The Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission signed off on a modification of zoning regulations to allow shooting ranges in the city, another step in paving the way for a planned shooting range on West Sixth Avenue.
The commission voted 9-0 to make shooting ranges permissible by approval of a conditional use permit after hearing City Manager Matt Zimmerman explain some of the latest proposed modifications to the zoning rules. The range, first proposed by Connie and Larry Lewis last summer, would be between Graphic Arts Road and Overlander Road. The Emporia City Commission will have the chance to approve the modified zoning regs at its June 18 meeting.
Zimmerman discussed how the city arrived at a regulation stipulating that the shooting range couldn’t be within a quarter-mile of residential or government structures. He said that in designing the ordinance, the city was trying to determine what was reasonable and safe.
“And we realized, as we were doing our research on the staff level, that from a noise standpoint and the distance that a bullet will travel, even with a small gun, it was going to be prohibitively large,” not allowing a shooting range-type use, he said.
“We picked a distance that we thought was reasonable, which is basically a quarter-mile, and it’s similar to the same size of the shooting range that’s in Garnett as well.”
The regulations also stipulate that a shooting range site could only be used when the proprietor or designee of the site is present. Such a site would be inspected on at least a semiannual basis on the order of the police chief. The regulations would allow the city to “red-tag” and immediately shut down a shooting range that was in violation of the zoning code, Zimmerman said.
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
This is very good news. I will be first in line to join.
May 28, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flexj66801 (anonymous) says...
This is great news! Now if only I could afford to buy a firearm to shoot!!
I frequented several shooting ranges while living in Arizona. One was an hunting/outdoors/gun store with an indoor range where you could "rent" a firearm from a selection of over 100 different models & calibers, Buy a box of ammo & hit the range for an hour. I spent A LOT of money in that place & had some very memorable times.
Best of luck with getting this project opened to the public, I know somehow I will find a way to utilize it sometime.
May 28, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I'm in.I do miss 100,200,300,and 600 yards,though.(yup-yards,not meters)
May 29, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dml (anonymous) says...
I'll be there when I can. I hope they also have guns to rent out also, although, I would guess that the range would be only for shooting 22's. I understand it is going to be an indoor range. Is that correct?
May 29, 2008 at 12:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flexj66801 (anonymous) says...
Everything I have read so far suggested an indoor type range. I'm sure there will be caliber restrictions. most of the indoor ranges I went to didn't allow high powered rifles, But accepted all handguns.
May 29, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
About time.
May 29, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
Some of the bases I was stationed at opened the ranges for civilian weapons a few times a year, but the ones I used for "work" didn't allow magnum handgun rounds or high power rifle rounds due to penetration of the barriers. You could sight in as long as you used the lower velocity, lower penetration rounds.
May 29, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I think there was another story on this,and it seemed to me it was handgun only.A small-bore(.22) range would be nice,though.It's their range,their rules-Fine with me!
May 29, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
We've needed this for a long time. Hopefully, they will instruct and test concealed carry applicants.
May 30, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Thanks, Kstrebuchet.
May 31, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )