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[A. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
UM, IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, I THINK WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, A LITTLE PEAR, OR A LOT OF PRAYER WOULD GO A LONG WAY FOR US.AND IF YOU'D ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE, ERICA AND TWO HANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND WHEN, UH, WELCOME EVERYONE TONIGHT TO THE SPECIAL, UM, PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR FEBRUARY 22ND, 2022, OFFICIALLY THE TWO DAYS TUESDAY AND PUBLIC HEARING
[B. Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit 2021-10-02, Travis Dodson for a Commercial Outdoor Recreation Operation Located at 650 Water Plant Road and Identified on Tax Map 1, as Lots 3, 3A, and 3AA – Joe Petty]
TONIGHT IS FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2021 DASH 10 DASH OH TWO, TRAVIS DOTSON FOR A COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION OPERATION LOCATED AT SIX 50 WATER PLANT ROAD AND IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP ONE AS LOT, THREE, THREE, A THREE AA.UM, AS YOU STATED, THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION OPERATION.
THIS OPERATION WOULD CONSIST OF A PRIVATE OUTDOOR GUN TRAINING FACILITY AND A CLASSROOM.
THE OWNER AND APPLICANT CURRENTLY OWNS AND OPERATES A WELL-ESTABLISHED GUN SHOP IN MIDDLETOWN, VIRGINIA, AND UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR SAFE PLACE TO PROVIDE FIREARMS, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION FOR BOTH CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THE BUSINESS WOULD OPERATE YEAR ROUND AND IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE RESERVATIONS FOR PRIVATE CLASSES AND APPOINTMENTS.
THAT FACILITY IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUBLIC GUN RANGE FOR CITIZENS AND WALK-IN CUSTOMERS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2021.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARDED THIS APPLICATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL WITH A FOLK BOAT BEFORE TO ZERO, SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE APPLICANTS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH COMMENTS IN BOTH SUPPORT AND CONCERN REGARDING THIS APPLICATION.
AND I'VE PUT TOGETHER SOME POINTS THAT KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING, UM, TO START THE DIALOGUE THIS EVENING, ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS REGARDING SAFETY AROUND THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE AWARE THAT WHEN TALKING ABOUT FIREARMS, ANYBODY WHO WOULD BE TAKING PART IN THE ACTIVITY, THERE IS AN INHERENT RISK ON THE PROPERTY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE ARE LOOKING AT IF THIS PROPOSED USE WERE TO HAPPEN, UM, AREAS WITHOUT OUTSIDE THE POWER BOUNDARIES.
AND SO SOME DISCUSSION HAS COME UP, UM, ABOUT ACTUALLY HAVING SOMEBODY CERTIFIED TO COME IN AND INSPECT THE RANGE AND TO ASSURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE THERE AND THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THESE CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH CONDITIONS IN WHICH WE WILL GET TO A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY THE, UM, TIME TO HEAR THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS ON THE PROPERTY AND WHEN THAT WOULD BE TAKING PLACE IN THE CONDITIONS AS YOU'LL SEE IN NUMBER FIVE, WE'VE OUTLINED WHAT THOSE TIMES WOULD BE, UM, WHEN THERE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE CLASSROOM TIME OR APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS. AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE APPLICANT TO KIND OF DEFINE WHAT THOSE HOURS MAY BE, UM, AND THEN NOISE, UH, OBVIOUSLY FIREARMS PRODUCE NOISE.
AND I WOULD SAY FROM MY DISCUSSIONS, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS CONVERSATION.
TONIGHT IS THE NOISE THAT IS PRODUCED BY THE DISCHARGE FIREARMS. UM, THE PROPERTY COULD BE MONITORED FROM POINTS WITHOUT THE PROPERTY AND ADJOINING PROPERTIES.
UM, AND IT MAY BE REVIEWED BY A THIRD PARTY.
I KNOW THE APPLICANT TONIGHT MAY SPEAK TO THAT AS THEY'VE CONDUCTED THEIR OWN TESTS AND THEY WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME DOCUMENTATIONS FROM THEIR OWN STUDIES.
UM, BUT AGAIN, SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, SOMETIMES WE WERE THE LIE ON AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO CONDUCT SOME OF THOSE STUDIES TO, TO ENSURE THAT THAT THEY ARE COMPLIANT.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UH, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES.
UM, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, GIVEN THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THE PROPOSAL, WE DIDN'T SEEK A FORMAL IMPACT STUDY, BUT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO DEQ THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO WITH THE EEQ PROVIDED EPA, UM, REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
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DID BRING US TO ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT TALKED ABOUT TESTING THE WELL WATER ANNUALLY TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO LEAD CONTAMINATION.AND THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE DEQ COMMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE DONE IN A APPROPRIATE, SAFE MATTER.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY IMPACT, UM, AS I'VE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS ARE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY AND THE NOISE.
I WILL STATE THAT IN THE SENSE OF THIS PROPERTY, IT IS 50 ACRES IN TOTAL.
THE ACTIVITY IS CONCENTRATED TO APPROXIMATELY FIVE OR TWO ACRES IN SIZE AND WHERE THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE CONDUCTING THE USE THE PURPOSE USE.
UM, THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, AGAIN, IS FOR FIREARMS TRAINING FACILITY AND INTENT IS, AND BY CONDITION WOULD BE BY APPOINTMENT AND RESERVATIONS ONLY AS STATED IN CONDITION NUMBER FIVE.
IT'S NOT TO BE INTENDED TO BE A PUBLIC SUIT SHOOTING RANGE THAT WOULD BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE OR WALK-INS RESERVATIONS AND CLASSES WILL BE ADVERTISED AND DEFINED THROUGH MARKETING EFFORTS BY THE APPLICANTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND DETERMINING WHEN THERE IS A COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE ON THE PROPERTY.
IF THE APPLICANTS WERE TO EVER SEEK MORE OF A PUBLIC OR OPEN TYPE OF A SHOOTING RANGE THAT SAY, ANYBODY CAN JUST SHOW UP AND PAY A NOMINAL FEE AND THEN DISCHARGED FIREARM ON SITE FOR COMPENSATION, THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS CURRENT APPLICATION.
IF THIS APPLICATION WERE TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS IS, AND THEY WANTED TO CONDUCT THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD TO AMEND ANY APPROVED CUP.
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT IS FOR OUR USE THAT IS SOLELY FOR RESERVATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.
AND AS WITH ANY CUP THAT IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD HERE TONIGHT OR ANY OTHER NIGHT, UH, THESE UPS CAN BE REVOKED.
UM, ANY VIOLATION OF CONDITIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
WE CAN TALK TO THE APPLICANT AND THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO NOTIFY THEM OF, OF WHY WE SHOULD REVOKE IT.
IT WOULD GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD.
SO WE CLEARLY HAVE THAT AUTHORITY THAT IF ANY CUP IN THE COUNTY, WHICH WE PROVE THESE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, WE DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REVOKE THEM IF THEY VIOLATE ANY OF THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH YOU SET FORTH.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CUP IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WOULD NOT PROHIBIT THE APPLICANTS FROM EXERCISING THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
WE WANTED TO DEFINITELY MAKE THAT CLEAR TO YOU TONIGHT, EVERYBODY, THIS CUP IS BECAUSE THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING TO CONDUCT A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS ZONED AGRICULTURAL.
AND THIS IS WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE THAT HE IS ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THIS USE IF HE HIMSELF, OR HIS FRIENDS OR ANYTHING WANTED TO EXERCISE THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT, RIGHT? THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT ON HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO THIS WOULD NOT, THIS CUP WOULD NOT PROHIBIT HIM FROM DOING THAT AGAIN.
THIS CUP REGULATES HIM FROM OPERATING A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ON HIS PROPERTY.
I'D ALSO SAY SINCE IT IS A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, THE APPLICANT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FILE WITH THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE.
AND I WILL QUOTE WHAT IT SAYS ON THE COMMISSIONER'S WEBSITE THAT WHO MUST FILE IS ANY INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP OR COOPERATION ENGAGED IN ANY BUSINESS PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION WITHIN MOORE COUNTY MUST REGISTER FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE AND DEAL WITH THE TAX FOLKS AT THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE.
SO WE HAVE TALKED TO THE APPLICANTS, THEY WILL BE DOING THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IF THIS WERE TO BE APPROVED AND THEY WERE TO CONDUCT THIS, USE THEIR, UM, THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY.
SO THEY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN, UM, 2020.
THERE, THERE IS A, THERE IS A DWELLING THERE, AND IT WAS USED AS A FARM FOR MANY YEARS.
AND PART OF THIS USE WILL BE UTILIZED IN SOME OF THOSE EXISTING POLE BARN STRUCTURES THAT ARE THERE ON THE PROPERTY.
AND WE CAME TO REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS THROUGH A ZONING VIOLATION.
UM, THEY WERE OPERATING THE BUSINESS, UM, WITHOUT THE CUP AND WE CITED THEM WITH THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
AND I WILL SAY THE AFRICAN PROPERLY DID COME INTO OUR OFFICE AND MASS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO DO THIS LEGALLY.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT CUP PROCESS AND THAT THIS TYPE OF USE IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE COUNTY.
UM, WE'VE HAD, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT IT, WE'VE SENT THEM THE INFORMATION AND NOBODY'S COME FORWARD WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS CHALLENGING.
IT'S A DIFFICULT USE TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION WITHIN MORGAN COUNTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE AWARE OF THAT AND, BUT THEY STILL APPLIED.
AND THEY'RE STILL HERE THIS EVENING IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE TWO SHEETS OF PAPER, YOU HAVE A YELLOW SHEET AND A BLUE SHEET ON THE YELLOW SHEET IS UPDATED
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CONDITIONS THAT KIND OF REFLECT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION.AND YOU ARE STILL RULING ON THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF THAT'S IN THE ORIGINAL STAFF REPORT.
HOWEVER, AFTER MY DISCUSSION, THE APPLICANTS IN ANY PUBLIC TESTIMONY, IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO AMEND ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS AS NEEDED, I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOMETHING IN WRITING.
SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANYTHING UP ON THE FLY, BUT AGAIN, WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS CURRENTLY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF, THE BLUE SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU IS SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL COVER SHEET YOU GOT THERE, JUST MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL, DENIAL AND TABLING, AND THEN SOME OBVIOUS REASONS IF, IF YOU FEEL NECESSARY THERE, UM, I HAVE GONE OVER SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS WITH THE APPLICANT.
OBVIOUSLY THEY MAY WANT TO SPEAK TO ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS THEMSELVES.
UM, ALSO JUST KIND OF WHEN THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE, THEY CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THEY ALSO DO HAVE ONE OF THEIR RANGE, MARSHALS AND INSTRUCTORS HERE TO ASSIST THEM WITH ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE THAT ARE ALSO REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
SO THEY MAY HAVE THREE FOLKS TO HELP ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF POINTS HERE I CAN GO THROUGH AND WILLING TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS AS WE START ANY DIALOGUE OR DISCUSSION LATER AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE.
AND IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CURRENTLY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS LATER, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. PETTY AT THIS TIME? I'VE GOT ONE MR. PETTY.
UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THE WELL IN THE WATER, UH, NEEDED TO BE TESTED.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WHAT ABOUT THE SEPTIC SYSTEM? I MEAN, I'M CONCERNED THAT 25 PEOPLE THERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GO TO THE BATHROOM EASILY.
SO THAT'S, UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID COMMENT ON THIS.
UM, THEIR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PORTABLE RESTROOM TYPE OF FACILITY.
THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO AGAIN, THESE, AND SO, YES, THERE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER RESTROOM FACILITIES THEY HAVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ALLOWED PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE 1 25 IS WHAT WE'VE CONDITIONED AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THAT WITH CONDITIONS.
I'LL JUST STATE TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP.
HISTORICALLY, OUR OFFICE HAS PROPOSED CONDITIONS IN PLACE THAT WILL TAKE IN EFFECT IF THE USE IS APPROVED.
AND ULTIMATELY IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE ON THE SITE PLAN AND A CERTIFICATE OF ZONING TO GET ULTIMATELY THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE AND OPERATE THE USE.
WE TYPICALLY DON'T REQUIRE THEM TO INSTALL AN UPDATED SEPTIC SYSTEM OR TO DO VIGOROUS STUDIES THAT MAY COST A LOT OF MONEY IF THE USE IS ULTIMATELY DENIED, UM, BECAUSE THEN THEY'VE EXTENDED TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T DO.
SO THESE CONDITIONS ARE IN PLACE THAT IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THE USE, THEY WOULD STILL HAVE THINGS TO DO SUCH AS HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS, BUILDING INSPECTIONS, REQUIREMENTS V DOP REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO DO THE USE.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY DONE CONDITIONS.
SIMILAR TO EVEN JUST DOWN TO A SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTAL, THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY MAY NOT DO UNTIL THE USE IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO START THE NEXT DAY.
THEY MAY HAVE SOME TIME TO DO THAT.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMENTS, BUILDING INSPECTIONS TO THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THAT.
AND, AND SO THEY HAVE AN IDEA THAT IF THIS WERE TO BE APPROVED, THEY HAVE SOME WORK TO DO BEFORE THEY CAN OPERATE THE COMMERCIAL USE.
GOOD EXPLANATION, MR. PETTY, THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MR. PETTY AT THIS TIME WITH THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? TRAVIS DOTSON 1 0 5, MARYLAND.
I'M THE CURRENT OWNER OF SIX 50 WATER POINT ROAD.
I'M ACCOMPANIED BY MY WIFE, ASHLEY AND MY LEAD INSTRUCTOR SITE ORGANIZER, JIM BECKER.
I BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY IN 2020 WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A RECREATIONAL FACILITY.
THAT INCLUDES A RANGE FOR ENROLLED STUDENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR MEMBERSHIPS.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED A THREE SHOOTING BASE WITH NATURAL OCCURRING BERMS THAT WERE REINFORCED WITH RUBBER TIRES.
UM, THIS SITE WILL NOT BE, UH, WILL NOT HOUSE ANY AMMUNITION OR FIREARMS AS STATED IN OUR APPLICATION.
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BRING THEIR OWN AMMUNITION, FIREARMS, AND ACCESSORIES.WE WILL PROVIDE THE TRAINING LOCATION AND A FEW OTHER, UH, NECESSARY SUPPLIES.
MOST OF YOU SAW THE FACILITY FIRSTHAND DURING THE SITE VISIT.
IF APPROVED, WE WOULD REGISTER OUR CURRENT LLC ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOCATION.
AS A BUSINESS IN WARREN COUNTY, THIS WOULD BRING TAX REVENUE TO RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY WOULD ALSO HELP BRING REVENUE TO OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AS STUDENTS MAY COMMUTE TO OUR AREA FOR, UH, FROM HOURS AWAY, I HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED MIDDLETOWN FARM FOR SEVEN YEARS.
IT IS IN THAT TIME THAT I HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW MY LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, AS A FIREARMS DEALER, I HAVE SEEN THE DANGEROUS MISUSE MISTAKES MADE BY CITIZENS PRIOR TO 2019, WE, UH, PROVIDED CONCEALED CARRY CLASSES AND STEVENS CITY RANGE.
THAT WAS REPOSSESSED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, 2020 SOLD NEARLY 8.4 MILLION NEW FIREARM OWNERS WITH HALF OF THESE NEW OWNERS BEING WOMEN IN 2021, THERE WERE OVER A MILLION FIREARM SALES PER MONTH WITH NEARLY 30% BEING NEW FIREARM OWNERS.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO PROVIDE THOROUGH EDUCATION THAT INCLUDES USE CARE AND SAFETY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
FIREARM OWNERS, AS OF 2021, VIRGINIA REQUIRES IN-PERSON EDUCATION TO OBTAIN A CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMPANIES THAT PROVIDES CONCEALED CARRY CLASSES WITH HANDS-ON FIREARMS TRAINING.
SOME OF THESE COURSES ARE TAILORED TO WOMEN ONLY.
WE ALSO PROVIDE A TRAINING ON CLEANING OF FIREARMS FOR NEWER GUN OWNERS.
US LAW SHIELD HAS USED OUR CLASSROOM SPACE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO ON THE LEGAL SIDE OF RESPONSIBLE FIREARM OWNERSHIP TO THE TOP NRA TRAINING COUNSELORS FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA HAVE ALSO BEEN ON OUR RANGE AND TRAINED.
THEY DEEMED IT SAFE AS A SAFE LOCATION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, TO CERTIFY OTHER FUTURE NRA INSTRUCTORS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE ONE TO SEVERAL CERTIFIED AND EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS ON HAND AT THE PROPERTY.
WE AIM TO KEEP OUR INSTRUCTOR TO STUDENT RATIO LOW, TO ENSURE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE STUDENTS.
WE ALL USE A STRICT SET OF RULES AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
WHEN ON THE RANGE, WE WILL REMOVE ANY STUDENT WHO VIOLATES THESE RULES, OR WE DEEM UNSAFE FROM THE PROPERTY.
THIS WILL ENSURE NO ARON OR STRAY BULLETS LEAVE OUR RANGE WITH THE LOSS OF THE STEPHEN CITY RANGE.
SMALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE ALSO HAD INCREASED DIFFICULTY GETTING RANGE HOURS FOR RECERTIFICATION AND PRACTICE.
WE HAVE PROVIDED USE OF OUR RANGE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR NO COST.
WE BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A WELL-TRAINED OFFICER.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE TRAVELED TO UTAH TO RECEIVE TRAINING ON RANGE DEVELOPMENT NET FROM ACTION TARGET.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MT TO TRAINING, UH, LEADING, UH, LEAD, UH, EMPTY TWO AND THE LEADING RANGE, MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, AND LEAD RECLAMATION, UH, COMPANY.
WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE THE OPENING OF OUR STOREFRONT.
IT IS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE WORKING TO BE THE BEST RESOURCE IN THE VALLEY PRIOR TO PLANNING, UH, UH, PRIOR TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MY WIFE AND I VISITED SEVERAL ADJACENT AND NEARBY HOUSEHOLDS AND EMPHASIZE OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS.
WE WANTED TO HEAR FIRSTHAND ANY CONCERNS THEY HAD AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WERE IN FAVOR OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDED SIGNATURES OF SUPPORT.
WE DID SOUND TESTING AT THAT TIME.
HOWEVER, SOUND TESTING ON BOTH OF OUR NORTH EAST AND SOUTHWEST BORDER WERE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN WITH THE PROXIMITY OF THE HIGHWAY 66 AND 81 AT TIMES, TRAFFIC ALONE SEAT, UH, EXCEEDS OVER 70 DECIBELS.
WE HAVE, UH, CONTACTED WARREN COUNTY, SHERIFF ASSAULT, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE HAD, NO, WE HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF ANY FORMAL NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM OUR LOCATION.
WE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE PARK BELL GROVE AND CEDAR CREEK FOUNDATION.
WE CONTINUED TO STAND BY THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE, UH, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
WE PROPOSE THAT THEY LET US, UH, NO OF ANY MAJOR EVENTS, SO WE CAN TRY TO ADJUST OUR SCHEDULES WITHIN REASON TO HELP AVOID ANY DISCONTENT REGARDING NOISE.
HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED TO VOICE A DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PROPOSAL.
MEANWHILE, MIDDLETOWN HUNT CLUB IS A THIRD OF THE DISTANCE FROM BELL GROVE MAIN PLANTATION
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HOME.WE ALSO WALK THE TRAIL NEAR THE VERMONT MONUMENT, WHICH IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF HIGHWAY 81.
THE NOISE FROM THE TRAFFIC WAS AUDIBLE DURING THE ENTIRE WALK.
TWO BOARD MEMBERS WERE PRESENT WITH ASHLEY AT THE VERMONT MONUMENT THIS PAST WEEK, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE SOUND READINGS FROM THE USE OF THE RANGE.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE, WE DO NOT BELIEVE WE WILL BE A DETERRENT FROM THE, UH, USE AS NOISE IS ALREADY A PROBLEM IN THAT AREA.
WE AT THIS TIME DO NOT INTEND TO HAVE THE RANGE OPEN ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS.
ALSO DAYS OF HEAVY, ROUTE 11 TRAFFIC, SUCH AS LOCAL PARADES, UH, ROUTE 11 CRAWL OR THE WEEKEND OF THE REENACTMENT AT CEDAR CREEK.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOR ME, THIS RANGE IS ABOUT HAVING A COMMUNITY OF SAFE FIREARM OWNERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AS OUR COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO GROW.
SO WILL THE NUMBER OF FIREARM OWNERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ANY LOCAL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN FROM NOVICE FIREARM OWNERS TO EXPERTS.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP THE SKILLS UP TO DATE.
I'M DEVOTED TO PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS TO FIREARMS AND PROTECTING THE FAMILIES AND CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I DO HAVE, UM, TWO DOCUMENTS TO GIVE YOU ONE OF WHICH IS DECIBEL READINGS FROM WHEN WE DID SOUND TESTING IN OCTOBER.
UM, I MENTIONED ON HERE ON A SIDE NOTE THAT WE SPENT OVER 3000 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION THAT DAY DURING A FOUR HOUR PERIOD UP TO A 3 0 8 CALIBER RIFLE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T REALLY PLANNING ON USING FOR TRAINING.
UM, WE WERE TRYING TO MEASURE MORE THE NOISE LEVEL OF RIFLE VERSUS PISTOL.
UM, THE MOST ACCURATE READING PROBABLY COMES FROM WHERE WE WERE IN LONGMEADOW, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE MAP, UM, WHEN WE ARE ON THE NORTHWEST BORDER OR NORTHEAST BORDER, CLOSER TO 66 AND THE SOUTHWEST BORDER CLOSER TO 81, THE DESOLATE READINGS WERE REALLY INACCURATE.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE'RE JUST TRAFFIC ALONE.
WE'RE UP TO 68 TO 71 DECIBELS.
UM, SO IT'S HARD TO GET AN ACCURATE READING WHEN TRAFFIC IS SO LOUD.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A FEW READINGS FROM WHEN WE WERE AT THE VERMONT MONUMENT, UM, AND JUST TRAFFIC ALONE WAS UP TO 53 DECIBELS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWS THE DISTANCE FROM THE MIDDLETOWN HUNT CLUB TO THE BELLE GROVE PLANTATION, WHICH IS ABOUT 2000 FEET.
SO LESS THAN A HALF A MILE BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M JIM BAKER, BROOKLYN, TRAVIS NATURALLY, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, I KIND OF WANT TO ADDRESS, UH, THE SOUND, UH, DBA LEVELS SPECIFICALLY, UH, WARREN COUNTY, UH, FOR THEIR CODE.
UH, ECO 360 CAN VARY ANYWHERE FROM 62 TO 67 DBI.
UH, WHETHER FROM RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL, AGAIN, THE 67, THERE'S UP TO COMMERCIAL USE.
UM, I WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A FEW NUMBERS OFF OF A CDC WEBSITE.
UH, ANY OF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE VERIFIED, WWW.CDC.GOV.
UH, SHOTS FROM A NINE MILLIMETER PIN GUN AT THE POINT.
IS YOU'RE BACK TO HERE IS 159.8 DBA FROM A FIVE BY 4, 5, 5, 6 RIFLE, 155.5 DBI THAT'S FROM THE SOURCE.
SO HERE'S OUR SHOOTING POSITION.
LET'S JUST SAY, UM, GOT 240 FEET UNDER BACKUP, A LITTLE BIT.
WE ARE 780 FEET FROM OUR SHOOTING POSITION TO ROUTE 81.
WE ARE 2,436 FEET TO THE ACE VERMONT MONUMENT, WHICH IS JUST ONE OTHER SIDE OF ANYONE ADJACENT FROM OUR SHOOTING TRADITION.
AGAIN, THOSE 2,430, 60, WE ARE 6,336 FEET TO BELROSE PLANTATION.
WHO WAS THAT BEING SAID AGAIN, PER THE WEBSITE FROM THE SOURCE 240 FEET AWAY FROM THE SOURCE, THERE IS A 144 DVA LOSS THAT CAN'T BE CHANGED FROM EVERYONE.
THAT'S IT SAYS A STACK CAN BE VERIFIED.
SO THAT'S HALF OF LESS THAN HALF THE DISTANCE, 2 81, JUST QUICK NUMBERS, LESS THAN A 10TH OF THE DIFFERENCE TO THE VERMONT MONUMENT.
AND THAT ARCANE DETECTIVE REMEMBERS WHAT THAT IS TO THE PLANTATION.
[00:25:01]
THAT MEANS IS WE CAN, THE DBA IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE FOR HUMAN HEARING.SO THERE'S NO DETRIMENT TO THAT.
UM, 60 DBI IS A NORMAL CONVERSATION.
SO BY THE TIME WE GET TO, LET'S SAY THE CLOSEST PART OF THE PARK THAT THE TRAILS TO THE PARK, UH, YOU LIVE WITH, UM, AGAIN, THE 2,436 FEET, WE'RE AT ABOUT 14 DBA AT THAT POINT, AGAIN, 60 DBA WITH NORMAL CONVERSATION, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU THAT IN NUMBERS AS FAR AS DBA GUYS.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IT FROM US.
IF YOU HAVEN'T MAYBE A MINUTE LATER, BUT OKAY.
LET ME GET USED TO THIS THING ANYWAY.
SO WHAT EQUIPMENT DID YOU USE FOR YOUR EAR SOUND TEST? WE IT'S ON THAT SHEET ON THE TOP.
UM, IT'S A DECIMAL READER THAT WE HAVE CERTIFIED, UM, IN A LAB THAT IT WAS, UM, CALIBRATED, UM, WHICH WE PURCHASED IN 20 19, 20, 20, 20 20.
AND THIS EQUIPMENT IS USED TO MEASURE THESE CORRECT DEVIATES, CORRECT? FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE.
IT IS THE CALIBRATION CURRENT THAT YES.
THERE'S THIS BY THE WAY, MR. BUTLER.
I HAVE A QUESTION, UH, ON, ON YOUR MAP HERE, COULD, COULD YOU DRAW ME A, A, AN ARROW THAT SHOWS ME THE, THE DIRECTION OF THE, UH, THAT THE RANGE FACES IS ACCORDING TO THE MAP THERE, THE NORTH, I GUESS, IS UP TO THE TOP.
SO THE, DOES IT, SO THAT THAT'S YOUR PROPERTY, BUT, UH, IN THE, THE, THE RANGE POINTS THAT WAY.
THE, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS AS TO CALIBER SIZE? UM, WHAT WE SHOT THERE WAS 3 0 8 ON OUR TEST RESULTS THAT'S WOULD BE AS FAR AS WE WOULD GO, BUT WE REALLY DON'T.
I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A TRAINING EVENT THAT WE ACTUALLY TRAIN PEOPLE WITH 308.
SO I WOULD SAY THREE TO EIGHT WOULD BE OUR MAX IF WE WOULD EVEN USE THAT.
I DON'T THINK CAN I ASK IS BECAUSE I COULD ENVISION SOMEBODY SHOWING UP WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT LARGER THAN 3 0 8, OUR INSTRUCTORS CHECK, ALL STUDENTS THAT COME, UH, WE CHECK THEIR EQUIPMENT AND MAKE SURE THEIR EQUIPMENT IS WORKING CORRECTLY BEFORE WE START ANY EVENT.
UM, IF SOMEBODY DOES LIKE A TWO-HOUR CLASS WITH US OR, OR LIKE A ONE HOUR CLASS, USUALLY THE FIRST HALF AN HOUR IS FIGURING OUT, UM, UH, SAFETY IS THE FIRST AND GOING OVER THE SAFETY RULES WITH THEM AND ALSO GOING OVER EQUIPMENT WITH THEM FIRST.
SO YOU USUALLY TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO DO TWO HOURS CAUSE IT HALF AN HOUR IS REALLY JUST WASTED ON, ON, ON THE, ON THE SAFETY.
90% OF PROPERTY WILL BE FROM HERE AGAIN, NINE MILLIMETER, 45 ACP, POSSIBLY 40.
UH, I CANNOT SEE ANY INSTANCE WHERE THERE WOULD BE A THREE-WAY UTILIZING THE INTRO AND WE HAVEN'T UNTIL THIS DAY USED, I DON'T THINK A 3 0 8 TO TRAIN ANYBODY ON.
IT'S A LOT CHEAPER TO SHOOT TOO.
AND I WAS ALSO WONDERING, DO YOU HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON OF THE SOMEBODY BRINGING ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN EITHER A SINGLE SHOT OR A SEMI AUTOMATIC, WE'RE DOING A HAND GUN CLASS OR NEAR YOUR WELCOME FROM REVOLVER, OR IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SEVEN SHOTS.
UM, SOME AUTOMATIC YOU INTERVIEWS, YOU BRING YOUR BASICALLY WHERE IT COMES BACKWARD WITH THE PISTOL.
NOT GONNA ALLOW ANYTHING WITH A 30 ROUND MAGAZINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, MAKES IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT NEEDED, UM, EVERYTHING, ALL THE CLASSES.
AND ARE YOU DOING ANY PRIVATE GROUP LESSONS OR PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS, UM, OR DONE STRUCTURED? THERE IS BASICALLY FREE SHOOTING.
UH, BASICALLY IT'S, HERE'S THE TARGETED, JUST FOR INSTANCE, YOU, UH, THREE SHOTS, UH, AB NIGHTMARE IS STRUCTURED, NO MORE SHOOTING.
THEY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEXT.
UH, SO THEN YOU WOULD RESTRICT ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO BRING AN AUTOMATIC ON OR CORRECT.
AND THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IN OUR COURSES EITHER.
CAUSE WE LIKE CONTROL FIRE, SPORT INSTRUCTIONS.
THEY BRING SOMETHING TO AUTOMATIC, WHICH IS NOT LEGAL.
THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW A MULTIPLE .
[00:30:02]
NOW DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I'M SORRY.I DIDN'T MEAN TO JUST JUMP IN THERE.
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHEN PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR YOUR CLASSES, DON'T THEY HAVE TO REGISTER THE TYPE OF GUN THEY'RE BRINGING? UH, NO, WE LET THEM, WE LET THEM BRING THEIR OWN.
WE USUALLY DISCUSS, OH, WE ALWAYS DISCUSS THEY'LL SIGN UP THE SHEET AND WE FIND OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.
WE TALKED TO THEM SOMETIMES HALF AN HOUR OF TALKING AND JUST FIGURING OUT, UH, WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING, UH, MAKING SURE THEY GET THE RIGHT AMMUNITION, UH, FROM THE STORE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT, WE SAY, HEY, WE'LL HOLD, HOLD YOUR BOX.
AND WE HOLD THAT AMMUNITION UNTIL THEIR CLASS.
THEY COME TO THE SHOP, PICK UP THE AMMUNITION TO MAKE SURE IT'S RIGHT.
CAUSE THIS IS THE BEGINNING STAGES.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIX UP AMMO WITH, UH, DIFFERENT CALIBERS.
LIKE THEY THINK NINE BY 19 IS THE SAME THING AS NINE BY 18.
SO WE JUST MAKE SURE WE WERE REALLY, UH HANDS-ON WITH PEOPLE AND LETTING THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE WHEN WE, WHEN I CAME OUT TO VISIT YOUR PROPERTY.
UH, AND I APPRECIATED EVERYTHING THAT YOU TALKED TOLD ME ABOUT YOU.
YOU'VE GOT YOU, YOU SEEM TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT YOU VARY YOUR SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK, OUR N AND ALSO FOR THE MONTH.
SO ONE WEEK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A REGULAR CLASS AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LIVE SHOOTING AFTER THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK YOU MAY HAVE JUST INSTRUCTION.
AND THE NEXT WEEK YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER CLASS AND LIE FIRE AGAIN.
AND THEN THAT FOURTH WEEK YOU TAKE OFF BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 30 HOURS, 30 HOURS A MONTH.
SO WE'RE REALLY ONLY TALKING ABOUT TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE MONTH WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET LIVE FIRE ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.
SO, AND WE, WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, OBVIOUSLY.
SO IF THE CEDAR CREEK HAD SOMETHING TO GIVE US, UH, IN THAT, WHATEVER, WE COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THAT WE W YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SET IN STONE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.
AND IN TALKING WITH YOU ALSO, YOU TOLD ME IF I COMMIT UP, REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU HAD A SCHEDULE A YEAR IN ADVANCE, OR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, CORRECT.
FOR SIX MONTHS, CLASS NUMBERS, ALL NINE YARDS, RIGHT? I WOULD BOTH YOU AND, UM, BELGROVE TO PROVIDE, CAUSE I'M SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LIST IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING SO THAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS.
AND YOU'RE TELLING THEM WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS.
SO CHANCES ARE YOURS IS A BIT MORE FLEXIBLE.
YOU WERE WILLING TO WORK A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT IMMEDIATELY AFFECTING THEM.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU, CORRECT, YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN.
WITHIN REASON, AS LONG AS THEY UNDERSTAND WEEKENDS ARE BUSINESS TIMES, YOU KNOW, THEN WE ARE WILLING TO WORK OUR WEEKENDS AROUND IF THEY HAVE MAJOR EVENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
NOW, HAVE YOU HAD ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH GROVE ABOUT THIS? I MEAN, I STRETCH THAT CONVERSATION OUT A LITTLE BIT, BOTH TONIGHT AND WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO ME THAT YEAH, YOU HAD ACTUALLY SAT DOWN ACROSS THE TABLE, TRIED TO WORK IT OUT.
WE DID NOT HAVE DATES SPECIFICS.
WE DON'T HAVE DATE SPECIFICS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE GOOGLE YET.
UM, BUT WE DID HAVE A TABLE MEETING WITH BOTH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, BELGROVE THEIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE BATTLE OR THE, I THINK THE CEDAR FREE BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION.
UM, AND WE DID EXPLAIN TO THEM, YOU KNOW, USUALLY THERE'S AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN A MONTH WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRING AND IF WE COULD COME TOGETHER AS GOOD NEIGHBORS, LET US KNOW, WE WOULD TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AT LEAST FOR THAT ONE WEEKEND A MONTH, MAYBE EVEN TWO.
UM, SO WE DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND HOW WERE, HOW WERE YOU RECEIVED? THEY WEREN'T VERY RECEPTIVE TO US.
UM, I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY IT'S JUST A BIG, THEY DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO DO.
UM, SO WE DID, EVEN WHEN WE LEFT, WE SAID, EVEN IF WE DO GET APPROVED, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THE DOORS SHUT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL OPEN TO THAT.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE, UM, FROM READING THE LETTERS THAT WERE SENT AND PRO AND, UM, AND AGAINST, UM, THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT THERE THAT YOU WOULD BE SHOOTING TOWARDS A WATER PLANT ROAD.
IS THERE ANY TIME THAT YOU WOULD BE
[00:35:01]
DOING ANY SHOOTING TOWARDS THAT ROAD? NO, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.TRAVIS DOES HAVE A LONG RANGE THAT HE USES FOR PRIVATE LAW, LONG RANGE.
UM, AND THAT SHOOTS TOWARDS HOW TALL IS YOUR A LOT TALLER THAN THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT DID THE SAME THING? UH, HE, HE, HE HAD A BACKSTOP.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S PRETTY MUCH 30 SOMETHING.
AND YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT SHOOTS THERE.
I MIGHT HAVE A FRIEND THAT SHOOTS THAT TOO.
I DO HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIKE THE SITE ON THE RIFLES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND WE DO, WE MADE SURE IT WAS PRETTY TALL, TALLER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
BUT NO ONE AND AS PART OF YOUR CLASSES.
UM, READING ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UM, SHELLS AND THE LEAD GETTING INTO THE GROUND.
AND YOU DID SAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS, THE WELL WATER TESTED.
WHAT ABOUT THE RUNOFF? BECAUSE THERE IS, UM, IN THAT GULLY, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WET TIME SPRING.
IS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT EPA OR DEQ WOULD WANT TESTED OR ONLY IF THE WELL WOULD TEST POSITIVE? DO YOU KNOW MR. PETTY? AND IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE OBVIOUSLY PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS, IT WAS NOT REQUIREMENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE PHONE CALL AND THEY FELT THAT GIVEN THE WELL WAS ON LOCATION AND THAT IT'S OBVIOUSLY SATURATE GROUNDWATER, THAT THEY FELT THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TEST THAT, THAT WE DID ANNUALLY.
OBVIOUSLY WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
IF THE USE IS APPROVED TO GET A GOOD BASELINE AND THEN EACH CALENDAR YEAR, WE CAN CHECK, MONITOR THAT.
AND AS THEY SAID THAT IF, IF WE DID SEE A CHANGE IN THE S IN THE WATER IN ANY TYPE OF WAY, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT THROUGH THE SOIL PH AND THEN OBVIOUSLY REMEDIATE OR SOMETHING I THINK IS WHERE THEY HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS.
AND AGAIN, I THINK IT ALSO REFERS BACK SIMILAR TO WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMENTS WERE REGARDING THE EPA BEST PRACTICES.
AND I'M ASSUMING PART OF THAT, YOU, WHAT, AFTER EACH THING, I DON'T KNOW IF MAGNETS PICK THOSE SHELL CASINGS UP OR NOT, BUT WE, WE ALSO TEACH THE STUDENTS THAT TOO.
SO A RANGE ETIQUETTE, WE TEACH THEM.
IF YOU DO GO TO A LOT OF RANGES, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A RANGE, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T KNOW TO PICK UP YOUR OWN BREASTS.
SO WE TEACH PEOPLE, THIS IS THE, WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AT EVERY RANGE YOU EVER ATTEND IS TO KEEP IT, UH, MAKE IT BETTER THAN YOU SHOWED UP, CLEAN UP MORE THAN YOU SHOWED UP.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S CERTAINLY A GOOD IDEA.
UM, MY BATHROOM FACILITY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.
AND, UM, SOMEONE SENT IN A SCREENSHOT OF A FACEBOOK POST WHERE IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAVE FUTURE PLANS FOR PUBLIC, UM, MAKING THIS A PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE.
YOU SAID IN YOUR THING TONIGHT, THAT IS NOT CORRECT.
AND YOU CAN READ THE COMMENT, ALSO COMMENT BACK ON THAT TO MAKE SURE WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT PERSON I WAS WRITING, UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEANT.
UM, WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR WHAT WE APPLIED FOR.
UM, MY FUTURE PLANS ARE TO HOPEFULLY BRING WARREN COUNTY OR, UH, I WOULD HOPE TO BRING WARREN COUNTY A PUBLIC RANGE, BUT THAT WOULD BE INDOOR AT ANOTHER LOCATION.
SO MY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GET PAST THIS STEP.
THIS HAS BEEN A LOT ON US, BUT WE DO HAVE FUTURE PLANS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT PERSON, I THINK, I THINK THEY JUST MAYBE PUT PART OF THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO REPLIED AND I'M SURE THAT PERSON PROBABLY DIDN'T INCLUDE MY REPLY.
WELL, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS IS, YEAH, I HAVE SEVERAL.
SO, UM, AS FAR AS SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS, WHAT SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS FOR RANGES ARE AVAILABLE AND WHICH ONES DO YOU HAVE? UH, NRA, USC CA UM, THOSE ARE THE TWO PRIMARY THAT WE USE.
UH, WE, WE ONLY HAVE A NRA, BUT WE DO HAVE A US CCA, UH, UM, INSTRUCTOR.
AND I NOTICED THAT YOU HAD A D C J S CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GO THAT ROUTE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENTATIVE COME OUT TO SEE US.
THERE WAS LIKE A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION.
HE CAME OUT AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS GOOD.
HE WAS GONNA FILE THE PAPERWORK.
UM, BUT HE ESSENTIALLY ONLY FILED THE PAPERWORK FOR THE MIDDLETOWN ACADEMY, NOT SO MUCH TO US.
SO WE'RE, WE'VE ALREADY RESTARTED TALKING WITH THEM TO GET OUR OWN FORMAL, NOT JUST HANDED TO THE POLICE ACADEMY.
UH, SO ARE THERE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES? SO WHAT IS THE MIDDLETOWN ACADEMY? UH, W WELL, YOU CAN, IF YOU HAVE A RANGE FACILITY, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
YOU CAN DO NRA INSTRUCTION, YOU CAN, AT THE SAME FACILITY, YOU CAN DO A DCGS.
YOU'RE NOT RESTRICTED TO WHAT AGENCY YOU WORK UNDER.
[00:40:01]
HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED UNDER THAT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TEACH.UH, MY, MY MAIN GOAL IS NRA INSTRUCTORS RIGHT NOW.
UM, THAT'S WHO WE'VE LIKED OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AND IT'S GONE PRETTY WELL FOR US.
SO WE INTEND TO KEEPING A NRA FOR SURE.
AND THEN ALSO ADDING DCGS, BUT, UH, UM, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER, SO YOU HAVE TO GET THE CERTIFICATION FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL AGENCY IN ORDER TO INSTRUCT THAT AGENCIES, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND YOU CAN GET, YOU CAN BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR TO TRAIN OTHER PEOPLE TO BE INSTRUCTORS AS WELL, WHICH, UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT I MENTIONED, UH, STUART ISRAEL, UH, ONE OF THE GUYS I MENTIONED, HE'S A TRAINING COUNSELOR.
HE ACTUALLY TRAINED ME TO BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR AND, UH, TRAIN JIM ALSO ALONG WITH, UH, SOME OTHERS TO BECOME INSTRUCTORS.
AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DO YOUR OWN SHOOTING WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
AND SO I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION, WHERE IS THE DELINEATION BETWEEN FRIENDS SHOOTING AND BUSINESS, AND HOW DO YOUR NEIGHBORS KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE DOING ON ANY GIVEN DAY? CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO COME UP.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT QUESTION, RIGHT.
SAID, UM, ANYTIME, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GOING TO BE A TRANSACTION OF MONEY.
THAT WILL BE OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE WERE CONDUCTING BUSINESS.
UM, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ADVERTISE FOR SUCH CLASSES AND WE HAVE A SEPARATE CALENDAR TO SET UP.
OBVIOUSLY HAVING TRAVIS AND HIS FRIEND SHOOT IS NOT, WE DON'T WANT IT TO INTERFERE WITH, WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO TEACH CLASSES.
UM, SO OUR WEBSITE AND SUCH WE'LL HAVE OUR DESIGNATED CLASS DATES AS FAR AS WHEN WE'RE HAVING MULTIPLE STUDENTS, PRIVATE LESSONS, WHICH ARE ONE TO THREE PEOPLE.
THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THAT'S MORE OF A PRIVATE CALENDAR.
UM, BUT LIKE JOE SAID FOR MAIN CLASSES THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL THE GENERAL POPULATION TO KNOW.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE AT YOUR RANGE AT ONE TIME? I THINK THE MOST STUDENTS WE'VE EVER HAD IS 22, UM, WITH FOUR INSTRUCTORS.
AND FROM THE PICTURES THAT I LOOKED AT, YOU HAD THREE SEPARATE RANGES.
SO WHEN I CAME TO YOUR SITE VISIT, WE SAW THE MIDDLE RANGE.
I DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER OH, RIGHT ON THE IT'S ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
IT'S A, IT'S A COPY OF THE LEFT SIDE.
IT'S THE SAME THING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS, OH, I'M SORRY.
THE, WHICH ONE WAS IT BEFORE THAT AGAIN? SO THE ONE THAT, THAT I SAW WITH YOU WITH YOU GUYS WAS THE ONE IN THE, IN BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE FOR, UM, WHERE WE CALL RANGE, NUMBER ONE, UH, THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE FORMAL CLASSES WILL BE OUT NEXT TO THAT RANGE TOO.
UM, IS, IS SUNLIGHT IS A COVERED, RIGHT? SO IF WE HAVE RAIN, UH, DURING A PRIVATE LESSON OR SOMETHING, I CAN TAKE THEM IN THERE AND WE'RE NOT GETTING COMFORTABLE, THE OTHER BUILDING AND YOU GO OUT THE BACK, THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT.
THE THIRD IS TO THE RIGHT OF THAT.
THAT IS THAT'S PERSONAL, THAT'S PRIVATE USE.
SO THAT'S THE DELINEATION AND THE PRIVATE USE IS YOUR THIRD RANGE, WHICH NO ONE USES EXCEPT FOR YOUR PERSONAL.
I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY USE IT IF WE HAD AN EVENT OR SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO DO YES.
BUT AS FAR AS OUR CLASSES GO TO 90%, EVERYTHING IS DONE ON THAT, THAT CENTER.
AND THAT THIRD RANGE IS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE MIGHT SET UP STEEL OR SOMETHING ELSE, MORE ADVANCED THAT WE LIKE TO KEEP OUR TRAINING UP WITH.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT THAT.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO KEEP ON MOVING IT IN AND OUT BECAUSE STEEL IS PRETTY, YOU KNOW, IT CAN GET HEAVY OR JUST, THEY GOT A LOT OF PIECES TO MOVE.
SO WE HAVE A STATIC RANGE, UM, FOR, UH, MOSTLY AND MR. PETTY.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS, JUST, JUST FOR THE, THE CITIZENS WHO ARE WATCHING.
SO, UM, THIS APPLICANT HAS BY, RIGHT? THE ABILITY TO INVITE 12 OF HIS FRIENDS OVER AND USE THIS RANGE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY IF HE WANTED TO DO SO, BECAUSE HE HAS THAT, RIGHT.
WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IS THE BUSINESS ASPECT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO AGAIN, YOU ARE, THIS IS SOLELY THE COMMERCIAL ENTITY, AND YOU'VE ALSO HEARD TONIGHT THAT MAYBE THEY WOULD INVITE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO USE THIS.
IF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS USING IT LIKE PRO BONO FOR FREE, THERE'S NO COMMERCE BEING EXCHANGED, NO MONEY.
UM, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY HIS FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, OR ACTIVE GOODWILL AND THAT'S COMPLETELY BY, RIGHT.
WE IN, FROM THE ZONING STANDPOINT, WE DON'T ENFORCE ANY SHOOTING BANDS ON ANY PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY THERE'S COUNTY CODE THAT OBVIOUSLY DOES THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ENFORCE.
SO BY RIGHT, MR. DOTSON AND HIS FRIENDS CAN SHOOT THERE.
IT'S WHEN THERE IS AN EXCHANGE OF MONEY TAKING PLACE, AND THAT WOULD BE CONFINED WITHIN THESE HOURS.
THEORETICALLY, HE COULD SELL GUNS IN HIS GUN SHOP AND OFFER FREE TRAINING AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A C CUP TO DO THAT.
[00:45:01]
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME? WELL, I KNOW I'M SORRY.MAYBE ARE TURNING, YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT IS A VALID, I THINK A VALID QUESTION.
I THINK THE CLOSER YOU GET TO MONEY CHANGING HANDS, THE MORE OF A COMMERCIAL FLAVOR THAT TRANSACTION TAKES ON.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DELINEATION OF WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE.
AND ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE S OF THE C UPP, HE'S MORE RESTRICTED THAN HE IS AS JUST HIM AND HIS BUDDIES, WE CAN RESTRICT THE HOURS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THE CONDITIONS YES.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS, YOU KNOW, AS THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT NOW, HE'S ALLOWED TO CONDUCT THIS OUTDOOR DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS FOR THE COMMERCIAL USE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THAT THE HOURS RANGE A LITTLE BIT THERE, UM, ON SUNDAY.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HOURS THAT THIS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY COULD BE USED AS THE CONDITIONS ARE WRITTEN CURRENTLY, UM, FOR HIM TO SHOOT FOR PERSONAL USE OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT OF TIME OUTSIDE OF THOSE HOURS THAT HE COULD DO IT UNLESS HE'S THERE SUNDAY MORNING WITH HIM AND HIS BUDDIES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE COULDN'T DO THAT.
BUT, UM, AS CONDITIONS ARE WRITTEN, THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY THERE FOR THE COMMERCIAL USE REGARDLESS.
UM, SO, BUT YES, THE CONDITIONS DO LIMIT HIM FOR THE COMMERCIAL USE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? I'M SORRY, JUST ONE MORE.
SO I'M GOING BACK TO THE SAFETY.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR INSTRUCTORS ARE CERTIFIED FOR NRA, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR FACILITY? IS IT CERTIFIED BY ANY AGENCY? UH, WE'RE NOT REALLY.
THERE, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE OR ANYBODY COMES DOWN ON US SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED.
UH, THIS, THIS LAND HAS TO BE CERTIFIED TO THE TEACH HERE.
THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT, UH, TRAIN PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN BACKYARDS.
CIRCLING EVERYONE ELSE'S EXPECTATIONS, UH, COMPARED TO ANY OTHER RANGE, CERTAINLY.
AND WE'RE WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES.
OUR TRUE CERTIFICATION NEEDED TO CONDUCT A OKAY.
I JUST NEEDED TO PUT THAT IN MY HEAD.
WHAT OTHER RANGES ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR AREA? YOU SAID THERE'S THE, THERE'S THE HUNT CLUB.
IS IT A HUNT CLUB OR IS THAT A, IS THAT A, CAN I JUST TAKE A STEP BACK FROM THAT REALLY QUICK? LIKE DCGS, YOU DO HAVE TO BE, IT DOES HAVE TO BE A DCGS FACILITY TO TEACH THERE.
SO THEY DO REQUIRE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE'RE NOT THAT RIGHT YET, YET.
UH, CAN YOU GO THERE'S MINT, THERE'S THE MIDDLETOWN RANGE THAT YOU THAT'S A PRIVATE CLUB.
SO YOU HAVE TO HA YOU HAVE TO JOIN IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
THERE IS ALSO THE ISAAC WALTON LEAGUE, CORRECT.
UM, THERE IS A CONSERVATION CLUB, WHICH IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WINCHESTER.
UM, THERE'S A BEAGLE CLUB TOO, RIGHT.
AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE, SOMEWHERE IN THE BACK OF STEPHEN CITY, SOMEWHERE THERE USED TO BE A SIGN OUT AT NINEVEH THAT SAID BEAGLE HUNT CLUB.
THERE WAS, I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY STILL EXIST.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE COVE OUT IN GORE.
JUST PAY A FEE, PAY A FEE AND SHOW UP THE CODE.
LIKE ASHLEY SAID, THERE'S THREE 40 TO 5, 3 40 TOWARDS A WHITE POST AREA.
KIND OF BACK IN THAT AREA THERE IN WEST VIRGINIA, THERE IS A PEACEMAKER TRAINING CENTER AND THERE IS ALSO, WHAT'S CALLED SHADOWBOX.
AND THEY'RE MORE OF A TRAINING SLASH COMPETITIVE, NOT A PUBLIC RANGE.
AGAIN, PEACEMAKER DOES OFFER TYPES OF CLASSES.
UM, BUT THEY ARE, AGAIN, A PUBLIC RANGE.
THEY ARE NOT THESE STRUCTURED PRIVATE OVER.
IS, ARE THERE OTHER RANGES THAT OFFER TRAIN INSTRUCTION IN OUR YEAR, IN GENERAL, AGAIN, NOT STRUCTURED LIKE ALICE, WE ARE TIRED OF RANGE OF STRUCTURES.
IF YOU GO TO PEACE MEASURES, A VERY LARGE RANGE, YOU'VE GOT MANY, UH, PUBLIC USE AREAS, UH, WHICH JUST COMPLETELY SURROUNDING, UM, CLASSES.
MY RESEARCH PRODUCED NOBODY ELSE THAT DOES INSTRUCTION.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL HOW WE FEEL THAT OURS WILL BE SO GOT OFFICIAL.
[00:50:01]
MAJORITY OF, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WILL COME FROM PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW AND THEY KNOW US.SO THEY TRUST US TO COME TO US FOR THAT TRAINING.
IF IT WASN'T FOR US, I COULD JUST, MY HUMBLE OPINION, MANY, IF NOT MAYBE HALF OR EVEN MORE WOULD NOT EVEN SEEK OUT TRAINING BECAUSE WE WERE VERY INTIMIDATED BY TRAINERS NOWADAYS, A LOT OF THE, MORE OF A TACTICAL AND, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK THIS BIG PARK, IT'S JUST VERY INTIMIDATING TO THEM.
SO DEFINITELY THIS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEEK OUT THAT ATTORNEY.
YOU NEED TO SEE AND BE WITH SOMEBODY THAT THEY FELT, WE FEEL THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR.
AND THIS IS KIND OF STEP ONE, ESPECIALLY WITH GETTING FROM CONCEALED CARRY FOR MY LEG.
THEY SAID AS OF LAST YEAR, THE STATE OF VIRGINIA NOW REQUIRES HAND ON TRAINING, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE HANDS-ON FIREARM TRAINING.
YOU CAN GO TO A HOTEL AND GET EDUCATION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TRAINING ON YOUR FIREARM.
UM, BUT LIKE JIM SAID, YOU CAN GO TO THESE OTHER PLACES.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR THERE AT ALL TIMES TO HELP YOU LEARN THE PIECES, THE USE OF YOUR FIREARM.
UM, THE NOISE THAT WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT IT'S NOT YOU? THAT'S A GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
DATSUNS FIRST-PERSON SIDE PROPERTY, UH, TOOK ME OUT WITHOUT GROSS AND PLAYING AND SAY, HEY, WE CAN DO THIS.
AND THAT CHECK OUT THE HOUSE, THERE'S SHOOTING GOING ON EVERYWHERE.
AND I COULDN'T JUST VENTURE TO SAY MANY OF THE FOLKS HERE HAVE THEIR OWN FOOD IN THEIR BACKYARD IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO BELGROVE, UH, WALKING TRAILS, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS BEHIND US, UH, PRETTY MUCH THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT KEEP THAT.
SO YEAH, YOU NEVER KNOW REALLY WHO IS SHOOTING.
AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY IT WAS DURING THE PLANNING QUESTION.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD THE LAST TIME WE WENT THROUGH, UH, MANY PEOPLE, VOICE, UH, HELL SHOOTING GOING ON ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY, THE SHAKING, MY HOUSE, ALL THOSE KINDS OF EFFECTS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, IT PROBABLY WASN'T ENOUGH CAUSE WE ONLY SHOOT BASICALLY OUR CLASSES FROM ONE-ISH BEFORE.
SO IF THEY'RE SHOOTING IT, HEARING IT ALL DAY LONG, WELL ENOUGH WHERE YOU MAYBE OR PRIVATE CHEATING POSSIBLY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I KIND OF WANT TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, I KIND OF GOT CHOKED UP.
AND I STARTED WITH MY DVA CONVERSATION IS 60 D FOR THAT WEBSITE TO WORK 40 FEET FROM WHERE WE'RE SHOOTING IT.
WE'LL TELL YOU IF WE WERE DOWN TO 14 UDI THAT YOU WENT 40 FEET, HALF THE DISTANCE THAT YOU WON BARELY ACROSS.
IF YOU LOOK WHEN YOU VISITED BEHIND OR SHOOTING AREA, A BIG ROOM WITH NOTHING BUT WORDS ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S 14 VDI.
I'M 60 DBA SPEAKING RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE TO TALK SOME MORE, I'M SHAKING OFF THESE WALLS.
SO SHAKING PEOPLE'S HOUSES, INTERRUPTING THEM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK MUST BE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND LAST ONE FOR ME, AT LEAST FOR MEN, UM, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING SMALL ARMS FIRE, OUR SMALL ARMS INSTRUCTION AND LIVE FIRE.
UH, I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 3 0 8 3 0 8.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE HAVING LONG RIFLES ON YOUR RANGE? YES, WE DO HAVE INTENTIONS TO HAVE AIR FIFTEENS.
WE THERE'S AIR FIFTEENS ARE THE MOST SOLD A LONG RIFLE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE START AT THE FUNDAMENTALS THOUGH.
WE'RE NOT OFFERING A LONG RANGE, UH, TO DO THAT.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, THE, ALL THE FUNDAMENTALS LOADING, OR JUST TO CLARIFY THOUGH, ARE YOU'RE SPEAKING YOUR WAY.
THAT'S AN AREA WHERE YOU A MUCH SMALLER, LESS POWERFUL RANT.
THE THREE-WAY MERCER, POSSIBLY PRIVATE AND THEY'RE DECIDING IN A HUNTING RIFLE OR SOMETHING.
YOU MAY DO A BUNCH OF THE LESSONS.
YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY UP FOR YOUR EFFECTIVE, BUT YOU'RE NOT SIGNING IN THAT 3 0 8 ON YOUR PROPERTY.
BECAUSE WE DO HUNT ON THE PROPERTY.
SO, OR, OR WE CAN HELP HUNT ELSEWHERE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO, I USE A 30 OUT SIX, UM, AND I'D LIKE TO CITE THAT IN, UH, TO, JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M ON, BUT THAT'S NOT ON YOUR RAINS AS YOU'RE SHOOTING AT YOUR SITE.
ANYBODY CAN DO THAT ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY, CORRECT.
UM, I THINK, I THINK WE'RE GOOD FOR RIGHT NOW AND UM, WE'LL, WE MAY
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CIRCLE BACK TO YOU, BUT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD FOR RIGHT NOW.THE, BEFORE I OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING PART FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, I DO WANT TO READ THE PUBLIC SPEAKING CONDUCT CODE.
ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.
THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS.
THROUGH A SHOW OF HAND, THE CHAIRMAN MAY ASK FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR COMMENTS MADE BY SPEAKERS, PLACARDS POSTERS, AND OTHER MEANS OF VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL USED AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE OF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROCEEDINGS.
ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
AND, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE VERY GOOD SO FAR.
I KNOW THIS IS A, A VERY PASSIONATE, UM, THING FOR A LOT OF YOU.
AND I THINK WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL AND GET THROUGH THIS NIGHT JUST FINE.
AND, AND EVERYONE WILL BE HEARD.
SO MRS. SHIRAKI WHO WOULD WE LIKE TO START WITH? WELL, THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP IS LARRY ANDRICK.
OH, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
THE GUY OF THE GAVEL AND I DON'T GET ALONG.
IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME 300 2605 LONG METAL ROAD, MIDDLETOWN, VIRGINIA.
UM, MY RESIDENCE IS ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM THE PROPOSED GUN RANGE.
FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT I'M NOT ANTI-GUN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M PRO GUY AND PRO SMALL BUSINESS, BUT I'VE AGAINST THIS PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE, NOT BECAUSE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC OR THE IDEA OF, OR FOODING RANGE IN MY BACKYARD, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NOISE, THIS RANGE WILL BRING, I'M SURE EVERYBODY AT THE SHOOTING RANGE WILL HAVE EAR PROTECTION.
I DON'T OWN THEIR OWN TO PROTECT THEIR HEARING.
THEN THEY GO HOME TO THE CHOIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
MEANWHILE, I'M SITTING ON MY BACK DECK, LISTENING TO THE GUNSHOTS EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
I HAVE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE TO WHERE YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE OPERATING THIS RANGE, JUST MOVING TO THIS SITE RECENTLY, EVIDENTLY DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE INTENTION OF PUTTING THIS RANGE IN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THEY WOULD GET THE PERMITS.
AND I APOLOGIZE AS I AM ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT THE MONEY THEY SPENT, BUT MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR SPECIAL USE PERMITS BEFORE CUTTING INTO DRIVEWAYS AND WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS THEY MAY HAVE MADE TO THE PROPERTY.
THEN WE COME TO THE PROPERTY VALUES.
IT IS WRITTEN THAT LIVING NEXT TO YOUR SHOOTING RANGE DROPS PROPERTY VALUES LIKE LIVING NEXT TO A NUCLEAR REACTOR OR LANDFILL WHO COMPENSATES THE LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR THEIR PROPERTY VALUE DEPRECIATION.
SO THE RANGE OWNERS WERE PROFIT FROM THEIR BUSINESS WHILE LOCAL RESIDENTS PAY BY HAVING LOWER REAL ESTATE VALUES, WILL WE GET A LOWER TAX RATE FOR THE LOWER VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY? AND YOU CONCLUSION, I'VE LIVED IN WARREN COUNTY FOR 60 YEARS IN A QUIET RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THAT SETTING, I'VE HUNTED THOSE WOODS ALL MY LIFE.
AND I KNOW WHAT THE SOUNDS OF THOSE GUNS COMING THROUGH THERE.
IT'S WHERE I LIVE AND I WILL HEAR THIS NOISE AND I HEAR GUNS.
LIKE THEY SAY ALL THE TIME IN THAT AREA.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS, BUT NOT CONTINUALLY AT A GUN RANGE.
AND EVERYBODY HERE IS GOING TO SPEAK THAT NRA RIGHTS.
BUT HOW ABOUT THEIR BACKYARD? I DON'T WANT IT IN MINE.
AND UNDER SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS NOT AS, AS VIRTUALLY SUPPOSED TO AFFECT THE USE OF NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES AND IT WILL AFFECT THE PROPERTIES ALL AROUND.
I LIVE AT 3 6, 7 OVERALL ROAD IN BENTONVILLE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO OPPOSE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE.
THE NOISE CREATED BY THE RAINS WILL SURLY, SEVERELY DEGRADE THE ADJOINING CEDAR CREEK AND BELGROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
THE TWO ARE SIMPLY NOT COMPATIBLE NEIGHBORS.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT LIKE MANY OF THOSE RIGHTS, THOSE RIGHTS, LIKE MANY RIGHTS, THOSE RIGHTS HAVE LIMITS THOSE RIGHTS DO NOT EXTEND BEYOND ONE'S PROPERTY LINES AND ALLOW ONE TO HARM NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
IT'S THE NOISE FROM THE SHOOTING RANGE THAT WILL SEVERELY DAMAGE OUR NATIONAL PARK.
I GOT MY FIRST GUN WHEN I WAS 14.
IT'S NOT GUNS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THE NOISES IN THIS LOCATION, THE SON OF MY NEXT DOOR,
[01:00:01]
A SON TO MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR COMES OUT WEEKENDS FROM DC TO TARGET PRACTICE.AND THE PLACE HE DOES IS ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
IF WE HAVE GUESTS ON OUR, ON OUR DECK DURING THIS TARGET PRACTICE, WE CAN'T HEAR EACH OTHER.
THE PARK WAS PROVED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS IN 1999, AND IT IS A NATIONAL TREASURE.
ONLY A FEW VERY SPECIAL PLACES ARE APPROVED FOR THE NATIONAL PARK STATUS.
THIS PARK CANNOT BE MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK WAS FOUGHT THERE.
IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR BATTLE IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND ONE OF THE DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE WAR.
AND AFTER TWENTY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE YEARS, BELL GROVE IS STILL THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC HOUSE IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS ALSO SOUGHT ASSAULT AFTER WHETHER W WEDDING VENUE.
MY SON WAS MARRIED THERE, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE A BRIDE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE TO THE SOUNDS OF NEARLY CONTINUOUS GUNFIRE PARK VISITORS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND TO LEARN NOT ONLY ABOUT THE HISTORIC HOUSE AND THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE, BUT TO GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO THE SWEEP OF HISTORY OF THE VALLEY TOLD THERE, AND THESE VISITORS BRING SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO WARREN COUNTING AND ALSO TO FREDERICK AND SHENANDOAH COUNTIES.
SO WHILE THE NATIONAL PARK CANNOT BE MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION, THE SHOOTING RANGE CAN BE, AND IT SHOULD BE IF YOU ASK CITIZENS, WHICH OF THESE TWO PROPERTY USES, THEY WOULD PREFER IN WARREN COUNTY, I'M QUITE SURE THEY WOULD CHOOSE THE NATIONAL PARK OVER THE SHOOTING RANGE.
I LIVE AT, UH, 2082 BOWMAN'S MILL ROAD, WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM THE SITE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE NOTICED A LOT OF FIRING, UM, RAPID FIRE, PARTICULARLY MUCH WAS SAID ABOUT IT.
I WAS ACCUSING SOME NEIGHBORS AND THEY PROMPTLY TOLD ME TO SHUT UP AND MOVE ON BECAUSE IT WASN'T THEM.
AND, UH, WE FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, UH, MUCH TO OUR CHAGRIN.
I SEE THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM WITH THE NOISE CLEARLY, AND I DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WEAR EAR MUFFS WHEN THEY'RE FIRING, BECAUSE THERE IS A NOISE PROBLEM.
UH, MORE PARTICULAR TO ME, UH, IS THE DEVALUATION OF THE PROPERTY VALUES.
NOBODY'S GOING TO SIGN UP TO BUY PROPERTY NEXT TO THIS LAND.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRIME PROPERTY.
THE MILITARY IN MY MILITARY SERVICE A LONG TIME AGO, PUT THESE TYPE OF FIRING RANGES FAR FROM RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES AT THE END OF THE RANGE OR THE FORTS AND POSTS IN THAT AWAY FROM, UH, AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR A PURPOSE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE US PUTTING ONE IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THIS WHOLE PROCESS JUST DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE COHERENT AND LEGITIMATE.
THE WAY IT CAME ABOUT THE, WHAT MR. PETTY SAID IS THAT SOMEBODY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO A MIDDLETOWN FIREARM COMPANY'S ATTENTION.
THEY CAME IN AND RECTIFIED IT THROUGH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
IT ALMOST SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS GOING THROUGH THE BACK DOOR.
[01:05:01]
I PUT UP MANY PLANTS, 13 PLANTS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY.AND WHEN A BUSINESS GOES INTO AN AREA, THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
THEY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES, THEY DO THE PROPER ANALYSIS.
IT'S NOT AN AFTER THE FACT EVENT.
THIS IS A FREDERICK COUNTY BUSINESS WHO BOUGHT LAND DELAY.
LAST PIECE OF LAND IN WARREN COUNTY AND IS ASKING WARREN COUNTY TO SUBJECT ITSELF TO THE POSSIBLE RISKS OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S THE NOISE, THE DEVALUATION, THE POSSIBLE, UM, SAFETY ISSUES THAT MAY COME ABOUT, MIDDLETOWN'S GOING TO GROW.
THAT'S FREDERICK COUNTY, WARREN COUNTY IS NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT GROWTH.
IF IT WAS WARREN COUNTY, THAT MIDDLETOWN FOR A FIREARMS COMPANY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
THEY'D BE LOCATED IN OVER IN 5 22 OR THREE 40 OR DOWN IN BENTONVILLE.
THEY'RE IN A SWEET SPOT UP IN MIDDLETOWN.
THAT PROCESS THAT WAS USED DOESN'T SMELL.
THE THIRD THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS YOU ARE GUARDIANS OF A COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND IN THAT PLAN WAS 17 SITES, HISTORIC SITES THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED.
THE WAY THAT I READ THE PLAN OF PROTECTING TWO OF THE 17TH SITES ARE RIGHT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE OTHER IS THE CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD OF WHICH I WAS ANNEXED, UH, IN.
AND I SEE THIS AS AN ENCROACHMENT ON THOSE HISTORIC SITES.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, ISN'T GOING TO SOMEHOW AND DOWN THE ROAD, MAYBE NOT NOW, BUT DOWN THE ROAD IS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THOSE SITES.
SO HAD I ASKED YOU TO ENTERTAIN THOSE THOUGHTS AND I IMPLORE YOU TO DENY THIS REQUEST, HAVING THEM GO BACK AND RETHINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING THIS FREDERICK COUNTY COMPANY, AND TO STICK BY THE VOTERS OF WARREN COUNTY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BELGROVE INCORPORATED.
WE OWN PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF WATER PLANT ROAD AND ROUTE 11 AT JASON TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
UM, WE OPERATE BELGROVE ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH MR. GODSON, HIS BUSINESS, THE NEED FOR GUN SAFETY TRAINING.
HOWEVER, THIS IS THE WRONG SITE BEING PROPOSED BECAUSE IT IS SO CLOSE TO A NATIONAL PARK.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN MIDDLETOWN HAS AN EVENT, WARREN COUNTY HOTELS ON ARE FULL AND IT SEES A POSITIVE IMPACT, BUT THIS KIND OF TOURISM USE BELL GROVE HAS A PUBLIC EVENT ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND BETWEEN APRIL AND DECEMBER.
THIS IS OUR CALENDAR, TINY FONT.
DOUBLE-SIDED, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH MR. GODSON.
WE'RE GLAD THAT HE'S OFFERED TO MAKE FLEXIBILITY IN HIS SCHEDULE TO ACCOMMODATE OURS, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON ALL THE TIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A WAY FOR US TO COME TO THAT COMPROMISE.
I ALSO NOTE BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS IS NOT IN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THAT'S BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S NOT ACTIONABLE BY ANY OF YOU.
UM, OR, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT'S JUST INCOMPATIBLE TO HAVE A PROPOSED FIRING RANGE WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES.
[01:10:01]
TO CO-EXIST, UM, WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY HAVING AN IMPACT ON US, THE APPLICATION STATES, THE OUTDOOR DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS WILL TAKE PLACE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM OR SUNSET, AND SUNDAY, 12 TO 4:00 PM.UH, HE'S NOTED THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A PUBLIC RANGE, BUT YOU CAN SEE ON PUBLIC POSTS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE THAT ANY ALUMS OF ANY PRIOR CLASS WILL BE WELCOME TO COME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE A QUESTION YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON.
THEREFORE, ALL THE TIME THAT BELL GROVE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OPERATING THIS FIREARMS, ARRANGE WILL ALSO BE OPRAH OPERATING.
THERE'LL BE NO TIME A VISITOR CAN COME TO BELGROVE AND WE'RE OPEN WHEN WE WON'T HAVE THE RISK OF THIS PERCOCET NOISE.
UH, HE DID A SOUND HE'S USED SOME EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE SOUND.
AND I WOULD JUST QUESTION THAT EQUIPMENT FURTHER BECAUSE, UM, IF IT WAS INTER BEING INTERFERED WITH, BY HIGHWAY NOISE OR AMBIENT NOISE, THEN I QUESTIONED WHETHER THE PERCUSSIVE NATURE OF THE SOUND WAS THERE.
UM, THE MIDDLETOWN HUNT CLUB WAS MENTIONED, AND THEY DO OPERATE IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO GROVE.
UH, THEY OPERATE VERY, UM, NOT VERY OFTEN AND WITH VERY FEW MEMBERS.
SO TO HAVE A CLASS OF 22 PEOPLE PRACTICING FIRING AT ONCE WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT NOISE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN IN IMPACT BECAUSE CLASSES WERE ADVERTISED BEFORE THIS WAS AN AUTHORIZED USE.
AND WE WERE AWARE OF THAT AND WE WERE ALERTED TO THAT AND WE LISTENED FOR THAT.
AND WE HEARD THAT WHEN WE MET WITH THE APPLICANT, HE SAID THAT NOISE REDUCTION MEASURES WERE TOO EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT.
IF THIS APPLICATION IS APPROVED, IT'S IMPERATIVE, THAT'S A SOUND STUDY BY A CERTIFIED AND QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL BE CONDUCTED.
AND THAT NOISE MITIGATIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE.
IF WE DON'T HEAR IT, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
IT'S SIMPLE AS THAT BOAT GROVE IN OUR NATIONAL PARK PARTNERS ARE NOT THE ONE ASKING FOR THIS STUDY.
HE'S THE ONE ASKING FOR A CHANGE IN USE TO THE PROPERTY.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THIS DATA.
THE APPLICANT IS WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M ROY DOWNEY, 3 4 0 8, 1 OLD VALLEY PIKE, STRAUSBERG CUISINE, VIRGINIA.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN COLORS, VICE OATS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM HERE AS A NEIGHBOR AND LANDOWNING OF APPROXIMATELY OF THE RANGE.
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE CCF CCB F UH, EXECUTIVE BOARD, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPOSED GUN RANGE AND REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE.
NO UNTIL SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ARE ADOPTED TO DRESS TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS NOISE AND SAFETY ISSUES.
THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION ABOUT A PRO GUN STANCE.
I'M NOT HERE TO CHALLENGE THE CREDENTIALS OF THE APPLICANT, THE QUALITY OF HIS FINE INSTRUCTORS OR THE ABSOLUTE NEED FOR TRAINING.
IT'S A CONVERSATION ABOUT WRONG SITE, RIGHT SITE, AND UNDER ITS CURRENT CONSTRUCT.
THIS IS THE WRONG SITE UNTIL THE NECESSARY PROVISIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED.
THE EXISTENCE OF AN OPEN AIR SHOOTING RANGE AT THE PLAN LOCATION WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, RULE CHARACTER AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A RANGER.
THIS SITE ADVERSELY AFFECTS USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES AND WILL FOREVER CONDEMN THE USE OF LARGE TRACKS OF PRESERVE PROPERTIES.
YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF INFORMATION TONIGHT, AND HERE ARE SEVERAL FACTS.
FIRST WITH THE CURRENT BLUEPRINT, THE NOISE LEVELS WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED IN VOLUME PERSISTENCE AND MAGNITUDE.
UNCONTROLLED NOISE IS A NEGATIVE BY-PRODUCT OF EVERY OUTDOOR SHOOTING FACILITY.
IN THIS CASE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE GUN NOISE CAN BE READILY HEARD FROM ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
SECOND, WITHOUT CONTROLS, THIS SMALL PARCEL OF LAND IS SIMPLY NOT THE RIGHT LAKE LOCATION DUE TO SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS.
THE PROPOSED SITE IS SQUEEZED IN BETWEEN THREE SIGNIFICANT ROADWAYS AND THE EXPOSURE TO RICOCHETING SKIPPING AND ERRANT ROUNDS FROM AN OPEN AIR RANGE IS REAL.
ALL OF WHICH PUTS THE ROADWAYS AND THE COMMUNITY AT GREAT RISK.
IF NOT ADDRESSED LAST, THESE ISSUES CAN BE EASILY REMEDIED ADOPTING COMMON SENSE MEASURES BY EXAMPLE, IN CLOSING, COVERING OR BAFFLING OR COMMON FEATURES AT MOST COMMERCIAL GUN RANGES.
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED EARLIER TONIGHT, THERE IS A PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS FOR ANY NEW VENTURE AND EMPLOYING MEASURES TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND SUBDUE NOISE IS MONEY WELL SPENT IN THIS CASE AS A
[01:15:01]
NEW MEMBER TO THE COMMUNITY, WE WOULD TRUST THE APPLICANT WHEN OPENLY EMBRACED THESE CONDITIONS AND WHICH WOULD IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBOR AND ENDS AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE BOARD DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT UNLESS YOU IMPOSE.
AND THE APPLICANT READILY ACCEPTS PRACTICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD NEGATE THE SERIOUS NOISE AND SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE EXPOSED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO SEE.
NEXT MONTE LOVING GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS MONTE LOVING AND I'M REPRESENTING MY FAMILY AS LAND OWNERS, THAT BOARD BORDER WARREN COUNTY, ALONG CEDAR CREEK, WITHIN HEARING DISTANCE OF THE SHOOTING RAIN THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.
THESE ARE MY FAMILY'S THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.
I AM MYSELF, A LOYAL LIFELONG HUNTER AND SHOOTER.
I WAS A CERTIFIED MASTER HUNTER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME FOR THE INLAND FISHERIES AND A SHOOTING COACH FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN HUNTER YOUTH CHALLENGE.
WITH THAT SAID, I PERFECTLY UNDERSTAND THE PASSION OF THE SHOOTERS HAVE FOR THEIR SPORT.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE PLACES TO SHOOT AND TRAIN OTHERS AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES.
THERE ARE UNLIMITED RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT PROMOTE SAFETY IN A SHOOTING FACILITY, BUT SHOOTING IS STILL BY ITS INHERENT NATURE.
A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACTIVITY.
EVEN IF EVERY PRECAUTION IS IN PLACE ACCIDENTS, MISTAKES AND POOR HUMAN JUDGMENT, STILL TAKE PLACE CONSIDERING NORTHERN NOISE FROM A SHOOTING RANGE.
I HAVE LIVED FOR MANY YEARS WITHIN HEARING DISTANCE OF AN OPEN AIR SHOOTING RANGE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF PERSISTENT SHOOTING NOISE ON A COMMUNITY, PLEASE COME AND VISIT ME IN STEVENSON, VIRGINIA, THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN THIS RURAL HISTORIC AREA, FRED OF WARREN COUNTY WOULD SURELY NOT BENEFIT FROM A SHOOTING RANGE AND THE PERSISTENT AND ADDITIONAL NOISE IT WOULD PRODUCE TO CLOSE.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS THAT THERE ARE NOT SHOOTING RAGES IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY AND THE IMPACT OF SAFETY AND SOUND ARE FOREMOST ON THAT LIST ONLY AS AN ENCLOSED FACILITY AND OR ONE WAS SAFETY AND NOISE, BAFFLING SYSTEMS. DO WE FEEL THAT THIS RANGE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION.
HI, MY NAME IS CAROL POLKINGHORNE.
I'M SHORT, UH, 84 37 VALLEY PIKE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M A PRESERVATION PRESERVATIONIST AND A HISTORIAN WITH SEVERAL PRESERVATION GROUPS.
LET ME JUST SAY, THIS IS NOT A SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUE.
I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE ALL PRO SECOND AMENDMENT, AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE PRO TRAINING FOR ANYONE THAT'S USING GUNS.
THIS IS AS SIMPLY PUT, AS IT CAN BE THE WRONG LOCATION FOR AN OUTDOOR GUN RANGE OR TRAINING RANGE.
WE MUST SAVE THE PLACES WHERE OUR HISTORY HAPPENED WITH THE NATIONAL CRISIS OF RENAMING, REDEFINING, RE EVERYTHING, OUR AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TO ENDORSE AS WELL AS IT WILL PRIORITIZE OUR AMERICAN HISTORY, THE NATIONAL PARKS, HISTORICAL PATHWAYS AND BYWAYS 45,701 AMERICANS FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS BATTLEFIELD AND THIS PARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME AND STUDY HISTORY, AS WELL AS CURRENT GENERATIONS BRINGING OUR YOUNG ONES, MANY WHO COME TO THE PARK ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE MEN WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE.
MANY OF THEM WANT TO COME, WHETHER BELGROVE OR CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION OR THE NATIONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
THEY WANT TO COME WALK AND THEY WANT TO SEE THE, SEE THE PARK, SEE THE LAND WHERE THEIR GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHERS FOUGHT COMING TO THAT PARK.
UM, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH FRIENDS AND VISITORS AT THE 19TH CORE TRENCHES, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM WATER PLANT ROAD, UM, AT THE BATTLEFIELD, AND EVEN THE AUDIO TOUR INCLUDES BEING STARTLED BY THE SUDDEN SOUND OF GUNFIRE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE JUST THROUGH THE TREES.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S FAR FURTHER AWAY.
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IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S RIGHT THERE UPON YOU.WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT TALKING OR TAKING WALKS, I'M SORRY, FOCUSING ON HISTORY, ENJOYING NATURE, OR JUST GETTING AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE THEIR JOBS, THEIR LIVES, URBAN AREAS, ANYTHING.
AND THEY COME OUT TO THE PARK TO THE SHANANDOAH VALLEY, NEAR MIDDLETOWN TO WARREN COUNTY, TO SHANANDOAH COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE OUT BIRDING WATCHING BIRDS THAT THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF AREA WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE A GUN RANGE.
THEY'RE UNPREPARED TO HEAR THIS ACTIVITY IN THE NATIONAL PARK.
UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT ABOUT FOR ME, IT'S NOT PERSONALLY ABOUT THE, THE NOISE FROM THE TRAFFIC BECAUSE TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED ANYBODY THAT LIVES WITHIN AN AREA, WHETHER IT'S IT'S OUT HERE IN THE VALLEY, OR WHETHER IT'S IN NEW YORK CITY, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A TRAFFIC.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TRAFFIC, BUT IT TO HEAR GUNSHOTS AT, AT ANY RANDOM TIME AND REPEATED GUNSHOTS, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE WHEN THEY WERE FIRING THE AR FIFTEENS.
IT IS A, IT IS A RAPID FIRE GUNSHOT GUN SHOOTING, AND IT'S DISCONCERTING THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU NORMALLY HEAR.
AND SO I'VE GOTTEN PERSONAL FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE THAT I'VE TAKEN OUT THERE, TOURISTS, EVEN FRIENDS ON THE DRIVING TOUR.
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN ONCE AND I WAS POINTING OUT DIFFERENT AREAS, POINTING OUT THE BATTLEFIELD THAT IS LITERALLY RIGHT ACROSS WATER PELLET PLANT ROAD FROM THIS PROPOSED LOCATION.
AND THEY, I HAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH ME, VISITORS, WHO SAID THEY WON'T TAKE THAT DRIVING TOUR ANYMORE.
IF THEY HEAR THAT THE GUNSHOTS.
SO YOU CAN'T TELL PEOPLE, RESIDENTS, YOU CAN'T TELL TOURISTS THAT THEY COULD ONLY COME EVERY OTHER WEEKEND OR THEY CAN COME ONLY.
YOU CAN'T COME THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE GUN, A GUN RANGE TRAINING.
PEOPLE COME OUT HERE TO ENJOY THEMSELVES.
THEY COME OUT HERE TO SPEND MONEY IN THE BUSINESSES AND IT IS, IT IS INCLUDE CONCLUSION ESTEEM WITH ALL THE PRESERVATION GROUPS WHO OPPOSE THIS PROPOSED GUN OUTDOOR GUN RANGE AND TRAINING CENTER.
FOR THE SIMPLE REASON, IT IS A WRONG LOCATION FOR THIS FACILITY.
I ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS CONTINUAL CONTINUAL USE PERMIT.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY SONTAG AND I'M THE OPERATIONS MANAGER AND MUSEUM CURATOR FOR THE CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION OR CCDF AN ENTIRELY PRIVATE 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE CEDAR CREEK IN BELLE GROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
I STAND HERE NOW AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF CCDF, OUR MEMBERS, OUR DONORS, UM, AND OUR APPROXIMATELY 50,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO EXPRESS OUR OPPOSITION TO THE APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR AN OUTDOOR SHOOTING RANGE ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT SIX 50 WATER PLANT ROAD, FOR CONTEXT, CCDF OPERATES A MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER WITHIN THE PARK, AND IT'S EACH YEAR HOSTS A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, TOURS, LIVING HISTORIES, AND OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER.
THE REENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
DURING THIS DISCUSSION OF THIS APPLICATION, THE REENACTMENT HAS BEEN MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES AND TO STATE FACTUALLY CCDF WORKS WITH THE FREDERICK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EMERGENCY PLANNING, ENTITIES, INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND MANY MORE AGENCIES IN ORDER TO SECURE THE APPROPRIATE PERMITS MONITORING, AND TO ACHIEVE OUR SAFETY GOALS LOCALLY, AND EVEN NATIONALLY, THE ANNUAL DATE IS WELL KNOWN AND CONSISTENT.
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE MONITORED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND THERE ARE NO PROJECTILES FIRE DURING THE EVENT OBJECTIVELY IN NO WAY, IS THIS TWO WAY A TWO DAY EVENT COMPARABLE TO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF AN OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL FACILITY USING LIVE AMMUNITION IN AN AREA WITH RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND ACTIVITY DIRECTED TOWARD OUR PUBLIC ROAD TO RETURN TO OUR CORE STATEMENT EACH YEAR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UM, ALL DIFFERENT TIMES FAMILIES, SCHOOL GROUPS AND SCOUTS VISIT OUR AREA BY THE THOUSANDS TO ENJOY THE PEACEFUL, FAMILIAR ATMOSPHERE OF A NATIONAL PARK, THE HISTORY, AND TO USE OUR GROWING VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES DURING THE RANGER ACTIVITY THIS PAST SUMMER, MULTIPLE WITNESSES OBSERVED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE.
THE ECHOES OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL FOLLOWING THE TOUR ROUTE ACCESS BY WAY OF WATER PLANT ROAD, THE HIKING TRAILS, VISITING THE MUSEUMS OR TOURING BELGROVE.
WE HAVE WITNESSED THIS ACTIVITY AFFECT VISITORS TO THE POINT OF DECIDING TO AVOID ANY AREA IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RANGE THEY'VE EVEN ENDED VISITS ABRUPTLY DUE TO DISCOMFORT, SAFETY CONCERNS, AND AN INABILITY TO ENJOY THE AREA WITHOUT THIS AUDIBLE AND AWFUL OFTEN UNSETTLING DISRUPTION.
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IS A FAMILIAR SOUND.
OFTENTIMES A FIRING RANGE IS NOT, THIS HAS CREATED A VERY TANGIBLE EFFECT ON OUR OVERALL PARK VISITATION VISITOR EXPERIENCE, AND BY EXTENSION
[01:25:01]
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL INCOME OF DAY LONG VISITS ON MIDDLETOWN'S WEBSITE.THE TOWN IS HIGHLIGHTED AS VIRGINIA'S OFFICIAL GATEWAY TO THE CEDAR CREEK AND BELLE GROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
OUR PARK PARTNERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TOWNS, SMALL BUSINESSES, SO EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM OUR ANNUAL VISITATION TO CONCLUDE.
I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT OR SMALL BUSINESS THAT JUST THIS DISCUSSION FOCUSES SOLELY ON THE SPECIFIC PROPERTY, BEING THE WRONG LOCATION FOR AN OUTDOOR RANGE FACILITY.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED WELL AWARE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO A NATIONAL PARK, UM, AND TO PUT IT PLAINLY THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF OUR PARK, AND THIS RANGE ARE CURRENTLY INCOMPATIBLE AS THE RAIN SHATTERS THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE TO A PLACE THEY TRUST TO BE DEPENDABLE, THE MILLER AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY THE CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION STANDS WITH OUR PARK PARTNERS, OUR VISITORS AND OUR COMMUNITY RESPECTFULLY IN OPPOSITION OF THE APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION PENDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND SOUND CONDITIONS.
I, FOR ME, 84, 37 VALLEY, QUIET HERE IN MIDDLETOWN.
I AM A REENACTOR LIVING HISTORIAN.
I PORTRAYED GENERAL JUBA EARLY LOVE THE M MOST OUTSTANDING CONFEDERATE OFFICER HERE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
I AM A TEACHER OF HISTORY, AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOWN HERE TO BATTLEFIELD TEACHING THAT THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SHOOTING COMMUNITY, UH, HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'M A HIGH POWER RIFLE SHOOTER SERVICE, RIGHT FOR CLASS AND MASTER CLASS OF THAT.
I'M ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR AND A COACH.
SO I AM, UM, AN AGREEMENT THAT THE, UH, IT'S, UH, WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF A FIRING RANGE OR SHOOTING RANGE TO FOR INSTRUCTIONS, AND ALSO AWARE OF THE, OF THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF NEW SHOOTERS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW THAT NEED THE INSTRUCTION THEY PERSONALLY DO.
UM, BUT THIS FIRING RANGE DOES NOT BELONG THERE.
IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE BUT NOT THERE.
NOW, IF THEY WERE TO TAKE AN ENCLOSED, THE ENTIRE AREA HAVE AN INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE, KCI, ANYBODY CAN AFFORD THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTIMUM THING.
BUT, UM, WHAT AGE THESE GUYS ARE INTENDING TO DO, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT NOT THERE YOU HAVE SOMEPLACE ELSE.
UM, BUT NOT ONLY NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD IT'S, UM, IT JUST, WOULDN'T BE VERY GOOD FOR OUR VISITORS HERE, UM, THAT COME HERE DIRECTLY, UH, HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS OF PEOPLE THAT FOUGHT HERE AND, UM, SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEIR SPIRITS IN SUCH IN THIS.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
IS IT IMPORTANT? YES, BUT NOT THERE.
I LIVE AT 1, 1 5 8 HAZARD AVENUE IN WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.
UM, YOU PROBABLY THINK I DON'T HAVE A HORSE IN THIS RACE.
WHAT I KNOW TRAVIS AND JIM FOR EVER SINCE HE'S OPENED HER STORE THERE IN MIDDLETOWN, A BET AROUND RANGES AND FIREARMS MY ENTIRE LIFE.
UH, I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THAT RANGE AND LOOKED IT OVER AND IT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST RANGERS I'VE EVER SEEN IN A WHILE.
UH, EXCEPT FOR THE NRA RANGE DOWN IN FAIRFAX, AS FAR AS NOISE, THEY GOT, I THINK, A GOOD, PRETTY GOOD BUFFER SYSTEM.
WHETHER PISTOL SHOOTING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE YOU COULD HEAR THEM.
PISTOL SHOTS FOR THE NOISE ON 81.
NOW I LIVE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE OFF 81 IN WOODSTOCK.
AND ALL I HEAR IS IN TRUCKS, HITTING THAT RUMBLESTRIP CONSTANTLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE FALLING ASLEEP, DRINKING COFFEE OR WHAT, BUT THAT'LL KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT.
UH, IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS, I'D RATHER LIVE NEXT TO A FOREIGN RANGE AND I WOULD HEAR THEM IN TRUCKS ALL NIGHT AND I DROVE ONE FOR 25 YEARS.
UH, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, THERE'S NO FACILITY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
THAT'S HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COULD TEACH FOLKS HOW TO PROPERLY OPERATE A FIREARM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR FREDERICK COUNTY AND WARREN COUNTY TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
[01:30:01]
BUT AS FAR AS THE SAFE THAT THE NOISE AIN'T GOING TO BE THAT MUCH RACKET.UH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THESE FOLKS, UH, THEY COULD JUST GO TO DEVALUE THEIR PROPERTY AND WHAT, HEY, BUT I THINK 81 DEVALUED, A LOT OF PROPERTY WHEN THEY COME THROUGH AND PEOPLE STILL BOUGHT HOUSES.
AND I THINK THEY'LL STILL BUY HOUSES, WHETHER THAT RANGE IS THERE, WHETHER IT'S NOT THERE.
UH, I MYSELF WOULD W WOULD BE AT THAT RANGE OF SHOOT WHAT I NEEDED TO SHOOT AND STILL HAVING TO TRAVEL AFTER THE THREE 40 RANGE OUT THERE IN WEST VIRGINIA, JUST TO SHOOT A GUN FOR 20 MINUTES, TEST SOME AMMUNITION OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT, UH, I THINK HE WOULD BE WELL, UH, WELL, UH, UH, INFORMED AS YOU ARE NOW AND, UH, TO APPROVE THIS.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HURT ANYTHING ONE BIT, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I LOW 1 65 PINE CREST STREET IN FRONT ROYAL.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISAAC WALTON LEAGUE IN, UH, UH, WINCHESTER.
AND I'M A NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE ISAAC WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA.
I'M A CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AND CHIEF RANGE SAFETY OFFICER.
WE OPERATE OVER A HUNDRED RANGES NATIONWIDE, AND OUR SAFETY RECORD IS SPOTLESS.
THE WINCHESTER WALTON LEG IS OPERATED FOR 60 YEARS WITH NO FIREARMS RELATED ACCIDENTS.
LET ME, LET ME REPEAT THAT 60 YEARS WITHOUT ONE SINGLE FIREARMS RELATED ACCIDENT.
NOW, HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT TRAINING? YOU CAN'T GET ON WHERE A RANGE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH SOME TRAINING.
YOU NEED TO, UH, GO THROUGH AN ORIENTATION PROGRAM THAT WILL GUARANTEE THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A FIREARM.
BECAUSE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 13.8 MILLION NEW FIREARMS OWNERS.
THEY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST GUN, AND MOST OF THEM BOUGHT IT WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO USE IT.
WHAT TRAVIS IS DOING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
NOW THE ISSUE OF NOISE, WE HAVE NEIGHBORS AT OUR CHAPTER, AND SOMETIMES WE HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISE AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE FIND OUT, MR. MAY BEST PERTINENT QUESTION EARLIER.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THAT RANGE? YOU DON'T, WE'RE SURROUNDED WITH PEOPLE WHO SHOOT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARDS.
I WAS OVER AT THE CHAPTER, STANDING OUT ON THE PORCH AND I HEARD AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING.
I KNOW IT WASN'T COMING FROM OUR RANGE BECAUSE OUR RANGE IS CLOSED AND YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS ON OUR PROPERTY.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THE HECK IT WAS.
WE CALLED THE POLICE REPORTED IT.
THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT THE, THESE ARE THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT COME UP WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING AT RANGE.
ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE NOISE WHEN I'M AT THE CHAPTER AND THERE'S PEOPLE USING THE RANGE AND I'M UP AT THE OTHER END OF THE LAKE, WHICH IS TWO TENTHS OF A MILE AWAY.
THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW.
THE INTENSITY OF THE SOUND DROPS OFF WITH THE SQUARE OF THE DISTANCE.
SO YOU GET ANY DISTANCE AT ALL AWAY FROM THE RANGE AND IT DROPS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN'T HEAR THE SHOTS OVER BACKGROUND NOISE.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THESE OBJECTIONS ARE CONTRIVED THERE'S PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T WANT A GUN RANGE.
[01:35:01]
ROAD HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.I AM SPEAKING TO YOU AS THE WARREN COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR, TO, TO CREEK BILL GROVE, NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, A VOLUNTEER POSITION TO WHICH YOU RECENTLY NOMINATED ME FOR A SECOND TERM.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR IN THIS POSITION.
I AM YOUR ADVOCATE FOR THE WARREN COUNTY SECTION IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK AS SUCH.
I ENCOURAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM ALL OVER TO EXPLORE OUR SECTION BY USING THE SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOUR IN WARREN COUNTY, WHICH BEGINS AND ENDS IN OUR COUNTY ON WATER PLANT ROAD.
AND ALSO THE WALKING TRAILS OFF ROUTE 11, WHICH INCLUDE THE EIGHTH VERMONT MONUMENT VISITORS TO NATIONAL PARK LIKES.
THEY LIKE TO GET OUT IN THE PLACES WHERE HISTORY ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND THE WALKING TRAILS AND THE STOPS ON THE AUTO TOUR ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
THESE PLACES ALSO PROVIDE SOME OF THE MOST SCENIC PLACES IN THE PARK, INCLUDING WHERE CEDAR CREEK AND THE NORTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER MEET.
I AM OPPOSED TO THE LOCATION OF A COMMERCIAL OUTSIDE SHOOTING RANGE AT SIX 50 WATER PLANT ROAD DUE TO ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THESE AREAS.
THE RANGE IS IN THE WRONG LOCATION AND WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PART VISITORS DUE TO THE FREQUENT GUNFIRE NOISE AND SAFETY CONCERNS.
IT'S LOCATION HAS THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF KEEPING PART VISITORS AWAY FROM THE WARREN COUNTY SITES AND PERHAPS AS THE PARK OF THE PARK AS A WHOLE.
I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT THIS FACILITY IS NOT REALLY IN HARMONY WITH THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OUR COUNTY IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL BECAUSE OF HAVING TWO NATIONAL PARKS WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.
AND I URGE YOU NOT TO MINIMIZE THE VALUE AND BENEFITS TO TOURISM BY HAVING THESE SPECIAL PLACES, WHICH SETS US APART FROM MANY OTHER LOCALE LOCALITIES.
SOME STATES DO NOT EVEN HAVE ONE NATIONAL PARK AND WE HAVE TO RIGHT WITHIN OUR COUNTY VISITORS TO THE PARK, OFTEN USE WARREN COUNTY, LODGING, EATERIES, AND OTHER SERVICES.
THEREFORE, I AM PROUD TO SERVE WARREN COUNTY IN PROMOTING THIS PART, AND I HOPE THE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS TO APPRECIATE OUR RESOURCES AND OUR HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I'M CHAIR RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
UM, I AM CO-OWNER OF THE HISTORIC DANIEL STICKLEY PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CEDAR CREEK, ABOUT 5,000 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED GUN RANGE.
I HAVE SUBMITTED TO YOU A LETTER WHICH EXPRESSES A NUMBER OF CONCERNS THAT I HAVE BECAUSE I AM AN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT.
UH, I WON'T REITERATE ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT VERY WELL, MUCH BETTER THAN ME TONIGHT, AND MOST OF THE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT I DON'T WANT TO AMPLIFY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE.
THERE WAS MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT DECIBEL READINGS EARLIER TONIGHT.
UM, I AM A PHD SCIENTIST, UM, AND I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND IT TURNS OUT THAT READING DECIBELS DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
A DECIBEL READING IS A MEASURE OF THE AMPLITUDE OF A SOUND WAVE PASSING BY A SINGLE POINT, UM, THAT LOAN WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH AN INEXPENSIVE METER, DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOUND.
UH, WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE COLORS OF THE SPECTRUM, UH, RED, YELLOW, AND SO ON.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOUND AND THE SOUND THAT'S EMANATED FROM GUNSHOTS IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN SAY THE BACKGROUND SOUND THAT YOU MAY HAVE FROM A HIGHWAY, UH, THAT'S NORMAL OPERATION IN ADDITION TO THAT SOUND IS ADDITIVE.
SO IF YOU HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SOUND AND YOU ADD TO THAT, THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND SOUND, YOU NEED MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF SOUND SOUND IS AFFECTED BY WIND SPEED, WIND DIRECTION, HUMIDITY,
[01:40:01]
TEMPERATURE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW IS ONLY APPLICABLE IN A SPECIFIC CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN BE AT THE SAME POINT AND NOT HEAR A SOUND OR AT A D AT THE SAME POINT AND HEAR SOUND FROM THE SAME ORIGIN POINT.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OUT ON A LAKE, YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE SOMETIMES ON THE BANK SPEAKING AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING OTHER TIMES YOU CAN HEAR IT.
UH, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT THE SOUND FROM THIS GUN RANGE WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROPERTY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CEDAR CREEK, IT'S AN HISTORIC PROPERTY.
WE USE IT FOR TOUR GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS WHO COME THERE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOOR HISTORIC EXPERIENCE.
IT'S COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.
IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED, OPERATING FARM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH THAT PROPERTY.
SO I WANT IT TO SAY, PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
I THINK IT'S A PROPOSAL THAT COULD BE DONE BETTER IF IT WAS AN ENCLOSED FACILITY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, THAT THIS IS A DETRIMENT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE SURROUNDING LANDOWNERS.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
MILES ATKINS, MADAM CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M A 1 0 400 CREEK CIRCLE AND STEPHEN CITY.
UM, I'M A, UH, I'VE GOT A DEGREE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND I'VE WALKED AND I'M A NRA PISTOL INSTRUCTOR.
I'VE ALSO WALKED THE RANGE I'VE BEEN ON TRAVIS'S RANGE OUT THERE.
UH, MOST RANGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE, WHEN I'VE WORKED FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES AND EXPLORED THESE RANGES AND WROTE POLICIES FOR THESE RANGES, UM, HAVE A BERMAN IS ABOUT EIGHT TO 12 FEET.
UH, MR. DODSON HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, THAT HIS, I THINK HIS RANGE OF BERMS ARE ABOUT 30 FEET HIGH.
UM, HE HAS THE INDOOR, UH, FACILITY, UH, ON RANGE TO, UM, AS WELL TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THAT SOUND.
UH, WE DO TALK ABOUT SOUND AND, UH, WE JUST HAD A SCIENTIST UP HERE TALKING ABOUT SOUND WELL, OSHA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOUND.
WHAT THEY DO CARE ABOUT IS 70 OR 120 DECIBELS, DEPENDING ON IF IT'S OVER LONGEVITY OR IF IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST HAPPENING EVERY NOW AND THEN.
SO WHEN WE DO THAT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEARING PROTECTION OR WHATEVER.
UM, SOME OF THE FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE NOISE POLLUTION.
WELL, THE NOISE POLLUTION, THEY SAID, UM, FROM THE DOSIMETER CAN'T BE MEASURED BECAUSE OF THE HIGHWAY SOUNDS WELL, THEN THE HIGHWAY SOUNDS OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE GUNSHOTS OUT THERE.
UM, SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, YOU KNOW, TRAVIS HAS WENT ON ABOVE AND BEYOND ANY KIND OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
HE HAS TRAINED INSTRUCTORS OUT THERE EVERY DAY, EVERY CLASS TO COME OUT AND ASSIST WITH THESE PEOPLE WE TALK, OR THAT WE HEARD FROM THE MAN FROM ISAAC WALTON, WHO TALKED ABOUT ZERO ACCIDENTS ON HIS RANGE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS FROM ALL THE RANGES ACROSS, UH, HIS CHARGE.
I THINK WITH THESE KINDS OF SAFETY MEASURES, WE'RE GOING TO SEE ZERO ACCIDENTS OUT THERE.
BUT IF WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH ALL THE NEW GUN OWNERS OUT THERE TRYING TO GO OUT AND SHOOT A SODA CANS, LEARN FROM UNCLE BOB.
UH, THEN I, I THINK WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES AT RISK.
THIS IS A RISK MITIGATION FACTOR HERE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BE VOTING YES FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, I'M BOB RYAN, 8 1 3 FAIRFAX PIKE AND STEVEN CITY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, I'VE TAKEN CLASSES AT TRAVIS'S RANGE AND FIRST OF ALL, THE SOUND, WELL, WE, WE SHOT HANDGUNS THAT DAY.
UM, BUT AS I WAS LEAVING, THEY WAS THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS WERE STAIRS.
YOU GET DOWN TO THE MAIN ROAD AND YOU CAN BARELY HEAR ANYTHING.
I MEAN, THE RANGE IS IT'S VERY SAFE.
IT'S GOT A, LIKE THEY SAID, A 30 FOOT BERM, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN MOST RANGES THAT I'VE SHOT AT.
SO WE'VE, WE SHOOT IT, UH, QUITE A FEW RANGES AND WE'RE ALL CERTIFIED NRA CERTIFIED SHOOTERS OR RANKED SHOOTERS.
UM, I'M A RANGE OFFICER MYSELF,
[01:45:02]
BUT NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE BERM WHICH SURROUNDS IT, WHICH ABSORBS THE SOUND, BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT IT'S, IT'S SURROUNDED BY WOODS, WHICH ALSO ABSORBS THE SOUND.SO IT DOESN'T GO CARRY LIKE AN ECHO IN AN OPEN FIELD.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE HUNTING WHERE YOU'RE HUNTING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND IT TRAVELS RIGHT ON A CROSS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S, IT'S A WELL CONSTRUCTED RANGE.
UM, IT HAS SAFETY IN MIND WHEN WE DID THE CLASSES, THE FIRST, ALMOST ONE HOUR WAS SPENT ON JUST SAFETY PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOL AND, UH, THE RULES OF, OF GUN OWNERSHIP AND THE RULES OF HANDLING A GUN AND HAVING A GUN.
THERE'S NO AMMO AND NO GUNS ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM.
YOU DON'T EVEN GET YOUR GUN OUT OF YOUR CAR TRUCK UNTIL YOU GO TO THE ACTUAL RANGE.
EVERYTHING IS ABOUT CORRECT HANDLING OF A, OF A GUN OF A WEAPON BECAUSE WE ALL REALIZE WE'RE SHOOTERS.
AND WE REALIZED THAT IT'S DANGEROUS.
UM, THE OTHER THING I'M ALSO REENACTED AND I'VE DONE CEDAR CREEK REENACTMENT SEVERAL YEARS, DID DO IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE I WASN'T TOO HAPPY WITH THE, UM, THEY KNEW PEOPLE IN CHARGE, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ALSO DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE SAME REASON.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE DIRECTION THEY WERE GOING IN.
UM, BUT IF YOU'RE A REENACTOR AND YOU'RE STANDING OUT THERE, WE'RE I DO SIGNAL COURT.
SO I'M UP THERE WITH THE CANNONS ON THE HIGH GROUND.
YOU CAN'T GET MUCH NOISIER THAN THAT.
AND NO ONE EVER COMPLAINS ABOUT THE NOISE WHEN THEY DID THE REENACTMENT, WHICH BY THE WAY IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UM, IF IT WAS PART OF THE PARK, WE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO DO A REENACTMENT BECAUSE THE NATIONAL PARKS DOESN'T LET YOU DO REENACTMENTS ON THEIR PROPERTY.
UM, BUT IN REENACTING, IT'S THE SAME THING.
YOU GO THROUGH THIS SAFETY PROTOCOL, YOU HAVE TO LINE UP, YOU HAVE TO CHECK YOUR WEAPON.
THERE'S NO LIVE AMMO ALLOWED ON THE GROUNDS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY, JUST LIKE AT THE RANGE, IT'S ALL ABOUT CORRECT.
HANDLING YOUR GUN, FIRING AT NO CORRECT DIRECTION.
UH, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED ANY REAL WEAPONS ON THE ONSITE.
YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED YOUR, THE, WHAT YOUR HISTORIC WEAPON, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT, BUT YOU HAVE NO AMMUNITION.
SO IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN MORE ACCIDENTS AT REENACTMENTS THAN THERE'S BEEN THAT I CAN TELL IT ANY OF THE GUN RANGES IN THIS AREA.
AND I MEAN, I WAS AT CEDAR CREEK DURING THE BOMB THREAT YEAR.
SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, STUFF HAPPENS, BUT IT IS, WE, WE NEED TO JUST LOOK AT THESE TWO, TWO THINGS.
LIKE I TRY TO BE A SHOOTER AND I TRY TO BE REENACTOR.
AND MY SON IS THE SAME THING AND WE'RE HISTORIANS, AND WE'RE BOTH DOCENTS AT SKY METALS PARK.
AND WE DO PRESERVE HISTORY AND WE DO TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND WE STUDY HISTORY AND I DON'T SEE WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE A GUN RANGE AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORY TO WORK TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS WHOLE THING IS IF FEDERAL'S MAY, WHY IT'S SUCH AN ISSUE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.
AND, UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
UM, OH YEAH, THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING YOU WERE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, POLLUTING THE WATER WITH, WITH, UH, LED.
I SHOOT AT A COUPLE OF RANGES AND WHAT THEY DO.
THERE'S ACTUALLY COMPANIES THAT GO AROUND AND RECYCLE LEAD.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE, JUST LIKE IT WOULD DO ALUMINUM CANS.
THEY WILL COME TO YOUR RANGE AND ACTUALLY WITH A METAL DETECTOR, FIND ALL THE LED AND DIG IT UP AND TAKE IT.
SO, I MEAN, THE LEAD DOESN'T STAY THERE FOREVER.
IT CAN BE PICKED UP SICK EVERY SIX MONTHS OR, OR ONCE A YEAR IT'S.
SO THE POLLUTION ISSUE IS NOT AN ISSUE EITHER, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I LIVE AT 49 WALNUT CHERRY WAY IN LINDEN.
WELL WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT FOR OVER 25 YEARS NOW.
[01:50:02]
THERE WAS NO FACILITY LIKE WHAT TRAVIS IS TRYING TO DO IN WARREN COUNTY.HASN'T BEEN, I HAVE TO GO TO WEST VIRGINIA.
I HAVE TO GO TO A ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY.
I HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE COUNTY TO GET ANY TYPE OF RANGE TIME AT ALL.
SO WARREN COUNTY IS IN GREAT NEED FOR A FACILITY LIKE THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CITIZENS.
UM, HONESTLY I THINK THAT THIS FACILITY IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY, FAR OUTWEIGHS ANY MINOR AND CONVENIENCES OF A VISITOR.
THAT'S HERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS, MAYBE ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.
AND AS A VETERAN, THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAT I COULD THINK OF FOR A FIRING RANGE THAN WITHIN THE PERIMETER OF A BATTLEFIELD.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I LIVE ON WILSON BURKE ROAD, 2 1 5 WILSON BURKE ROAD.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF HERITAGE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU SOME POSITIVE REASONS TO APPROVE THE, UH, THE, THE TRAINING RANGE AT MIDDLETOWN FIREARMS IS, UH, PUTTING ON YOUR AGENDA HERE TONIGHT.
UM, FOR THE RECORD I WASN'T ASKED BY TRAVIS OR MIDDLETON, YOU KNOW, MIDDLETOWN TO SPEAK HERE.
UM, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL TRAINING DAYS AT TRAVIS'S RANGE.
UH, MY MOM, UM, SHE, SHE TOOK HER FIREARMS CLASS.
MY POPS TOOK HIS FIREARMS CLASS, UM, SPONSORED BY MIDDLETOWN.
AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THEY RUN A TIGHT OPERATION.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PIG TIGHTENED BULL STRONG WITH HER WITH THIRD OPERATION, UH, THE RULES, I MEAN, THEY'RE CLEAR THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE.
THEY ANNOUNCED, UH, EVERYTHING BEFORE ANYONE TOUCHES A FIREARM.
MIDDLE TIME FORUMS INSTRUCTORS ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL.
THEY'RE ARE WELL-VERSED IN SAFE OPERATION AND FIREARMS. I'VE WITNESSED MEN AND WOMEN YOUNG AND OLD RECEIVING EXCEPTIONAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTION FROM MIDDLETOWN.
UM, MANY OF THESE STUDENTS ARE HERE TO LEARN FOR THE VERY, VERY FIRST TIME, THE VERY FIRST TIME.
AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UH, MANY COME TO HONE THEIR SKILLS SUCH AS ME.
UM, HOPEFULLY MY MOM, UH, ENABLES THEM TO BE SAFE AND EFFICIENT WITH, WITH THE FIREARM.
THE RANGE IS NOT JUST A PLACE TO SHOOT A GUN.
IT'S A TRAINING GROUND FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN, UH, BE SAFE, PROTECT OURSELVES THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR APPROVAL OF THIS RANGE WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO MOVE FROM THEIR BACKYARDS.
ALL TAKE GOD TO DO THE SIGN UP ON THE SITE, COME TO HIS RANGE, ENJOY THE TRAINING AND LEARN.
IT'LL MOVE THEM FROM THEIR BACKYARDS.
LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GET THEM ONTO THE, ONTO THE, UH, UH, EXPERT TRAINING GROUNDS.
THEY HAVE IT'S PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED TRAINING, GROUND CITIZENS, LEARNING SAFE FIREARM TECHNIQUES.
MY FRIENDS HAS BEEN NEEDED HERE FOR YEARS.
I HAVE TO TRAVEL AS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, ASK HERSELF WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED RANGE MANAGED IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR JUST WHAT IT IS.
I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND EMT HERE IN THE COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS.
IT'S MY OPINION THAT THIS RANGE WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL.
TELL US YOUR NAME, ADAM LUTHER AND I LIVE IN WINCHESTER.
UM, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HOLD DEAR TO MYSELF.
UM, BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY I'M READING
[01:55:01]
IT FOR YOU GUYS.SO IT SAYS CARMEN ARMY ACCOMMODATION METAL WITH VALOR FOR EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS PERFORMANCE WHILE SERVING AS AN GUNNER FOR BRAVO COMPANY.
FIRST BATTALION 32ND INFANTRY ON OCTOBER 6TH OF OH THREE PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SLEUTHY, WHICH WAS MYSELF, A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LUTHER'S PLATOON WAS CONDUCTING A MOUNTED COMBAT PATROL NEAR AL HASWELL IRAQ.
WHEN THEY CAME UNDER ATTACK FROM ANTI COALITION FORCES, DESPITE FIRE THAT KILLED TWO OF HIS COMRADES PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FLUS LUTHER REPEATEDLY EXPOSED THEMSELVES TO ENEMY FIRE TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY WITH SUPPRESSIVE FIRES.
THE POINT OF THIS IS I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.
UM, THIS IS A REAL LIFE SCENARIO THAT I CAN RELATE TO.
AND I HOPE YOU GUYS COULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT REAL LIFE IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE LIABILITY YOU GUYS HAVE? IT'S YOUR POLICE FORCE? OKAY.
SO EASY TO SUE A POLICE OFFICER OR THE PRECEDING OR THE CITY OR THE COUNTY.
THESE GUYS ARE UNDERPAID UNDER-TRAINED AND THEY MAY GO OUT TO THE RANGE ONCE, MAYBE TWICE A YEAR, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO TRAVIS'S RANGE AND DO WHAT HE'S DOING AND BEING PROVIDED THE PROPER TRAINING, I THINK IS MORE VALUABLE THAN I THINK YOU GUYS ARE REALIZING.
I WOULD FOLLOW THAT GUY INTO BATTLE ANY DAY ON TOP OF THAT, THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT THEY TAKE.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME SKETCHY TRAINING IN THE MILITARY SKETCHY AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN A RANGE, THIS SAFE.
I WOULD LITERALLY BRING ALL OF MY FAMILY HERE WITHOUT HESITATION, WITHOUT HESITATION.
AND IF YOU'RE SELLING YOUR PROPERTY, I WOULD LOVE TO BUY IT FROM YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, BRYAN ADAMS. MY NAME'S BRIAN ADAMS, 2348 LONGMEADOW ROAD IN MIDDLETOWN.
FIND AN IRONIC THAT I'M THE THIRD PERSON THAT'S GOT UP HERE THAT LIVES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TRAVIS'S RANGE.
UM, I'M FOR THE RANGE, I AM 4,225 FEET DRIVEWAY TO DRIVEWAY.
IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
MATH OF 88 TENTHS OF A MILE, UM, BY THE WAY, THE CROW FLIES, IT'S ACTUALLY LESS THAN THAT.
I KEEP HEARING THIS REPETITIVE THING ABOUT NOISE BATTLEFIELD.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? IT'S ALL ABOUT NOISE.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHEN THEY HAVE THIS REENACTMENT EVERY YEAR, THEM CANNON BLAST WITH NO PROJECTILES SHAKE OUR HOUSE.
I'M APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE PROPERTY WHERE THEY HAVE THE REENACTMENT.
UM, THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT GOT UP AND SPOKE.
I ALSO FIND IT IRONIC THAT THEY'VE GAVE THE SAME ADDRESS FOR A BUSINESS LOCATION ON VALLEY AVENUE, WHICH THEY'RE EITHER EMPLOYED OR VOLUNTEER FOR THAT IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
JUST LIKE THE RANGE IS TRAVIS'S LIVELIHOOD.
UM, THE OTHER RESIDENTS HAS SPOKE, UH, ARE ALSO ON THE WEST SIDE OF 81 OR THE NORTH SIDE OF 66.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC NOISE WHERE I LIVE.
THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT HAD THE PROPERTY ALSO FIRED, DISCHARGED FIREARMS AT THAT LOCATION.
AND TO YOUR COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE OTHER NOISE FROM THE GUNFIRE, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY THREE PRIVATE RANGES IN ALL DIRECTIONS OF MY LOCATION, WHERE I LIVE AND THERE'S GUNFIRE CONSTANTLY.
AND I, MYSELF AND MY WIFE ALSO DISCHARGED FIREARMS ON OUR PROPERTY.
THERE'S ALSO THE WINCHESTER WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT HAS LARGE TRUCKS OF CHLORINE AND CALCIUM AND DIFFERENT CHEMICALS COMING IN AND OUT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT UP AND DOWN WATER PLANT ROAD.
UM, AND I'VE SEEN THESE TRUCKS AT TOP SPEEDS, PRETTY TOP SPEEDS, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT.
UH, THERE'S ALSO DUMP TRUCKS THAT RUN UP AND DOWN THIS ROAD.
THERE'S A COMMERCIAL LANDFILL SITE ON DOWN, UH, GAFFEY LODGE.
UM, THERE'S HELICOPTERS THAT FLY AROUND OUR PROPERTY ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S PLANES THAT FLY AROUND FROM THE MARTINSVILLE TRAIN MARTINSBURG, UH, AIR FORCE TRAINING FACILITY.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A HUNTING MEMBERSHIPS PRIVATELY
[02:00:02]
LEASED OUT TO PROPERTIES THAT I BELIEVE IS OWNED BY THE STATE PARK OR THE BATTLEFIELD ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM TRAVIS PROPERTY.UM, WE'VE HAD AN EXTENDED HUNTING SEASON THIS YEAR AS WELL.
UM, THE, UH, THE WILDLIFE AND GAME HAS EXTENDED THE SEASON UNTIL THE END OF MARCH.
THERE'S CONSTANT GUNFIRE ALL AROUND.
UM, I RENT 53 ACRES, APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES THE OTHER DIRECTION, UM, FROM THIS, THIS AREA AS WELL.
AND THERE'S GUNFIRE COMING FROM THAT, WHERE WE HUNT THERE AS WELL.
UM, SO TO YOUR, YOUR QUESTION EARLIER, ARE YOU SURE IT'S COMING FROM THE GUN RANGE? IT'S NOT ALL COMING FROM THIS GUN RANGE.
THERE'S SO MUCH NOISE OUT THERE.
AS FAR AS PROPERTY VALUES DROPPING.
THERE'S NO LAND THAT CAN BE PURCHASED ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GUN RANGE.
IT'S ALL TIED UP BY THE STATE PARK OR, OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
THERE'S ONE RESIDENCE IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THEM AND I DON'T SEE THEM HERE TONIGHT.
UM, SO ON THAT ASPECT OF THE NOISE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REPETITIVE THING I KEEP HEARING HERE TONIGHT IS THE NOISE.
I, AND, AND, AND BACK TO THE PARK THING, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE AND IT COULD BE A NUISANCE.
MY DRIVEWAY HAS BEEN USED FOR A PARKING LOT, AND I HAVE PICTURES TO PROVE BY TOUR BUSES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD ASSOCIATION OR THE BELGROVE OR WHATEVER, WHEN THEY DO THESE CAR AUTOCAR TOURS, THEY'RE DESTROYING THE ROAD.
UM, DO THEY PAY TAXES IN WARREN COUNTY? I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ALL THAT.
SHOULD THEY HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE IN WARREN COUNTY? SHOULD THEY GET A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE ROADS AND THE PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE USING IN WARREN COUNTY TO BRING THESE PEOPLE IN FROM OUT OF STATE? UM, WE'VE PUT, HIT, WE'VE PETITIONED.
THERE'S ANOTHER RESIDENT HERE TONIGHT THAT HIM AND I HAVE BOTH PETITIONED V.TO IMPROVE THE ROADS.
THEY WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THESE BUSES AND THESE CARS, AND I'M TALKING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON WEEKENDS ALL THE TIME.
AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE REENACTMENT IT'S THOUSANDS.
AND I'VE PERSONALLY ASKED THEM NOT TO USE MY DRIVEWAY FOR A PARKING LOT.
I PERSONALLY ASKED THEM NOT TO USE MY DRIVE.
WE DIDN'T MAKE THE TURN ON THE BOWMAN MILL.
AND IF ANY OF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT TURN.
THEY HAVE TO PULL A PASS BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND TURN AROUND.
I'VE HAD TO PUT GATES AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY TO KEEP THESE TOURISTS OUT OF MY PROPERTY.
SO THIS GUN RANGE IS NOT GOING TO BE A NUISANCE.
AND I, I THINK YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE LAND.
IT LAYS VERY LOW IN THE VALLEY.
IT HAS NATURAL REPUB, UH, SOUNDPROOFING.
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TERM, BUT, UM, SO I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL THE NOISE IS AN ISSUE.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
NICHOLAS ALT, MY NAME'S NICHOLAS ALT.
I LIVE AT 3 7 8 8 BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME AND TELL YOU THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TRAINING FACILITY WHERE I CAN TAKE MY FAMILY TO GET SOME SAFETY TRAINING RIGHT NOW.
I'VE BEEN A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET ANY TYPE OF TRAINING SAFETY WISE, I HAVE TO GO TO MANASSAS.
I HAVE TO GO TO WEST VIRGINIA, THE COVE, WHICH IS IN, UM, WINCHESTER, OUTSIDE OF WINCHESTER.
THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE SAFETY CLASSES, SO IT REALLY WOULD BENEFIT US TO HAVE THIS LOCALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY GETTING REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE TO BUY FIREARMS AMMUNITION AS IT IS.
UM, SO REDUCING THE GAS, THE TRAVEL, ALL OF THAT BY HAVING IT IN COUNTY WOULD REALLY BENEFIT, I THINK.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BUT YES, PLEASE.
MRS. ROCKY, BEFORE YOU CALL THE NEXT, UM, WE'VE BEEN GOING NOW FOR TWO HOURS AND CAN WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BATHROOM BREAK AND WE'LL START UP AGAIN AT, UM, NINE 40 IF EVERYONE WILL TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL GET STARTED.
IF EVERYONE WOULD TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL GET STARTED.
UM, I'M THINKING OF THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T BLAME THE WOMEN ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT DO THE CHATTING.
OH, WHO'S OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
[02:05:01]
UH, KAREN BECK HERZOG CHAIR COLORS.VICE-CHAIR OATS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT EVENING.
MY NAME IS KAREN BECK HERZOG ON THE SITE MANAGER OF CEDAR CREEK IN BELGROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN WARREN COUNTY, INCLUDING A PORTION OF THE MORNING ATTACK TRAIL IN 2 49 WATER PLANT ROAD.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS WITH THE LOCATION AND THE IMPACT OF A COMMERCIAL OPEN AIR FIRING RANGE ON PARK RESOURCES AND VISITORS.
THE PARK SIGNIFICANCE INCLUDES THE PAN-AM PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND PASTORAL SURROUNDINGS CONVEYING A HISTORIC SENSE OF LIFE IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND PROVIDES VISITORS WITH AN INSPIRING SETTING OF GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY AND OFFERS OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUIET AND SOLITUDE IN AN EVER EXPANDING SUBURBAN AREA.
WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED FUNDAMENTAL RESOURCES THAT ARE TRULY SIGNIFICANT TO THE PARK.
ONE OF WHICH IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTEMPLATION INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION.
THROUGH THIS PERMIT REQUEST, THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING YOUR PERMISSION TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH PERSISTENT GUNFIRE FOR HOURS AT A TIME.
THIS ACTIVITY IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE CURRENT USE OF PRESERVED LANDS, ESPECIALLY AT THE VERMONT MONUMENT LOCATED, AS YOU HEARD ABOUT 2,400 FEET FROM THE RANGE, WHICH HAS BEEN SET ASIDE AS AN AREA OF CONTEMPLATION ON THESE HALLOWED GROUNDS, TO REMEMBER THE MANY MEN THAT WERE KILLED IN BATTLE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPLICANT HAS CONDUCTED A SOUND TEST AND THE PLANNING OFFICE REQUESTED THE DATA.
THE INFORMATION WAS NEVER PROVIDED.
AND SO WE WERE UNABLE TO VER VERIFY IMPORTANT ASPECTS LIKE THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT AND WHETHER IT WAS SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO CAPTURE IMPULSE SOUNDS LIKE GUNSHOTS AND THE CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO CONDUCTED THE SOUND MEASURING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS ONE OF TWO PROGRAMS IN THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DEAL WITH NOISE.
AND THESE EXPERTS DEVELOPED AN ATTENUATION MAP.
THAT'S BEEN IN YOUR PACKETS THAT SHOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR DECIBEL LEVELS TO BE GREATER THAN 90 AT THE MORNING ATTACK TRAIL AND THE VERMONT MONUMENT FAR IN EXCESS OF THE PERMIT CONDITIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THE SOUND LEVELS, THE PERCEPTION AND THE TYPE OF SOUNDS ARE IMPORTANT.
THERE'S A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE PERCEIVE THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC AND GUNFIRE NOISES.
YOU MAY HEAR CLAIMS THAT THE NOISE OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON CANCEL OUT GUNFIRE AND IT'S UNTRUE TRAFFIC NOISE MAY MASK SOUNDS BY RAISING THE OVERALL AMBIENT LEVEL, BUT GUNFIRE IS LOUDER THAN TRAFFIC NOISES.
TYPICALLY AN IMPULSE SOUNDS LIKE ON FIRE TEND TO CUT THROUGH A MORE CONSTANT NOISE LIKE TRAFFIC.
WE KNOW THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE, THE RESOURCES AND VISITORS FROM PERSISTENT GUNFIRE SINCE WE EXPERIENCED IT LAST SUMMER, WHEN THE RANGE WAS OPERATING, HOLDING CLASSES, WHICH ARE PAYING CUSTOMERS IN VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY ORDINANCES, VISITORS EXPRESS CONCERNS TO OUR PARK RANGERS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CORRELATE IT TO THE ADVERTISED CLASSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MOTHER DUE TO PERCEIVE SAFETY CONCERNS, CHANGE PLANS, AND WOULD NOT HIKE TO THE MORNING ATTACK TRAIL AND THE VERMONT MONUMENT WITH HER CHILDREN.
THE MORNING ATTACK TRAIL, WHICH IS WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE PROPOSED SITE, HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC WITH SEVEN DAY A WEEK OPERATIONS, THE PARK IS UNDERTAKING A PROJECT TO CONVERT THE FIELDS THERE TO NATIVE GRASSES AND WILDFLOWERS, AND ULTIMATELY WANT TO DEVELOP A KIDS NATURE TRAIL FOR THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TO DRAW MORE VISITORS AND TOURISM DOLLARS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE APPLICANT SUCCESSFUL IN HIS BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIS BUSINESS, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORK HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS AS THE FIRING RANGE STANDS TODAY.
THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT LOCATION IS NOT HARMONIOUS WITH THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHOUT FURTHER STUDIES.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MITIGATION IS, NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THIS AREA OF NATIONALLY HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IS NOT IMPAIRED.
IF I BUTCHER YOUR LAST NAME, I'M USED TO IT FOR MY LAST NAME TOO.
UM, ANTHONY IT'S PENNSYLVANIA, BY THE WAY.
UM, ANTHONY PENNSYLVANIA, 2 2 0 1 NATIVE BUSH LANE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
UM, I STARTED MY FIREARMS TRAINING IN 2007 AND THE MARINE CORPS GOT OUT TRANSITIONED TO AN ARMED SECURITY SERVICE WHERE I MET TRAVIS AND I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND TO STEAL A LINE THAT WAS SAID EARLIER TODAY, I'VE BEEN ON SOME SKETCHY RANGES.
[02:10:01]
I HAVE, I'VE BEEN TO GOOD ONES.I'VE BEEN A GOOD TRAINING, HAD BEEN THE BAD TRAINING AND A PARTNER.
AND I, WE ARE STARTING A GUNSHOT DOWN IN TENNESSEE, AND THIS IS THE ROUTE THAT WE'D LIKE TO GO.
AND WITH THAT SAID, THE RANGE THAT I'VE SEEN TRAVIS PROVIDE IS ONE OF THE BEST THAT I'VE SEEN.
AND I WANT TO TAKE HIS COURSE WITH THAT SAID ALSO, UH, WE'VE HAD STATISTICS SHOWN OUT TODAY, THROWN OUT TONIGHT, WERE COMING FROM THE FBI'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE, UH, CRIMINAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT SHOWS THAT 42,218 OF, UH, VIRGINIA'S.
THAT WAS, UH, VIRGINIA'S FIREARM OWNERS TOOK PLACE THIS, THIS YEAR, UM, 30% OF THAT, I'M SORRY.
30% OF 20, 20 ONE'S 4,218 WAS FROM VIRGINIA.
AND A LOT OF THEM WERE FIRST-TIME GUN OWNERS.
I'M SURE A LOT OF THEM WERE WOMEN DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO WHERE THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO BECAUSE SOME INSTRUCTORS CAN BE OVER POWERING OR, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST GET INTIMIDATED.
I DIDN'T KNOW TONIGHT THAT TRAVIS WAS GOING TO BE OFFERING, UH, CLASSES JUST FOR WOMEN, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED IN THAT WAY.
THEY CAN BE IN A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY CAN HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR THAT CAN EXPLAIN THINGS TO THEM PROPERLY AND WHATNOT.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, I, I THINK IT'S A NEEDED THING BECAUSE IN THE INCREASE OF FIREARMS OWNERS, WE NEED PLACES TO TRAIN.
AND IF THERE'S NO PLACES TO TRAIN, THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE GOING IN THEIR BACKYARD AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN OR SOMEBODY THAT THEY SEE FROM YOUTUBE, WHICH IS A COMMON THING.
AND NOT EVERYBODY ON YOUTUBE IS AN EXPERT.
NOT EVERYBODY ON YOUTUBE IS CERTIFIED OR TRAINED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEY JUST GO OUT AND FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO CLARIFY OUR ARM PROPERLY.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOAD A MAGAZINE PROPERLY.
AND THEN YOU HAVE INCIDENCES WHERE PEOPLE SHOOT THEMSELVES DUE TO NEGLIGENCE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT WHAT HE'S DOING AND THE, ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THAT HE'S TAKEN TO GO FORWARD.
MY NAME IS RUSSELL KUHN, 360 RITTER ROAD, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA.
UH, NOT USED TO PUBLIC SPEAKING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, I'VE BEEN ON SOME RATHER STRANGE RANGES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THE SAFETY BOARD THAT HAD THE RULES WAS BLOWN UP BY 12 GAUGE PARK.
THE FACT THAT THE NOISE SCARES OFF WILDLIFE, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN 15 PEOPLE IN THE LINE SHOOTING AND DEER WALK OUT IN THE RANGE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
THE SPASTIC ATTACK THAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
UH, YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE CAUSE NO ONE JUST STOPS AND WAITS FOR THE DEER TO CROSS.
YOU WATCH CHILDREN UP THERE SHOOTING AT LIVE 12 GATES ROUNDS DOWN RANGE WHERE THE 22, UM, THAT IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE DON'T NEED TO SEE, UM, WHERE THEY RANGE LIKE THIS.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE NEGLIGENT, DISCHARGES AND BAD IDEAS THAT PEOPLE GET, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUTUBE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, I'VE GOT ABOUT 58 HOURS OF TRAINING, CERTIFIED FIREARMS TRAINING AND A COUPLE OF INSTRUCTORS CLASSES, AND I'VE BEEN TO ABOUT NINE DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL RANGES.
AND TRAVIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH RANGES THAT HAVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RANGES AND IT'S RIGHT THERE WITH IT.
AND USE THIS VITAL PIECE OF MATERIAL TO STRENGTHEN THIS COMMUNITY.
BRIAN SMITH, 2 4 8 5 4 OR VALLEY PIKE, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UH, I FEAR HOWEVER THAT I'M JUST GOING TO BE REITERATING A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
SO WE'LL, YOU KNOW, CUT TO THE CHASE OR AS MY COMMANDER LIKES TO SAY, GIVE ME THE BLUFF, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT.
SO HERE'S THE ISSUE, IT'S THE NOISE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT
[02:15:01]
ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO THERE'S TESTIMONY BEYOND TESTIMONY OF THE EXPERTISE OF TRAVIS AND HIS ORGANIZATION.ON MY SIDE OF THAT TESTIMONY, THE FACT THAT I TRUSTED HIM TO TRAIN MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO HANDLE HER FIRST 22, I THINK IT SAYS IT ALL, BUT THE NOISE.
SO WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DISSENT THAT THEY'VE INVOKED THE OPINIONS OF COUNTLESS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE GOING TO DECIDE NOT TO COME BY BASED ON THE NOISE OR HOW THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE, FROM THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYING.
I SUPPOSE, IF THOSE ARE THE GROUND RULES, THEN I'M GOING TO INVOKE THE OPINIONS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GUN OWNERS WHO ARE PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE THE SHENANDOAH AN ALREADY AN EVEN MORE DESIRABLE DESTINATION.
AND LET'S NOT BE TOO QUICK TO DISMISS THE ENVELOPING, UH, INTERACTION THAT THAT REALLY COULD EXIST HERE.
I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE GUN OWNER THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SERIOUS BENT TOWARDS AMERICAN HISTORY, HISTORY OF THE FIREARM HISTORY OF, OF MILITARY, RIGHT, AS AN 18 YEAR, UH, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED FROM, FROM, UH, UM, MENTORS AND I'VE CERTAINLY MENTORED IN YOUNGER SOLDIERS.
SO LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT DISMISS TOO QUICKLY.
HOW, HOW MUCH TRAFFIC, THE, THE RANGE OF SELF COULD POTENTIALLY DRIVE TO, UH, TO THE HISTORIC SITES.
BUT AGAIN, YOU JUST GOT TO GO BACK TO IT.
IT'S, IT'S THE NOISE, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO HARP ON.
WELL, UH, I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE GENTLEMAN FROM ISAAC WALTON, I'VE HAD MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH NOISES AND RANGES.
THE BERM THAT TRAVIS HAS CONSTRUCTED THERE IS ISN'T AS AN ALTAR TO RANGE SUPREMACY.
IN 18 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE, I HAVE CONSTRUCTED RANGES AT FORT CARSON, FORT BRAGG, FORT HOOD, FORT BLISS.
I'LL NEVER GO BACK TO FORT BLISS.
UM, AND, AND WE'VE NEVER SEEN THE QUALITY.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THE EMPHASIS ON SAFETY THAT WE SEE SEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM TRAVIS AND HIS GROUP.
UM, I'VE INVOLVED MYSELF, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN WITH MY, WITH MY SCHEDULE AS ACTIVE DUTY, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY I'VE TAKEN TRAVIS'S CLASSES.
AS, AS I MENTIONED WITH MY DAUGHTER, I'VE VOLUNTEERED BELL GROVE AND I'VE ATTENDED THE BATTLEFIELD REENACTMENT.
I REALLY ENJOYED MYSELF AT THE BEER FESTIVAL OF BELL GROVE.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NOISE, I WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD THE RANGE GOING OFF BEHIND ROBBIE.
LYMAN'S 250 WATT AMPS THAT WERE BLASTING, YOU KNOW, THAT ENTIRE AFTERNOON.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO KEEP IT LIGHT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A HUGE NEED HERE.
THAT'S JUST, WE'RE JUST GONNA, GOING TO REITERATE THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE SAFETY AND THE EDUCATION, THE TRAINING, THE VALUE THERE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
IT SAYS, I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT WE HAVE SO MANY RETAIL OUTLETS FOR FIREARMS IN THE VALLEY, BUT HOW MANY CORRESPONDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING AND SAFETY AND EMPHASIS ON PROPER HANDLING AND CARE AND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF FIREARMS, DO WE HAVE, IT'S AKIN TO, IF WE HAVE THE VALLEY FULL OF CAR DEALERSHIPS, BUT WE HAD NO OUTLET FOR DRIVER'S EDUCATION.
I MEAN, HOW, HOW LONG WOULD THE COMMUNITY ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN? I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.
I HAVE TO READ BECAUSE I GET NERVOUS.
UM, MY NAME IS KATIA SMITH AND I LIVE AT 2, 4 8 5, 4 OLD VALLEY PIKE IN MORGANTOWN.
UM, GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND FELLOW CITIZENS.
I AM A 41 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL AND MILITARY SPOUSE.
I HAVE SPENT MANY TIMES ALONE WITH MY DAUGHTER AND TRAVELING BY MYSELF WHILE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED, UM, OR TRAINING, AND I NEVER FELT SAFE.
UM, WE'VE GONE THROUGH FOUR DEPLOYMENTS TO AFGHANISTAN.
SO IT'S BEEN YEAR LOANS, UM, ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS, IF YOU ADD IT ALL UP, UM, OF ME BEING BY MYSELF, UM, THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A TRAINING, UM, FIREARM STRANGE, AND, UM, NOBODY WANTS TO BE TRAINED BY THEIR HUSBANDS.
I KNOW FOR A FACT, UM, THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT.
UM, SO FOR ME, ENCOUNTERING MIDDLETOWN FIREARMS WAS LIKE, WOW, I CAN FINALLY GET THIS DONE.
UM, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT IF WE WANT A SOCIETY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS, WE ALL NEED TO STRIVE TO MAKE GUN EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE, TO
[02:20:01]
AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE SPEAKS ABOUT WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TRAVIS AND HIS EMPLOYEES ARE PUTTING WORDS INTO ACTION.
AND I AM A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT.
UM, HAVING THE MIDDLE ITALIAN MIDDLETOWN FIREARMS RANGE, BE SO CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE AND HAVING TOP-NOTCH INSTRUCTORS WHO TAILOR CLASSES SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN AT ALL LEVELS IN A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL HARASSED OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THERE JUST TO CHECK YOU OUT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A REFRESHING THING FOR ME.
UM, AND IT ALSO SPEAKS VOLUMES, UH, TO THE PROFESSIONALISM WITH WHICH THEY DO BUSINESS.
SOME OF THE CLASSES I HAVE TAKEN INCLUDE THE ALL FEMALE LIVE FIRE CONCEALED CARRY COURSE.
AND THAT'S HOW I GOT MY SHENANDOAH COUNTY PERMIT.
UM, THE AR FUNDAMENTALS COURSE, UM, AS WELL AS GROUP AND PRIVATE LESSONS IN ORDER TO KEEP MY FIREARMS APTITUDE.
CAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRAIN, YOU LOSE THAT CONFIDENCE.
UM, NOT ONCE DID I COME HOME DISAPPOINTED OR FELT LIKE I HAD WASTED MY MONEY.
IN FACT, I FELT CONFIDENT AND NO LONGER SCARED TO HANDLE WEAPONS BECAUSE THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF EACH CLASS IS STRICTLY DEDICATED TO SAFETY PROCEDURES, ENSURING THE WEAPON AND MUNITION ARE IN WORKING ORDER, ADDRESSING ANY STUDENT CONCERNS, MAKING SURE WHO TO CALL.
IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, THERE'S A WHOLE BINDER THAT THEY HAVE READY FOR YOU.
AND WE WOULD GO OVER IT EVERY TIME, EVEN IF IT WAS MY THIRD CLASS, CAUSE I WAS TAKING PRIVATE LESSONS.
IT WAS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, THE GUN RULES? WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU KNOW? AND HE, THEY WOULD CHECK MY, UH, MY BACKPACK THAT MY HUSBAND PACKED FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WEAPON THAT I WAS USING THAT DAY HAD THE RIGHT MUNITION.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU LEARN AND THAT ONLY MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, UH, AS A FEMALE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M A NOVICE, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
NOW I KNOW HOW TO LOAD MY GUN.
I'M GETTING REALLY GOOD WITH MY MARKSMANSHIP AND ALL THAT STUFF.
SO I WOULD LOVE THE, TO CONTINUE TAKING CLASSES AND CONTINUING TO EMPOWER MY OWN DAUGHTER SO SHE CAN EMPOWER HER CHILDREN TO PROPERLY USE FIREARMS. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER GRANTING MIDDLETOWN FIREARMS, SPECIAL PERMIT.
SO PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN SAFELY AND SECURELY ENJOY TIME AT THE SHOOTING RANGE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROMOTING SAFE FIREARM PRACTICES.
AND THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOU PUTTING UP WITH HIS SERVICE FOR US NEXT, MRS. SHIRAKI JASON VANS.
HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I LIVE AT 106 ASBURY ROAD IN WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, NOT MORE IN COUNTY, BUT UH, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT.
I THINK A LOT, NO DISRESPECT TO ANYBODY.
A LOT OF WHICH I WOULD CALL CONJECTURE.
I'M NOT A SCIENTIST, I'M NOT A HISTORIAN.
I RESPECT BOTH AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM THE BEST THAT I CAN.
UH, WHAT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE PRESENT.
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN RECENT YEARS.
I GOT MY CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT IN 1994.
UH, BASICALLY THE CLASS WAS HERE'S YOUR GUN.
I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THAT I WANTED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE, GET BETTER.
I BECAME A NRA UNITED STATES, CONCEALED CARRY ASSOCIATION IS A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR AND A VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CERTIFIED HANDGUN AND SHOTGUN INSTRUCTOR.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE WHILE.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH BOTH TRAVIS ENGINE AND CLASSES AND THAT HIS RANGE, LIKE THE GENTLEMEN SAID, HE'S BEEN IN SOME SKETCHY PLACES.
I'VE TAUGHT CLASSES AND A CLOSED RESTAURANT AND GO INTO SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD AND SET UP TARGETS AND HAD THEM SHOOT.
I'VE TRAINED IN SHOT IN MILLION DOLLAR INDOOR RANGES.
I'D PUT TRAVIS'S FACILITY UP THERE AGAINST ANY OF THEM.
EVERYTHING IS SAFE, EVERYTHING IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND EVERYTHING IS DONE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE
[02:25:01]
AS FAR AS THE NOISE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S CONCERN, BUT LIKE I SAY, ONCE AGAIN TO ME, A LOT OF THAT SOUNDS LIKE CONJECTURE, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION.I REALLY CAN'T ADD WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, BUT, UH, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD VOTE.
I LIVE AT 1974 LONG MEADOW ROAD.
UM, BEFORE I START, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR NOT PUTTING THAT RED TIMER UP HERE.
THIS IS A MUCH MORE RELAXED ENVIRONMENT.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO JUST START WITH, BY SAYING THAT.
SO, UH, I LIVE ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE LOCATION OF THE SHOOTING RANGE AND THAT'S AS THE CROW FLIES, I'VE LIVED IN MY CURRENT HOME FOR SIX YEARS AND MY WIFE'S FAMILY HAS OWNED THE 70 SURROUNDING ACRES, UH, FOR THE BETTER PART OF 25.
AND THAT WAS ZERO MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE COUNTING, UH, I, I, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME OUTSIDE OF MY PROPERTY WITH THE NEVER ENDING SHORES OF HOMEOWNERSHIP AND MY OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL HAVE HOBBIES WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WHILE OUTSIDE ON MY PROPERTY.
I OFTEN HEAR GUNSHOTS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
UM, MY CLOSEST NEIGHBORS SHOOTS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
IT DOESN'T BOTHER MY CHICKENS.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S, IT'S NOT AS DISTRACTING AS, AS WHAT IS BEING PORTRAYED TONIGHT.
UM, WHEN I FIRST LEARNED THAT MIDDLETOWN FIREARMS, UH, HAD A SHOOTING RANGE OFF OF WATER PLANT ROAD, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE HOUSE THAT IT WAS SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AND I ACTUALLY HAD TO ASK TWICE WHERE THE LOCATION WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
UM, I, UH, I I'VE KNOWN TRAVIS FOR FOUR, FIVE YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT SINCE HE OPENED HIS STOREFRONT, UH, FINALLY ASKED HIM FOR A TOUR OF HIS RANGE.
AND, UM, I DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE CONSTRUCTING RANGES, BUT I DO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENGINEERING.
AND, UM, AND I COULD SEE THAT IN MY TOUR OF HIS FACILITY, THAT SOUND POLLUTION WOULD BE MANAGED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BY THE NATURAL LANDSCAPING OF THE RANGE AND THE BERMS THAT WERE IN PLACE AROUND THE SHOOTING LANES WOULD IT WOULD HELP PROTECT, UM, YOU KNOW, BULLETS FROM, FROM STRAY, FROM BEING STRAINED, LEAVING THE PROPERTY.
ALSO SOMETHING I HAVEN'T HEARD NOTED TODAY IS THE BERMS ARE NOT JUST DIRT.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUILT BEHIND RUBBER TIRES AND THAT HELPS WITH SOMETHING CALLED PENETRATION OR PROJECTILE EROSION.
UH, SO PROJECTILE EROSION IS A TERM WHEN THE BULLET STRIKES A BERM, IT KIND OF EATS AWAY AT THE DIRT THAT'S RIGHT THERE AND THE TIRES PROTECT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
IT PREVENTS THAT FROM HAPPENING, WHICH MAKES THE BERMS LAST LONGER AND IT'S SAFER PREVENTS, YOU KNOW, RICOCHETS FROM, FROM GOING OFF THE BERMS AS WELL.
UM, I COULD SEE THAT HIS FIRING LANE BACKSTOPS IN THE RAIN SETUP WAS DESIGNED AND ORIENTED IN SAFE DIRECTIONS TO PREVENT BULLET RICOCHET INTO ENSURE THAT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES WERE SAFE.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK TO THE BENEFITS OF THE RANGE BECAUSE I FEEL OTHERS HAVE ALREADY LAID A CLEAR EXPLANATION TO WHY THIS RANGE WILL ADD VALUE TO THE AREA.
UM, I'M ENCOURAGED BY AND AGREE WITH THE JUSTIFICATIONS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
UM, I, UH, I CURRENTLY WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, BUT MY BACHELOR'S AND MY MASTER'S AND MY FIRST 10 YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE WAS IN THE FIELD OF MINING.
UH, AS A MINING ENGINEER, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM NIMBY, NOT IN MY BACKYARD IN I M B Y UH, IT'S A, YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES TONIGHT.
UM, I'M HARD PRESSED TO THINK OF SOMETHING VIEWED AS WORSE THAN A MINE IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.
UM, BUT WE'RE HEARING THAT NOW FOR, FOR, UH, THIS FIREARMS RANGE AS WELL.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT A FIRING OR FIRING RANGE, A SHOOTING RANGE, THAT'S NESTLED BETWEEN THE VALLEYS AT AN INTERSECTION OF TWO VERY LOUD HIGHWAYS WITHIN A FEW MILES OF TWO ACTIVE MINDS, UH, IN A COUNTY DEEPLY ROOTED IN FIREARM, ENTHUSIASM AND SURROUNDED BY VAST MAJORITY OF NEIGHBORS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE RANGE THAT THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A FIRING RANGE.
UM, I WANTED TO MENTION A FEW OTHER THINGS, UH, MR. ADAM, I'M NOT SPEAKING TO HIM.
I'M JUST REFERENCING SOMETHING THAT HE SAID ABOUT DAMAGE TO HIS PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE BUSES.
I I'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT AS WELL.
THEY'RE VEHICLES THAT CHOOSE TO GO OFF-ROADING ON MY PROPERTY AND I HAD TO GATE OFF ONE OF THE ENTRANCES BECAUSE I WAS HAVING PEOPLE TURNING AROUND IN MY FRONT YARD.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A CONSTANT DEBRIS OF TRASH ALONG LONG MEADOW THAT I BELIEVE IS A RESULT OF THE TOUR.
UM, I, I CAN'T PROVE THAT I DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A RESULT OF THE TOUR.
AND JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TODAY IS, UH, IS THAT BAFFLES AND FULLY ENCLOSED SHOOTING RANGES ARE COMMON.
I'VE BEEN TO MANY SHOOTING RANGES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF ENCLOSED.
THERE IS AN NRA RANGE THAT IS ENCLOSED.
I'VE BEEN MANY, MANY OPEN RANGE FACILITIES.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A BAFFLED SYSTEM SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I'VE NEVER OBSERVED IT.
AND I'VE BEEN TO MANY WORLD-CLASS SHOOTING FACILITIES AS WELL.
UM, THERE WAS ALSO A COMMENT ABOUT UNLIMITED AREAS TO SHOOT.
UM, I WOULD ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT SAFETY FOR THOSE UNLIMITED AREAS TO SHOOT.
WHEN I FIRST LEARNED TO SHOOT, I THINK I DID
[02:30:01]
WHAT MOST PEOPLE DID WAS I STAPLED THE TARGET ONTO A TREE.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS OR NOT, THE BULLETS GO THROUGH TREES, SO THEY DON'T GO THROUGH THE BERMS THAT MR. DODSON HAS SET UP IN HIS FACILITY.
UM, I ALSO USED TO WORK FOR A MINE THAT BORDERS THE BATTLEFIELD.
UM, NOT ONLY CAN YOU HEAR THE NOISE AND SMELL AND SOMETIMES TASTE THE LIME DUST, IT'S CLEARLY VISIBLE TO THE CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD.
UM, UM, NOT, UH, NOT MAKING A POINT THERE.
I'M JUST STATING THAT THERE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST BUSINESS TO, TO TRY TO SET UP ANYWHERE NEAR THE BATTLEFIELD.
