City approves shooting-range zoning
Originally published 01:38 p.m., June 19, 2008
Updated 01:38 p.m., June 19, 2008
Zoning regulations now clear the way for outdoor shooting ranges to be opened in Emporia.
The city commission unanimously passed a modification to the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Planning Area Zoning Regulations at its meeting Wednesday night, allowing shooting ranges in city limits upon approval of a conditional use permit. Connie and Larry Lewis began the process last year of attempting to open a shooting range on Sixth Avenue between Graphic Arts Road and Overlander Road.
Safety was the main concern of the city throughout the process. The modified regulations include language stating that ranges will not be permitted within a quarter-mile of a residential or government building, while outdoor ranges will not be permitted within a quarter-mile of a commercial building. Also, the owner of a shooting range must post a sign of a minimum height of 36 inches listing all range rules, and the regs prohibit a caliber of gun larger than a .22 rifle or a .45 handgun.
“I think we’ve got it to the point where I’m certainly comfortable with it,” Commissioner Jeff Longbine said. “I think it is safe. I had some concerns about not necessarily this range, but what future ranges could be, and I think through the language, we’ve taken care of those concerns for me.”
Commissioner Julie Johnson said she was probably the commissioner who had the most serious reservations about the zoning changes. She said she thought it was important to have a safe place to practice firearm shooting.
“My concern was, I wasn’t sure that within the city limits was the proper place,” she said. “We have, in the past year, I think worked to make it as safe as we can, and with the enforcement that is built into the ordinance, I hope that it will be a safe and good place for people to learn how to use firearms safely.”
Larry Lewis said people in the area with concealed-carry licenses needed a place to develop and maintain their shooting skills. He said he was satisfied with the modifications to the zoning regs.
“And I have to commend the staff and all the work they’ve done,” he said. “We’ve been at this about 20 months, and when we first started, I wouldn’t have given you a quarter for our chances of making it. But we’ve worked together with them and worked through it, and here we are.”
Lewis said he’d like to think the shooting range would be open in less than a year, but wouldn’t want to guess, with land negotiations and architectural drawings still ahead of him.
Commissioner Kevin Nelson was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
In other activity, the commission:
• Listened to City Manager Matt Zimmerman’s report on city activities. Zimmerman announced the scheduling of the first two public hearings to discuss the 2009 budget: Wednesday, June 25, in the Emporia Public Library meeting room, and Monday, June 30, at Faith Lutheran Church. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. Zimmerman also announced the resignation of Steve Trebilcock, director of the David Traylor Zoo.
• Authorized Agler to sign four proclamations on behalf of the city. The proclamations recognized both the Emporia High School boys and girls track teams as Class 5A state champions; recognized the Emporia State University softball team as national runners-up in the Division II Women’s College World Series; and recognized retired Deputy Police Chief Mike Lopez for 35 years of service.
• Reappointed Brent Windsor to a second four-year term on the Emporia Recreation Commission. Windsor’s new term begins July 1.
• Approved an addendum to the city’s contract with BG Consultants for the left-turn-lane project at 15th Ave. and Industrial Road. The $9,900 addendum extends the street-widening on the west side of Industrial to the 18th Avenue off ramp for Interstate 35.
Comments
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Posted by lewisbailbonds (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Larry and I can not give enough praise for City Manager, Matt Zimmerman,,he is a great leader for the Emporia community and he really did his job on this project...We are really excited to get this range built and if it hadn't been for Mr. Zimmermans' open mind from the get go,we would probably still be in the hopeful, finger crossing stage..Emporia is very lucky to have such a great Manager...Thanks to all who have been supportive of the Range project and Larry and I will not let you down...
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea! I moved to Emporia in 1995 and the thing I missed most was my local gun club where I could go once or twice a week and shoot some targets, scope in a rifle, test a new gun, or just relax and have some fun. I am so excited about this news the tears are running down my leg! I can't wait. Where do I sign up?
Posted by mythoughts (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So...is this an indoor or outdoor range? What direction will folks be firing in? Should I be scared to drive down that way during business hours? How good a shot will the patrons be? Finally, does this "1/4 mile of commercial property" have anything to do with residential property? What's the distance from residential property, or public parks, etc.? This article presumes we all know these things...I'm as good a shot as anybody, but it makes me nervous if I'm not the one behind the trigger!
wow - the comment above comes from someone who does bail bonds? For people who may have used guns in their crimes? hmmmmm.
Posted by lewisbailbonds (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey mythoughts,, trust me you dont have to be afraid to drive out there,,,the shooting direction will be toward the railroad tracks with a minimum of 25 ft berms protecting 3 sides....including the rail road track side,, this will be an outdoor range,,but it will be a safe one,,we and the city commisioners have done extensive homework on this and it will be safe, and yes i do bailbonds, and i do know that people use guns, and i will tell you,, i want to be prepared to protect me and my family if the need ever arises...just because i deal with criminals, doesnt mean i am one...we deal with the same people law enforcement do,, we just monitor them post release and guarantee their appearance in court...we see that they get justice...so you really need to know what we do before you jump to conclusions...we, my husband and i are good people...
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i can t wait to go shooting!!
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mythoughts: Please be assured that you will likely be safer driving by the shooting range than any other road in town. For twenty years I belonged to the Capital City Gun Club, a very large (300 acres) shooting range outside of Topeka. The club has many different ranges for every conceivable type of weapon of every caliber plus trap and skeet ranges, tomahawk, and knife. The high-power rifle range has target stands at 100, 200, and 300 yards. The last time I went shooting there a large herd of deer grazed 50 yards behind me as I fired away with a deer rifle! The deer have learned that the safest place in the state for them is on that property.
