
Last Friday, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into a woman who admitted to shooting at an ultralight aircraft at the Vance Brand Airport. BCSO was notified by a Longmont employee who received a call from the woman who made the admission. The Longmont Department of Public Safety, Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were also notified. The public wasn’t notified of the incident until BCSO issued a press release on Monday.
Some residents have previously raised concerns about the airport’s noise at City Council meetings and Airport Advisory Board meetings. Issues related to noise and safety have prompted Marsing to arrange this town hall event to have a discussion with community members.
“There’s no question that tensions have risen around the airport, particularly regarding noise, safety concerns, and patterns of use,” Marsing’s campaign said. “At the same time, there’s also a sense among pilots and aviation enthusiasts that their needs and voices aren’t being heard. The goal of tomorrow’s event is to offer a space for neighbors, airport users, and community leaders to talk honestly, ask questions, and share their perspectives at a moment when tensions are higher than they've been in years. This isn't about taking sides—it's about listening, clarifying facts, and building relationships that allow us to move forward thoughtfully together. It's a chance for Jake to demonstrate the kind of collaborative leadership he hopes to bring to council. He wants Longmont, and our airport, to work for everybody.”
Resident Amy Poe wrote the Longmont Leader a letter to the editor calling for the community to come together to support the airport and show up at the Longmont City Council meeting on May 20. “Don’t let the city’s failure define our future,” Poe wrote. “Don’t let silence ground our planes. Stand with the people who make this airport a vibrant part of Longmont’s history and future.”
“This airport is more than a runway,” Poe said. “It’s the livelihood of local mechanics, instructors, and hangar owners. It’s where aspiring pilots learn to fly — pilots we desperately need in the face of a growing national pilot shortage. Without general aviation airports like Longmont, larger hubs like Denver International Airport will struggle to staff flights that carry you and your family across the country.”