UH, THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR LISTENING TO ME AND FOR SCHEDULING THIS SESSION.
I KNOW IT'S LATE FOR, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULING IT IN A WAY THAT WE COULD ALL COME AND VOICE OUR OPINIONS.
I'D LIKE TO CLOSE TONIGHT BY REITERATING THAT MY PERSONAL OPINION, THE RANGE IS SET UP IN A SAFE MANNER.
THAT SOUND POLLUTION IS MANAGED BY THE SURROUNDING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, THAT THE BENEFITS OF THIS PRIVATE RANGE ARE SUBSTANTIAL.
AND AS I'VE ALREADY SAID, I'M A MILE AWAY AND I'VE NEVER BEEN DISTRACTED OR DISTURBED BY ANY EXCESSIVE SHOOTING ON THIS RANGE.
THE LAST FIVE WORDS I'D LIKE TO SAY TONIGHT ARE YES IN MY BACKYARD.
UH, DANIEL MORGAN, I LIVE 7 1 6 GAFFEY LODGE ROAD.
UM, LESS THAN A MILE FROM TRAVIS'S RANGE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN DISTURBED BY ANYONE SHOOTING AT THE RANGE.
UH, I HEAR GUNSHOTS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
I'VE ALSO WALKED A LOT OF THE TRAILS ON A BELL GROVE PARK.
NEVER SEEN ANYBODY ELSE THERE.
UH, MY WIFE GOES DOWN THERE ALL THE TIME, TOO.
WE CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM BACK THERE EXCEPT FOR THE HIGHWAY.
AND, UH, I FULLY SUPPORT THE RANGE.
I PLAN ON USING THE FACILITY FOR TRAINING.
UM, I'M AN ARMY VETERAN, MULTIPLE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS.
I LIKE TO TRAIN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE A TRAINING FACILITY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE, UM, AND IN THE COUNTY.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF TAX REVENUE TO THE COUNTY AS WELL.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS PAUL HITCHCOCK, 4 46 MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS ROAD IN WARREN COUNTY.
I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF CNR FIREARMS IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA, AND I'M ALSO A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
UH, I ALSO HOLD AN INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE MILITARY FROM THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER AND THE NRA.
UH, I HAD A, UH, WRITTEN OUT STATEMENT TONIGHT, BUT WITH EVERYTHING EVERYBODY'S ALREADY SAID IT MORE ELOQUENT THAN THAT.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SAFETY AND SOUND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
PRETTY MUCH HAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR I'VE BEEN IN THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, EITHER CARRYING A GUN OR TEACHING GUN, A GUN HANDLING SKILLS FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'M ALSO A PARAMEDIC I'VE SEEN WHAT FIREARMS CAN DO TO PEOPLE.
AND I'VE BEEN SHOT MYSELF AS A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SHOT, BUT AS A, AS A SOLDIER, I HAVE, WELL, WE, WE KIND OF PRIDE OURSELVES IN THE SAFETY AROUND AS INSTRUCTORS.
THE MOST, MOST IMPORTANT PERSONNEL AND ARRANGE IS WHO IS THE INSTRUCTOR.
AND IF I DON'T WANT TO GET SHOT, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO GET SHOT.
SO WE TAKE OUR SAFETY VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
I'VE SEEN TRAVIS'S RANGE AND IT'S A VERY SAFE RANGE, AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE MY STUDENTS GO OUT THERE.
AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH TRAVIS AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEND HIS TRUCK AND MY STUDENTS TO THEM AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE, IF THIS IS APPROVED, AS FAR AS SOUND GOES, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DETRACTORS ABOUT INDISCRIMINATE SHOOTING ALL DAY LONG.
TRAVIS HAS NEVER SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOOTING ALL DAY LONG.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOOTING FOR ONE TO TWO HOURS AT A TIME.
AND THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT IT'S RAPID FIRE.
I HEAR RAPID FIRE SHOOTING, RAPID FIRE SHOOTING, RAPID FIRE SHOOTING.
WELL, WHEN MORE THAN ONE PERSON IS SHOOTING AT ONE TIME, IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE THAN ONE SHOT FROM A GUN.
SO THEREFORE IT MAY, MAY SOUND LIKE IT, BUT IT'S NOT.
THE OTHER THING WE'VE HEARD IS THAT WE JUST CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS.
AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DOCENTS AND, AND, AND PEOPLE GIVING TOURS IS THAT WE'VE HEARD THE, MY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD, HEARD THINGS.
[02:35:01]
AND THEY'RE SCARED.WHAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD IS THE DOCENTS AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GIVING THE TOUR SAY, WELL, WE HAVE A FIRING RANGE NEXT DOOR AND EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT IT IS IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THE FEARS.
MAYBE THE PEOPLE FROM THE BATTLEFIELD NEED TO GO TO THE RANGE AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MAYBE THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO BEING GOOD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR GOING OUT AND DOING IT.
SO, AND WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT HE HAS A NEIGHBOR OF HIS, THAT SHOOTS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
SO HOW CAN WE BE SURE, LIKE, LIKE WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG THAT IT'S COMING FROM THE RANGE, SO LONG STORY SHORT, I AGREE WITH THE RANGE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TOO, AS WELL.
UH, HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS FRANKLIN MARTIN.
ADDRESS 2 7 8 GUN CLUB ROAD, STEVENSON OF VIRGINIA.
I'M NOT REAL GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING.
UM, SO LIKE I SAID, EVERYBODY'S BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT SOUND.
UH, HARRISON, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOME VALUES, UM, WE BUILT OUR HOUSE, UH, THREE YEARS AGO AND FROM MY BACK PORCH TO THE FIRST SHOOTING LANE IS PROBABLY 150 YARDS.
UM, OUR HOUSE HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT $70,000 OF VALUE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, NOT TO MENTION SNOWDEN BRIDGE, I'M NEVER A HUNDRED HOMES ARE OVER THERE.
I HEAR 81 MORE THAN I HEAR THE GUN RANGE AND A SHOT SHOTGUNS THERE FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN.
THEY HAVE SHOOTING EVENTS PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER WEEK AND SOMEONE'S SHOOTING ALL DAY LONG.
AND LIKE I SAID, THE NOISE FROM 81 IS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT IT IS FROM THE RANGE.
I GO IN RANGES IN MY BACKYARD.
UM, WE LOVE GOING TO THE, TO THE RANGE.
UM, WHEN THEY'RE NOT SHOOTING, I ACTUALLY TAKE MY SON FISHING BACK IN THE POND, PRETTY GOOD BASS OUT THERE.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAY, IT'S JUST THE STUFF THAT'S BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT.
LIKE I SAID, A BLAST FROM THE 12 GAUGE IS A LOT LOUDER THAN NINE MILLIMETERS, 40 CALIBERS FOR, WELL, MAYBE NOT 45, BUT JUST THE AREA THAT IT'S IN A BOWL.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU HAVE TO COME UP AND COME INTO IT.
IT'S NO SOUND IS JUST PENETRATING STRAIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, ANYONE.
UM, AND LIKE I SAY, EVERYBODY'S SAYING IS NOT A GOOD PLACE, NOT A GOOD PLACE, NOT A GOOD PLACE, BUT NO ONE SAID WHERE A GOOD PLACE IS.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS ONCE.
UM, PROFESSOR COUNTY, IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, SCHOOLS IN CHURCHES, 90 SOMETHING CHURCHES IN FREDERICK COUNTY.
YOU CAN'T GO THREE MILES WITHOUT BEING NEAR A CHURCH OR BUSINESS OR ANYTHING, BUT NO ONE HAS ANY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HEY, WELL, WHAT, WHAT IS A GOOD PLACE? LIKE I SAID, NOT IN MY BACKYARD.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE COMPLAINT.
NO, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, DAVID AND BOARD? MY NAME IS IAN BARRY.
I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING AND I DON'T HAVE A SCRIPT OR ANYTHING WRITTEN OUT, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UH, GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PERSONAL STORY ABOUT GUN SAFETY AND THIS, UH, THIS HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2014, ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVED 2 65, 5 JEROME ROAD, MOUNT JACKSON ADDRESS 46 YEAR OLD WOMAN, GINA SHOEMAKER.
SHE LOST HER LIFE TO A BULLET FIRED FROM GUN FIRED BY, UM, WAS HIS NAME NICELY, SEAN,
[02:40:01]
NICELY.LEE WAS OUT DARK PRACTICING, SHOOTING INTO A COUPLE OF TREES.
EVIDENTLY THIS PERSON HAD NO TRAINING, HAD NO CONCEPT OF GUN SAFETY BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE TWO 70 BULLETS WENT THROUGH THE TREES, WENT THROUGH THE WALL AND KILLED MS. SHOEMAKER.
THIS WAS A HALF MILE AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVED.
I WAS INTERVIEWED BY WHSV T V3 AT THE TIME, A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER IT HAPPENED, WHICH KIND OF IRRITATED ME WATCHING THE INTERVIEW AFTER THE FACT CAUSE ALL THE WAY THEY CHOPPED IT UP AND CUT OUT ALL THE STUFF THAT I HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GUN SAFETY AND WHATNOT, BE THAT AS IT MAY, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RANGE, DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING AND TO CHANGE GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECHO CHAMBER OF THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, COMING FROM ONE GROUP, AS FAR AS THE SOUND BEING BROUGHT UP AND I KEEP HERE AND WE'RE LOSING SO MUCH BUSINESS AND WE'RE, WE'RE HEARING ALL THESE NEGATIVE COMPLAINTS AND THESE GRANDIOSE TERMS OF BIG IMPACT AND HUGE LOSSES.
AND WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE GO TO GOOGLE REVIEWS.
SHOW ME ONE REVIEW ON GOOGLE FOR BELGROVE PLANTATION.
YOU MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT GUNSHOTS.
HE'S SAYING THAT HE'S HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT GUNSHOTS, SCARING THEM OFF.
WHERE ARE THE EMAILS? WHERE ARE THE TEXTS? WHERE ARE THE REVIEWS WE'VE DONE? TRAVIS HAS DONE QUITE A BIT TRYING TO PROVE HIS POINT THAT HE IS NOT IN FACT A PROBLEM.
PROVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
WHERE IS IT? IT'S ALL WORD OF MOUTH AT THIS POINT.
I'M NOT SAYING HOLY, I'M NOT WANTING TO CALL ANYBODY A LIAR.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE CONTRIVED.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING.
THE TRADING I'VE HAD AT MIDDLETOWN IS TERRIFIC.
UM, MY FRIENDS, TELL ME HOW BETTER I'VE GOTTEN PROFICIENTLY WITH A FIREARM.
I WILL JUST SAY ONE THING IN REGARDS TO THE HISTORICAL ASPECT.
WHAT DO WE ALL FIGURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE HEARD ON OCTOBER 19TH, 1864, RAPID FIRE AT I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
AND I WILL SAY I AM ALL FOR THE RANGE.
ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL ANYONE ELSE? THIRD AND FINAL CALL.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? YES, MA'AM UH, MADAM CHAIR.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I'D HEARD.
UH, AND THIS IS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE OWNERS FOR, UM, SO THE, UH, THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT CAME UP.
ONE WAS THAT, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT YOU HAD, UH, THAT, UH, OVER IN FREDERICK COUNTY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT THAT WAS MENTIONED, MENTIONED WAS MADE OF THAT.
WE, UM, FOR A CONTINGENT ON A PROPERTY IN FREDERICK COUNTY, UM, THAT WE DID NOT GET PAST THE PLANNING COMMISSION THERE FOR MOVING FORWARD THE PROPERTY AT THAT LOCATION.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS THAT, UH, THAT I HAD, I'D HEARD MENTIONED ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, THAT Y'ALL HAD OPENED THE RANGE.
AND THEN I GUESS THERE WERE SOME COMPLAINTS OR WHATEVER, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAME OUT AND, AND, UH, SAW THAT, UH, THE JOEL DID NOT HAVE A,
[02:45:01]
UH, I GUESS THE, THE CUP FOR IT.CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS? THE THINKING THERE? UM, SO I THINK OUR PROCESS AND THINKING AT THAT TIME WAS WHEN WE HAD PROPOSED TO FREDERICK COUNTY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PUBLIC RANGE.
UM, AND THIS WAS A PRIVATE THING.
UM, SINCE THAT HAS HAPPENED, AS SOON AS WE GOT A LETTER JOKE AND TELL YOU, AS SOON AS WE GOT A LETTER, WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED CLASSES.
EVEN IF WE HAD STUDENTS ENROLLED, EVEN STUDENTS THAT PAID, WE FULLY REFUNDED THEM AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED CLASSES SO THAT WE COULD BECOME COMPLIANT WITH THE COUNTY.
WE DO PLAN TO, UM, IF WE GET APPROVED, REGISTERED AS A BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY PAY COUNTY TAXES, BRING IN COUNTY REVENUE, WHICH I KNOW PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS IS A DETERRENT.
UM, ESSENTIALLY WE THINK WE WOULD BE BRING PEOPLE IN TO HELP INCREASE REVENUE AND THE COUNTY AND FOR PEOPLE AND VISITORS.
UM, AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE WOULD INCUR THE COST OF INSURANCE, OBVIOUSLY, UM, NOT JUST FOR OUR BUSINESS AND MILITARY, BUT ALSO HERE AT THE RANGE WITH OUR NEW LOC, UM, SO THAT WE WOULD INCUR THAT COST TOO, AS FAR AS ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR, OF THE FACILITY.
SO, SO IF I COULD CLARIFY THEN THE, UH, EVEN THOUGH, UH, IT WAS OPEN FOR PER BUSINESS, YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU HAD TO GET A CUP FOR IT THEN.
CORRECT? WE THOUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS PRIVATE, IT WASN'T AN OPEN RANGE.
LIKE I SAID, WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ANY KIND OF SERVICE AT THAT TIME.
UM, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO REBUT IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, EVERYONE WILL SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR.
AND LIKE WE HAVE RAISED, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE AT THE BOARD, WHEN WE MET WITH THEM, IT'S HARD TO FIND A PLACE.
AND WE WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO FIND A LOCATION THAT WOULD BE BEST FIT.
UM, WE DID BUY THE 53 ACRES, I BELIEVE IT IS IN TOTAL.
UM, AND IT'S CON THE TRAINING IS CONFINED TO TWO ACRES IN THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY, ESSENTIALLY HOPING THAT WE COULD HELP MITIGATE NOISE POLLUTION.
UM, WE HAVE SIGNATURES, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU WERE GIVEN A SIGNATURE SHEET, UH, 15 RESIDENTS THAT ARE ALONG LONGMEADOW AND GAVIA.
UM, SO WITHIN A MILE RANGE THAT ARE OKAY WITH OUR, UM, TRAINING FACILITY, UM, AND THAT ARE ALL WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS, UM, WITH THE CONCERN ABOUT DECIBELS, UM, AND NOISE LEVELS.
UM, ESSENTIALLY THE ONLY WAY TO ENFORCE NOISE LEVELS IS DECIBEL READERS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE COUNTY IS CONCERNED, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE SHERIFF, UM, COULD HOLD SO MORE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS WOULD ENFORCE THAT.
UM, THE HUNT CLUB, LIKE WE SAID, IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, THEY USE LARGER CALIBER HUNTING RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS FREQUENTLY.
UM, WE DO NOT ALLOW PRIVATE SHOOTERS.
THIS IS A CONTROLLED AND SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT.
UM, THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT ALUMNI DAYS.
WE HAVE, UH, HAVE HAD AN, AN ALUMNI DAY BEFORE WE STOPPED TRAINING.
UM, AGAIN, THOSE ARE REGISTERED PEOPLE.
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO JUST SHOW UP ON SUNDAYS.
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOW UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY SAID THAT IT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED SO THAT WE CAN CORRECT.
THEIR PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN OUR CLASS.
UM, AND IT'S, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS, THE RIGHT NUMBER OF INSTRUCTORS PER STUDENT.
WE SAID, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO KEEP INSTRUCTORS, STUDENT LEVEL LEVEL.
UM, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, OUR AREA IS CONTINUING TO GROW.
WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW MORE VISITORS, MORE REVENUE IN OUR AREA.
I OBVIOUSLY RESPECT THE HISTORY OF OUR AREA.
I HAVE SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
UM, AND WE WANT THIS TO BE A CONTROLLED AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR 30 FOOT NATURAL BERMS THAT WE'VE REINFORCED.
UM, LIKE THEY'VE SAID, MOST FARMS ARE 15, MAYBE 20 FEET.
UM, AND WE FELT A NEED TO GO ABOVE THAT JUST TO HELP INCREASE SAFETY.
UM, WE'VE OFFERED FLEXIBILITY WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
WE NEVER STATED THAT NOISE MITIGATION WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.
THEY ASKED US IF WE WERE WILLING TO DO AN INDOOR RANGE, WE DID TELL THEM AN INDOOR RANGE IS SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, ONE, UH, TRAP SYSTEM CAN EXCEED A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THEN AT THIS TIME THAT IS AN EXORBITANT COST AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
UM, THEY'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT REFLECTOR PLATES.
UM, SOME PEOPLE MENTIONED BAFFLING.
THERE'S VERY FEW OUTDOOR RANGERS IN OUR AREA WITH BAFFLING AND REFLECT YOUR PLATES CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE RICOCHETS IN THE DIRT.
UM, SO OUR BIGGEST THING I COULD HAVE SAID A MILLION TIMES IS SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS GUN SALES PEOPLE TO OFFER TRAINING BECAUSE WE WANT OUR PATRONS TO BE SAFE.
DID YOU, UM, I AM CURIOUS WHAT IS BAFFLING? SO I, I DON'T KNOW THEM YET.
DEFINITELY HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
[02:50:01]
WAYS IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION VERSUS, UM, BY THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU ALL WERE SENT.UM, WHAT THE BAFFLING WAS TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME WAS A SYSTEM THAT GOES ABOVE AND IT WOULD STOP ANY SHOTS FROM GOING UP ABOVE THE BERM.
THINK THE BERM IS ALREADY OVER 31 FEET.
I THINK TOTAL, UM, JIM WOULD BE 34, 34 FEET.
UM, SO TH THAT, THAT BAFFLE SYSTEM MAKES SURE NOTHING GOES ABOVE THAT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY REINFORCED THAT WITH JUST MAKING IT TALLER INSTEAD OF ADDING A BAFFLED SYSTEM, UH, WHICH WE DON'T, UH, THINK IS NECESSARY SINCE WE BUILT OUR WALL TALLER.
UM, THAT'S HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING NOW, UH, THERE IS, UH, WHAT PEOPLE OF BAFFLED SYSTEM COULD BE ALSO A SOUND AS WELL, WHICH I THINK IS IN, UM, WAS, IT WAS EXPLAINED THE LAST TIME KIND OF CONFUSED WITH WHAT THEY'RE MEANING BY THIS BAFFLE SYSTEM.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A BAFFLE SYSTEM WITHIN AN HOUR RADIUS OF THIS AREA.
I DON'T KNOW A RANGE AROUND HERE THAT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE THAT HAS A LARGE BAFFLED SYSTEM SET UP.
UH, I, IF, IF ANYBODY WOULD NAME ONE, I, I'M NOT AWARE OF ONE.
UM, BUT I'M JUST NOT AWARE OF THAT SYSTEM.
I'VE SEEN IT AT ARMY RANGES AND, UH, LIKE IN THE ARMY DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT AND ALL THAT, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THE ARMY AND WE'RE NOT DOING TACTICAL TRAINING EITHER.
WE'RE NOT ROLLING AROUND IN THE GRAVEL.
OUR TARGETS ARE STATIONARY, USUALLY THREE TO FIVE YARDS AWAY.
SO I DON'T, UH, WITH, WITH THE INSTRUCTOR BEING RIGHT BEHIND YOU AT ALL TIMES, WE DON'T SEE IT WHERE IT'S NECESSARY.
I HEARD IT MENTIONED FOR SOUND MITIGATION.
SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT ABOUT LEVELING SYSTEM WOULD BE FOR SOUND MITIGATION BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM? CORRECT.
AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT ON AN OUTDOOR, THE COVE DOESN'T HAVE THAT, AND WE DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUTSIDE RAIN AT, UH, ISAAC WALTON DOESN'T HAVE A BAFFLE SYSTEM EITHER.
UH, THE FREDERICK COUNTY, UH, FIRING RANGE, UH, BY THE DUMP IN FREDERICK COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A BAFFLE SYSTEM.
WHEN, WHEN I WAS THERE AT YOUR RANGE, YOU, YOU TOOK US ON A TOUR.
UM, YOU HAVE REINFORCED, UH, THE SIDES OF THE BUILDING, THE TWO BUILDINGS THAT YOUR RAIN SETS IN WITH RAILROAD TIES.
UM, THOSE WILL ABSORB THE SOUND AS WELL.
AND THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR BERM, THERE ARE TREES, BUT THERE'S A FEW GAPS AND YOU WERE TALKING, DO YOU STILL PLAN TO PLANT MORE TREES THERE AND THEN TREES FURTHER OUT ACROSS THAT FIELD? OKAY.
I KNEW YOU HAD, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT TO ADD AN EXTRA LAYER OF BUFFERING THERE.
EVEN IF THAT WASN'T A CONDITION THAT WAS SOMETHING WE'VE PLANNED TO HELP WITH NOISE IN GENERAL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, WELL, LADIES FIRST, THAT'S GREAT.
YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE TO MAKE COMMENT.
I FEEL AS SAFE IN HERE AS I HAVE IN ANY OTHER PLACE.
I'VE SEEN MORE INSTRUCTORS, MORE PEOPLE THAT KNOW GUNS AND I FEEL GOOD, BUT SAFETY IS NOT THE CONCERN HERE.
INSTRUCTION IS NOT THE CONCERN.
NOW, BETWEEN IN THAT MAJOR NUMBER ONE RANGE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE, UM, TWO SIDES, METAL BUILDING, AND YOU'VE GOT SOME, UH, RAILROAD TIES THAT YOUR RUN THAT YOU'VE RUN DOWN THE SIDE, WHICH WILL ABSORB SOME SOUND ABOVE THOSE RAILROAD TIES IS A METAL BUILDING THAT VIBRATES, AND IT PRODUCES A REFLECTION AND THE NOISE WHERE REFLECT OFF OF THAT.
I'M PRETTY SURE I'M NOT A SCIENTIST, BUT I JUST KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS KIND OF WORK.
WHY CAN'T YOU PUT SOME SORT OF SUPPRESSION ON THAT TO FIRM IT UP.
SO IT DOESN'T VIBRATE AND IT PUT IT IN A SITUATION WHERE IT CAN ABSORB MORE SOUND LIKE THESE, THIS GROUP IS NOT FIGHTING.
WHAT THEY'RE FIGHTING IS THE SOUND
[02:55:01]
AND YOU'VE YOU.AND WE HAVE GOT TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO MAKE IT QUIET ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY WILL LIVE WITH IT.
CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO LOSE TONIGHT AND WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE BACK AND FORTH.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TALK TO EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING SOUND WISE IS GOING TO SATISFY BOTH YOU AND THEM AND ADDING SOME SOUND SUPPRESSION, NOT BAFFLING, BUT SOUND SUPPRESSION WILL SOLVE MOST OF THAT PROBLEM.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT? YES, SIR.
I BELIEVE BY MR. MAY WAS AT OUR FACILITY.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ADDING POTENTIALLY FOAM TO THE AREA OF EXPOSED METAL, UM, TO HELP WITH SOUND AS WELL.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT BE PUT INTO A CONDITION AS WELL.
THAT'S IT? WHEN YOU'RE PROBABLY DONE, IF YOU'VE DONE WITH ASKING QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE CONDITION LIST AND THAT'LL BE FINE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WROTE THIS CORRECTLY.
SO YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU WERE NOT GOING TO BE OPEN ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS.
YOU WERE NOT GOING TO BE OPEN DURING REENACTMENTS, CORRECT.
I'M GOING TO PICK UP OFF THE 66.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM, OKAY.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.
IF YOU, MR. PETTY, IF YOU DON'T MIND READING OFF AND, UM, SO THAT WE IT'S BEEN A WHILE TO REFRESH US NOPE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A POINT, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK WE HAVE CONDITIONS AND THEN WE HAVE PROPOSED UPDATED CONDITIONS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONES WE'RE CONSIDERING.
SO, SO IN FRONT OF YOU AND WHAT WAS IN THE STAFF BOARD AND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED WILL BE THE CONDITIONS THAT I WILL READ RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND SOME OF THESE ARE KIND OF STANDARD, BUT WE'LL JUST ROLL THROUGH THEM HERE.