That shooting club has been in operation for nearly 50 years and has over 400 active members yet there has never been a shooting related accident at that range, or to any person or property adjacent to the range, in all those years. These shooting facilities are designed to keep bullets within the property and shooters closely monitor the safety habits of those who shoot there. Anyone not complying with the strictest safety rules and procedures are immediately reported and banned.
I personally can't wait to join this new shooting range and have total faith that it will be perfectly safe for shooters and area residents as well.
Posted by flexj66801 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is a good thing all around & I commend you on your efforts to get it passed. I have been to many firing ranges and I can tell you that "the criminals" are not there. The people I have met are always very responsible & safety is of the highest priority. Most of the people I met were competition shooters, Law enforcement officers of some nature & recreational shooters that take it seriously.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, flexj: well said and very accurate.
Posted by MeToo (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would hate to live in a house located in the direction that the shooters will be shooting. I believe it is just a matter of time before somebody accidentally shoots in a direction where a bullet will endanger people or property. In addition, the noise from firearms would be disturbing to me if I lived near the shooting range. I believe outdoor shooting ranges should be located outside the city, and the shooting should not be in the direction of residences or buildings that would be damaged by accidental shots that miss the backstop.
Posted by CassieJo (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't make any sense to me. Fireworks arent allowed to be shot within the city limits but adults will be able to play with guns within the city limits. Which is more dangerous?
Posted by eldiablo (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can shoot guns in the city limits of Emporia... but you can't buy alcohol on Sundays.
Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Will there be a website with all of the details? I have only used military facilities so have many questions as to how usage is controlled. I also would like to know who oversees range safety, whether or not magnums of less than .45 are allowed, etc. Will it be NRA style and will classes for novices be offered to help share the "word" amongst the local populace?
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you pay attention to where the range is to be located you would see there isn't any housing or businesses in the direction of fire.
>>> quote from bailbonds >> "hey mythoughts,, trust me you dont have to be afraid to drive out there,,,the shooting direction will be toward the railroad tracks with a minimum of 25 ft berms protecting 3 sides....including the rail road track side,,"
If people would get facts straight before commenting we wouldn't be a bunch of chicken littles running around in circles.
Go to yahoo maps and pull up the arial view of Emporia and "see" for yourself where it is going to be located.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cassiejo: the city ban on fireworks is not a noise ordinance. It is a fire preventing ordinance. Firearms don't cause fires.
Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not make it an indoor range? Just curious...
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we need both. That way when its raining I won't melt. j/king aside. It would be nice if the range had both.
Posted by flexj66801 (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think there is a percentage of people in the town that will complain about anything. For those complaining about noise, Do you live close by the location where the range will be? If not then I don't think you need to worry about it. If you are one of the people worried about someone getting shot, I suggest you never go hunting or hiking in the woods during hunting season.
But the range is intended & designed to be safe so long as people use common sense & follow the rules. As stated, Outdoor ranges are surrounded on three sides by high berms. A bullet has very little chance of escaping unless it is fired over in which case the penalties would be to severe to even think about purposely doing that.
Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We are getting too far from our heritage. Guns are safe if used properly, just like automobiles, planes, common household tools and most equipment. Many objections to them arise from the recent trend to make them politically incorrect. Those with safety concerns need to take a deep breath and look at the plans with a reasonable attitude and an open mind. If you do so, I think that you will see that you have nothing to fear. In fact, we will be a safer community if people have a place to practice safe gun handling and shooting.
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe this will help curb the highly dangerous and illegal practice of using road signs for targets by giving people a place to practice. I fully support this endeavour (sp?). Now if only we can get a good facility to shoot clays, we will be set.
Posted by lewisbailbonds (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey USNRETIRED__and WELTHA...we are building this range pretty darn similar to the NRA ranges...we will have the overhead baffle system commonly known as "NO BLUE SKY"
'I am pretty sure you are familiar with that..and for weltha,,we will have a real nice overhead canopy over the shooting areas so you won't get wet and melt...JK.We will have the target retrieval wheels so no one has to walk out on the range when it is hot...You will see this will be a fine facility..and we are looking forward to any input you guys may have...email me at lewisbailbonds@excite.com....we are aways open for suggestions....
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having shot many high power 88 rd NRA matches at CCGC,I look forward to this,too! I remember waiting for the deer to clear off the 200 yd targets and pits,greasing the target slides,and blowing snow out of your sights.And seeing good people and their sons and daughters that you only shot with a few times a year...
On the range safety is #1. I'm convinced this range is as safe to the public as driving by a bowling alley.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like its going to ba a pretty sweet place. I can't wait.
Posted by wirewatt (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The City range is nice idea and will probably be used, and needed to train people in self protection and safety. It was too bad our county leaders wouldn't allow a range to train conceal carry people. We want to see more places for recreation and for jobs for people our leaders have to step up and do the right thing.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish the County would have aproved the first range that was purposed. I would only have had to drive a couple miles to enjoy that one instead of the 15 I will now. I will still utilize this one but one closer to my neck of the woods would have been nice.
Posted by nutsaboutools (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't wait until the range opens. I love to hunt with my #2 son and continue to teach him gun safety and maintenance (including improving his aim and the accuracy of his rifle). We've been to the Capital City Gun club and were thoroughly impressed with the facility, the staff and the emphasis they placed on safety.
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