Nearly 30 people showed up Wednesday evening during the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board meeting, where an application from Roger Proehl for a shooting range that was turned down by the board with a 5 to 1 vote.
The proposed shooting range would be at 1511 Road 170. The application was tabled last month so that Proehl could gather more information to present to board members. Proehl, a member of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, plans to use the range for his business, which is training people on the new concealed-carry law.
During Wednesday night's meeting, Proehl also said he might consider allowing controlled shooting for beginner shooters and advanced shooting. Board members commented that the latter statement is different than what Proehl stated last month, when he said the range would operate under the conceal and carry law only. Proehl said the range would not be used as a public shooting range and shooters would not be unsupervised.
Gary Watts commented on the possible expansion of use.
“My question is you say you’re never going to have a public range,” Watts said. “You’ve already changed horses in a month. What is our assurance?”
Proehl said he isn’t sure exactly where the range would spawn.
“We really don’t know where this is going to go,” Proehl said. “We would like to have the opportunity to have a concealed carry class and expand it as well.”
Several people spoke in favor and against the application. Connie Lewis was a student of Proehl’s at his temporary location for his class.
“I was one of those looking for a legal place to shoot,” Lewis said. “The neighbors may have a concern, but at least everybody that goes in and out of there are concealed and carriers. We are the citizens that want to do the right thing.”
Barry Brooks, a nearby resident to the proposed shooting range takes exception to Lewis’ comments.
“I don’t dispute that he can operate a safe business or that there’s a need for it,” Brooks said. “The problem I have is this is a residential area. There are houses within the range of this business. No matter how safe they try to make it, there’s always a risk.”
Helen Gibson, another nearby resident, did research on zoning regulations. She quoted regulations that state that re-zoning in an agriculture area needs to be a necessity.
“ I don’t see that this is actual necessity,” Gibson said. “I applaud Roger for doing this, because I think it’s a very important need for our community, but here again in the right place and I don’t feel that residential is the right place for it.”
Much of the discussion also centered around safety. Proehl responded to those concerns.
“There’s been a lot of conversation about safety,” he said. “I would challenge anyone here to come up with an actual scenario based on my plans that would place the neighborhood in jeopardy that it already is. On any given day, there is people shooting out there.”
Board members debated the application for about an hour. Board member Phil Mott said he doesn’t have a problem with the application based on the fact that the location does have good access and it won’t take land out of agriculture. Mott made a motion to approve the application based on those reasons. The motion died for lack of a second.
Board member Kevin Karr made the motion to deny based on zoning regulations.
“To me it really doesn’t fit,” Karr said. “We need to think about where we put businesses.”
Board member Mike Langley seconded the motion. The motion to deny passed 5-1 with Mott voting against denial. The application now will go before Lyon County commissioners who will have the final say in the application. The Lyon County Planning Appeals Board is a recommending board to Lyon County commissioners.