SO THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WARREN COUNTY, BUILDING INSPECTIONS, MOORE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND OTHER APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT'S KIND OF A STANDARD CATCH ALL.
UM, NUMBER TWO, A SITE PLAN SHALL BE PREPARED AND APPROVED BY THE WARREN COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ZONING, SHOWING THAT THE BUILDINGS, PARKING AREA, OUTDOOR LIGHTING, TRASH RECEPTACLE, SIGNAGE, OUTDOOR FIRING RANGE, AND OTHER APICAL ZONING REQUIREMENTS.
NUMBER THREE, ALL LIGHT FIXTURES SHALL BE FULL CUT-OFF AND COMPLY WITH THE WARREN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE.
NUMBER FOUR ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION SHALL NOT PRODUCE SOUND LEVELS, WHICH EXCEED 60 DECIBELS DURING HOURS OF OPERATION AT THE NEAREST PROPERTY LINE.
NUMBER FOUR IS SIMILAR TO A SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATION.
THAT'S ALREADY WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION.
WHO'S DOING THAT, THAT, UH, ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED SHALL NOT PRODUCE SOUND LEVELS, WHICH EXCEED 60 DECIBELS.
WHO'S, WHO'S MAKING THAT DETERMINATION.
SO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CONDITION OR THE ACTUAL NUMBER WHO'S MAKING UP THE NUMBER WHO'S ENFORCING THAT CONDITION.
SO AS WITH ANY TYPE OF VIOLATION OF A CONDITION OR THE ZONING ORDINANCE, IT WOULD BE OUR OFFICE.
UM, OUR OFFICE CAN BE ASSISTED BY OTHER AGENCIES.
IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD LIKELY, SINCE THE NOISE ORDINANCE IS ENFORCED BY THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LIKELY DO THAT ENFORCEMENT WITH THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO DO THAT ENFORCEMENT.
[03:00:01]
AND AGAIN, PER THE WARREN COUNTY CODE, THEY ARE THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY THAT ENFORCED.SO WE WOULD DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM.
IF SO, THE 60 DECIBELS WOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF YOUR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
AFTER SOMEONE TOOK, MADE A COMPLAINT VERSUS THEIR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, CORRECT? THE VERIFIED, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO USES IT.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE WOULD CONTACT THEM.
THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THEY'RE CERTIFIED USE IT, IT'S CALIBRATED IT'S IT FALLS UNDER THEM.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THEM TO ENFORCE THAT AS WITH ANY NOISE COMPLAINT WHEN WE DO DOGS AND STUFF TOO.
SO AT WHICH POINT ARE WE MEASURING? BECAUSE SO CHAIRMAN COLORS AND I WENT OUT THERE JUST FOR FULL DISCLOSURE AND WE STOOD ON THE MONUMENT AND WE HAD THESE FOLKS SHOOTS.
SO WE COULD HEAR FOR OURSELVES WHAT THE SOUNDS WERE LIKE.
THERE WERE THERE, IT WAS A WINDY DAY.
THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF SOUND ON THE HIGHWAY.
WE DIDN'T HEAR THE PISTOLS AT ALL AT ALL.
WE DID HEAR THE RIFLES, BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR THE PISTOLS.
SO WHERE IS ONE MEASURING THIS? WHERE ARE, IS IT GOING TO BE MULTIPLE POINTS OF MEASUREMENT OR JUST ONE POINT OF COMPLAINT MEASUREMENT? SO IF THE CON, SO LIKE WITH ANY VIOLATION, UM, IF A PROPERTY OWNER MAKES A COMPLAINT, WE WOULD MAKE THAT ASSESSMENT FROM THAT PROPERTY LINE WHERE THERE, BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CODE AND THIS CONDITION, SAME AT THE NEAREST PROPERTY LINE.
SO WE WOULD BE MEASURING IT FROM ESSENTIALLY THE COMPLAINT, THESE PROPERTY LINES.
AND BECAUSE EACH PROPERTY LINES MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT NOISE LEVEL.
UM, IT'S SHOWN IN STUDIES, OBVIOUSLY TOPOGRAPHY PLAY.
IT'S JUST NOT A LINEAR NUMBER, TOPOGRAPHY, TEMPERATURE, ALL THESE THINGS PLAY.
SO IF A CERTAIN PERSON'S GOING TO MAKE THAT COMPLAINT, WE'RE GOING TO VISIT THEIR PROPERTY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO WHERE THEY'RE SAYING, THEY'RE HEAR THE NOISE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WE HAVE, UNLIKE A TYPICAL ZONING VIOLATION, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTACT THE DATSUNS AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS.
WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE THE SOUND.
MAYBE THINGS HAVE CHANGED CONDITION.
MAYBE THEY CUT DOWN SOME TREES OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND, AND WE'LL DO THAT MITIGATION FACTOR AT THAT POINT.
AND THEN WHEN WE GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE PROPOSED CONDITIONS WE CAN ADDRESS.
ADDING TO THAT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A BASELINE TO START WITH.
AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY APPROVE THE CUP AND THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE LITANY OF THINGS TO GET THE CUP ISSUED TO THEM, WE'RE ASKING THEM A STUDY SHALL BE CONDUCTED.
NOW THAT STUDY IS IT IS AND WILL BECOME OUR BASELINE.
AND THAT STUDY CAN'T BE DONE BY THESE PEOPLE.
NO OFFENSE TO Y'ALL, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE BY SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, GIVING US OUR BASELINE.
ONCE WE GET IT AND WE'VE APPROVED THEIR CUP, THE NEXT COMPLAINT THAT WE'VE GOT WILL BE DONE BY OUR SHERIFF AND GOING WITH HIS EQUIPMENT.
SO WE GOT TO START SOMEPLACE AND THEN WE START DOING IT RIGHT.
THE FIRST TIME WE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE IF THEY DID IT, AND THEN THEY DID IT AGAIN, ONCE THEY COMPLAINED AND WE TOLD THEM, THAT'S THE WRONG WAY OF DOING IT? I THINK I BELIEVE THAT IF A PROBLEM EXISTS, WE DON'T CALL THEM UP AND SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO GO TEST THIS THING.
WE GO TEST IT BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, WHEN WE START VERSUS WHAT HAPPENS SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, OR 12 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN THEY GOT RAPID FIRE GOING ON OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, WE GOTTA BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THEY'RE DOING IT CORRECTLY.
SO THAT THAT'S THE ONLY POINT THAT I'VE GOT TO MAKE ON THAT.
BUT IT'S A BIG ONE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEPLACE AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP.
SO YOU KIND OF JUMPED AHEAD TO THE YELLOW PAGE.
I WAS CONFUSED UNTIL I REMEMBERED TO LOOK AT THE YELLOW.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS ALREADY PROPOSED.
SO, UM, REAL QUICK, UM, AHEAD OF Y'ALL TODAY.
[03:05:01]
WHY ARE WE WAITING UNTIL THERE'S A COMPLAINT? WHY COULDN'T IT TO, TO, TO VERIFY THAT THIS REQUIREMENT IS BEING MAINTAINED? SO AS STATED EARLIER WITH CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, UM, AND I'LL ALSO STATE, AND ONE OF THE LINKS I SENT, SO THERE WAS A GREAT SOUND STUDY BY SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO, THAT THEY OWN A COUNTY OWNED FACILITY THAT DOES SHOOTING, AND THEY HAD NOISE COMPLAINTS IN 20 20, 21, 21.WHEN SH YOU KNOW, THE ACT ACTIVITY BECAME MORE PREVALENT.
I'M SURE THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT WAS VERY, IT'S VERY NICE STUDY, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY THESE CONCERNS.
AND THEN THEY DID A WHOLE COMPUTER MODEL BASED ON TOPO AND EVERYTHING THAT SAID WHAT MITIGATION FACTORS COULD BE DONE IN ORDER TO, UH, LOWER THE DECIBEL RANGE.
AND AS A STATED EARLIER, HISTORICALLY, WE DON'T ASK FOR SOMEBODY AN APPLICANT TO DO THAT PRIOR TO APPROVAL, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE EXPENDING, YOU KNOW, MONEY.
AND THEN THE OTHER ASPECT OF A BLANKET WE'LL INSTALL BAFFLES.
WELL, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT WOULD WORK OR WHAT THE ISSUE IS, IS A STUDY COULD POSSIBLY TELL YOU WHERE YOUR WEAKNESSES ARE, WHAT YOU COULD DO TO IMPROVE THAT.
BUT THAT'S A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
AND THE BOARD DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR THAT PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL, BUT HISTORICALLY THE WAY WE HAVE DONE SO UPS IS THAT WOULD BE CONTINGENT ON A CONDITION THAT'S PLACED ON IT.
IF THE USE IS APPROVED PRIOR TO THEM CONDUCTING THE OPERATION, IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A DOCUMENT SUCH AS THAT.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ADHERE TO ANY REPORTS THAT ARE IN THERE, BUT AGAIN, TO UPFRONT THAT COST, AND THEN WE DON'T WANT THEM TO COME BACK LATER AND SAY, WHY I SPENT X AMOUNT ON THIS, AND YOU TOLD ME TO DO IT.
I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO APPROVE MY CUP.
UM, THAT'S HISTORICALLY HOW WE'VE DONE IT.
UM, THE BOARD DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THAT AHEAD OF TIME, UM, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT THIS CUP WILL BE SUBJECT STILL TO APPROVE WHAT THAT'S.
A PLAN B IS TO LIVE AT THE FACILITY FOR NOW, UM, AND THE HOUSE THAT WE'RE RENOVATING.
UM, BUT LONG-TERM, WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE, LIKE TRAVIS SAID ARE A LONG-TERM GOAL, WHICH COULD BE 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IS MAYBE TO OPEN AN INDOOR FACILITY, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT.
SO NUMBER FIVE, ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION SHALL BE APPOINTMENT BY APPOINTMENT OR RESERVATION ONLY IN SUCH ACTIVITY SHALL ONLY TAKE PLACE DURING THE FOLLOWING HOURS.
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WOULD BE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 8:00 PM, 8:00 AM TO 7:00 PM, SUNDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM.
AND THE OUTDOOR DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS TAKE PLACE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM OR SUNSET OR SUNDAY FROM 12:00 PM TO 4:00 PM.
NUMBER SIX, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS PER CLASS SHALL NOT EXCEED 25 STUDENTS AND FIVE INSTRUCTORS, OR AS DETERMINED BY THE WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
NUMBER SEVEN SPECIAL EVENTS, WHICH EXCEED THE OCCUPANTS LISTED IN CONDITION.
NUMBER SIX SHALL BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN 10 EVENTS PER CALENDAR YEAR WITH NO MORE THAN 75 PEOPLE PER EVENT, SUCH EVENTS.
SHOW ME WARREN COUNTY, BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS.
AND NUMBER EIGHT, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL DRINKING WATER TESTED ANNUALLY FOR LEAD CONTAMINATION, AND A COPY OF THE RESULTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED, UM, IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE THIS YELLOW SHEET AND I GAVE IT THE DATSUNS WHEN THEY SHOWED UP.
SO NUMBER, MOST OF IT'S STILL THE SAME, UM, NUMBER FOUR, WHICH WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH THE DECIBELS AND AS A SUPERVISOR MAY BROUGHT UP, OBVIOUSLY NOISE IS A CONCERN.
AND SO THE IDEA THAT A STUDY SHALL BE CONDUCTED AND THE RESULT SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO CONDUCTING THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION, THE DATSUNS HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR OWN PERSONAL STUDY.
IT DOES HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THERE.
SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS DO EXCEED THE 60, BUT THERE'S ALSO TRAFFIC AND STUFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THERE.
[03:10:01]
MITIGATION FACTORS, AGAIN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THAT'S OBVIOUS, AND THAT'S WHY WE WOULD REQUIRE SOMEBODY WHO IS TO COME IN AND DO THAT BECAUSE THEN THEY CAN PROVIDE US WITH POSSIBLE MITIGATION FACTORS.UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT STUDY WOULD ASSIST WITH FOUR.
THEN NUMBER TWO, IN THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDY AND THE SITE PLAN, UM, WORK, UM, CONDITION FIVE B THE OUTDOOR DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS. WE RECOMMENDED ADJUSTING MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TO 10:00 AM, INSTEAD OF 9:00 AM ON THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH ANOTHER CODE.
THAT'S COMPLETELY UNRELATED, BUT JUST KIND OF GO ALONG WITH WARREN COUNTY CODE, AND THEN WE ALSO DELETED OR SUNSET, CAUSE THAT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
UM, OBVIOUSLY IN THE WINTER TIME, THEY MENTIONED THAT IF IT'S DARK, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY PUT LIGHTING.
SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING HAPPENING, BUT ALSO IN THE WINTERTIME, THEY LIKELY WOULDN'T EVEN BE HOLDING OUTDOOR CLASSES BECAUSE OF OBVIOUS WEATHER, UM, NUMBER SIX, OR THE OCCUPANCY LOAD.
WE, WE SUGGEST ELIMINATING AS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO WORK ON.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A NUMBER ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO MEET HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS.
AND, UM, WE JUST WANTED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONCISE IN THAT NUMBER SEVEN FOR THE SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE TOOK OUT BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT THERE AND ADDED IN THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR EACH LARGE SPECIAL EVENT.
THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH SAY THE FAIRGROUNDS.
THEY HAVE A CUP FOR A FAIRGROUNDS, BUT YET EVERY YEAR FOR THE FAIR, THEY SUBMIT A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.
AND THAT GOES THROUGH THE BOARD AS A CONSENT AGENDA, BUT WE SEE COMMENTS FOR EACH OF THOSE IN THEIR CASE, WE WOULD SEE FIRE AND RESCUE AND STUFF JUST SO THEY WOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE WOULD BE A LARGER EVENT TAKING PLACE THAT DAY IN CASE OBVIOUSLY AN EMERGENCY CAME UP AND THEN WE DISCUSSED ADDING THE NUMBER NINE THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE APPROVAL BY A QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL TO CERTIFY THAT THE LIVE FIRE RANGE IS A SAFE OPERATION DESIGNED TO PREVENT INJURY TO PERSONNEL AND TO PREVENT PROPERTY DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE FROM MISDIRECTED OR ACCIDENTAL FIRING.
AND RICK SHAVED PRIOR TO CONDUCTING THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION, THE DATSUNS HAVE HAD SOME ALREADY FOLKS COME IN THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
A LOT OF THESE OUTSIDE AGENCIES, INSURANCE AGENCIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE COULD GIVE US THAT QUALIFIED REPORTS SAY THAT IT'S SAFE.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED HERE TONIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SAFETY.
BUT I THINK, UM, FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM STAFF NOISE HAS BEEN OF THE PREDOMINANT CONCERNS FROM A LOT OF FOLKS.
SO AGAIN, YOU HAVE THESE CONDITIONS HERE, UM, AND I'LL JUST MAKE A NOTE TO THAT FOR A CUP.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE LIKE WHAT THE FACTORS ARE IN APPROVING A CUP AND WHY AND HOW YOU SHOULD APPROVE A CUP.
UM, THE CONDITIONS THAT WE PLACE ON THESE MUST BE REASONABLE AND THEY MUST IDENTIFY THE IMPACTS THAT THAT USE MAY HAVE ON ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, DOESN'T MATTER WHO THE PROPERTY OWNER IS.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS USE, THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT.
I JUST WANT TO PULL SOMETHING UP.
AND SO IN THE CODE, UM, FOR CONDITIONAL USE, UH, WHEN DETERMINING TO GRANT A PERMIT, NUMBER ONE OR SIX, A SAYS A BAIT AND RESTRICT NOISE SMOKED US AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT MAY AFFECT SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
SO THESE ARE LIKE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE CONDITIONS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THEM PROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE ADDRESSING REAL IMPACTS THAT THEY ARE REASONABLE.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANTS WHILE THEY'RE NOT VOLUNTARY.
WE DO TRY AND WORK WITH THE APPLICANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE CONDITIONS THAT ULTIMATELY PROHIBIT THEM FROM ACTUALLY DOING THE USE THAT YOU MAY APPROVE.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THE MOMENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONDITION OR THE QUESTIONS SHOULD APPLICANTS CAN HELP YOU MADAM CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE , I THINK IT TOUCHES ON WHAT MR. MAY, AS STATED, YOU KNOW, THE CONDITION NUMBER FOUR, WHAT I ADDED IT SAYS A STUDY SHALL BE CONDUCTED AND RESULTS BE PROVIDED ON PRIOR TO CONDUCTING THE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACHIEVING THE 60
[03:15:01]
DECIBEL RANGE GUESTS.THE QUESTION THAT THINK THAT MR. MAY MAY HAVE BEEN ASKING, HE CAN CLARIFY IS IF THAT SHOULD BE DONE PRIOR TO YOU MAKING A DECISION, OR IF YOU DO APPROVE IT, THAT WOULD BE IN THERE.
AND IT WOULD BE UP TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE.
AND YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT PUTTING FOAM THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED IN HERE.
I'M SORRY, HIS ADDING THE, A LAYER OF FOAM UP ON THE METAL PART YOU HAD AS A CHRONIC CONDITION SOUND SUPPRESSION.
BUT THAT, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDED IN, ON ANY OF THESE, DOES IT NEED TO BE SPECIFIC OR JUST THAT? CAUSE HE HAD MENTIONED THAT AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT MR. BUTLER WAS ASKING.
MADAM CHAIR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF TO SET A LIMB AT THE 60 DECIBELS, HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS WITH RACETRACKS, RATHER THAN WITH SHOOTING RANGES, PER SE, YOU NEED TO SET A RANGE AND LET THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO MEET THE 60 DEATHS OF, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE THE 60 DECIBEL, BUT HE HAD ASKED IF THE PHONE COULD BE ADDED TO THE CONDITIONAL USE.
AND WHEN THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE FOAM HOW GOOD THE FOAM WOULD WORK IS WHY I SAY YOU SHOULD TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THE 60 DECIBELS AND SET A SET, A LIMIT AS 60 THAT SUGGESTED HERE OR A DIFFERENT LIMIT IF YOU LIKE, RATHER THAN SAYING, MAKE THIS IMPROVEMENT OR THAT IMPROVEMENT, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE SOMETHING.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT IT TO GET MISSED.
SINCE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP AND ASKED, UM, TO CLARIFY THAT.
WELL, ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT W THAT WE WENT THROUGH WAS IN THE ORIGINAL, IN THE ORIGINAL, UM, CONDITION SHEET, IT SAID A STUDY MAY BE IN THE NEW ONE.
IT SAYS A STUDY SHALL BE, I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A WORD, BUT ONE TELLS ME THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THE OTHER ONE SAYS THAT MAY HAPPEN.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE SHALL HAPPEN BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NOISE SUPPRESSION IS AT SOME LEVEL, BUT EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH, SO THE MOTION THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, IF YOU TAKE THAT INCLUDES, SHALL AND INCLUDES THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, CORRECT, RATHER THAN MAY.
AND I'M JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN MY STAFF REPORT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS, I MADE A COMMENT THAT THE STUDY MAY NEED TO BE COMPLETED SO THAT WASN'T EVER IN A CONDITION WHERE I COULDN'T FIND THAT.
SO YES, THE CONDITIONS WOULD SAY SHELL AS DOCTOR FOR PAIN AND MADAM CHAIR.
COULD I, COULD I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT, UH, AND I'M NOT SURE YOU SAID THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT THESE STUDIES.
SO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS OUR ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR NOISE.
UM, I THINK THE STUDY IN WHICH WE ARE SEEKING WOULD NOT BE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BODIES OF WORK.
IT WOULD BE THAT A PRIVATE CONSULTANT AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONTRACT AN ENGINEER LIKE THIS COMPANY THAT DID IT FOR THIS LOCALITY.
THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT STUDY AND DO SOME MITIGATION FACTOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT IF THE SHERIFF WAS ABLE TO DO IT, THAT WE HAD THE SHERIFF DO IT, AND THAT WOULD KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
ONE IS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PUTTING A BURDEN ON THEM, BUT ALSO IT WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, IT'S DONE IN A, AN OBJECTIVE MANNER.
I, MY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS MIKE AND A BIT OF MY CONCERN.
I MEAN, YES, MRS. OATES AND I DID GO OUT, UM, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE AND MS. ASSOCIATES AGREED.
AND, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CONDUCTED THAT TEST AS GOOD AS WE COULD.
THEY WERE SHOOTING AND WE WERE STANDING NEAR THE MONUMENT.
UM, AND YOU COULD BARELY, UH, MR. PETTY WAS THERE AND I LOOKED AT MR. PETTY AND I THINK WE SAID IT IN UNISON.
IT, IT DIDN'T SOUND EVEN LIKE GUNSHOT.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TOOTING OF A
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TRAIN.UM, AND THEN THE HANDGUNS WE COULD HARDLY HEAR, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU HAD TO REALLY STRAIN.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE HERE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, AND I, I FELT LIKE, OH, SHOCKS.
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BECAUSE NOBODY HAD COMPLAINED THAT WAY.
WE WERE THINKING TOWARDS BELL GROVE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE HEARING THE COMPLAINTS OF THE NOISE.
HEARING THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT LIVE BEHIND THAT THEY DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BIG A DEAL.
I HATE TO PUT A HUGE COST ON THEM TO DO, UH, YOU KNOW, A STATIC BEYOND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT'S GETTING TO BE SO ERRONEOUS THAT ISN'T GOING TO PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE IN A POSITION TO WHERE THEY CAN'T AFFORD.
BUT I WANT TO GUARANTEE THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SOUND.
SO IF WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
I THINK THAT'S ONE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD NOW, DR.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COULD GO OUT AND THEY COULD DO RANDOM SAMPLES FOR YOU.
AND THEY COULD DO A TEST TO SAY, THIS AREA MEETS THE 60 DECIBELS.
THIS DOES NOT, THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO SAY A WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM.
WHETHER IT'S FROM THE INTERSTATE, WHETHER IT'S FROM SOMETHING ELSE AND B, THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO SAY HOW TO MITIGATE ANYTHING THAT'S COMING FROM THE RANGE.
SO THAT PART, WE COULD DO THE TEST TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HERE'S THE BASELINE AND WHETHER THAT IS PLUS OR MINUS 60 AND WHERE IT IS.
AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONTRACT SOMEONE TO GIVE THEM RECOMMENDATIONS HOW TO MITIGATE IT.
THE MITIGATED WOULD BE WHAT WOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY WEREN'T MEETING, BUT WE CAN SET THE BASELINE.
WE CAN DO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN DO THE TEST, BUT WE CANNOT MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
NO, THAT'S, THAT WAS NOT MY MEANING THAT, BUT TO GET THAT BASELINE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE TO GO OUT AND TEST IT LATER, UM, THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'VE TESTED, WHERE THEY START FROM.
I WOULDN'T BE SATISFIED WITH THAT.
SO, UH, UH, SIR, I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU.
HOW TO, HOW DO WE ADD THAT IN TO, UM, NUMBER FOUR, JUST ADD THAT THE STUDY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR TAKE, STUDY OUT AND WHAT TESTING SOUND TESTING THAT'S SUPPORT, READING AGE, A BASELINE SUMMARY OF DECIBEL READING SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRIOR TO ANY OF THE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
JOE, YOU'RE LOOKING KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE.
I LOOKED AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY IN THE HALLWAY.
MY, SO MAY I, I'M JUST GONNA, I'D LIKE TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS THE RIGHT AGENCY TO DO, UM, THE COMPARATIVE.
I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE UP TO THE APPLICANT TO HIRE SOMEBODY THAT HAS, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE WHAT WE DISCOVERED IS THAT THE SOUND OF THE, UM, THE HIGHWAY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO LOUD THAT THE TRACTOR TRAILERS IT.
SO IT MAY BE DIFFERENT AT A DIFFERENT POINT.
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK YOU NEED VERY SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT TO DETERMINE WHICH SOUND YOU'RE HEARING.
A INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT ANALYST SHALL PROVIDE A BASELINE SUMMARY OF DECIBEL READINGS.
AND I THINK FROM A CUP AND A BUSINESS, I KNOW THIS IS AG.
WE'RE NOT REZONING, BUT IT'S A COMMERCIAL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO OTHER REZONINGS OR OTHER, WE RELY ON ENGINEERS TO DO TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T ASK V.TO DO THAT FOR US.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY HAVE TO HIRE CONSULTANTS AND ENGINEERS.
IT'S JUST KIND OF PART OF THAT BUSINESS PRACTICE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I KNOW IT IS A BURDEN SOMETIMES, BUT
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ENGINEERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WHETHER IT'S FOR STORMWATER OR CONSTRUCTION OR TRANSPORTATION OR ENTRANCES, THOSE THINGS HAVE TO COME INTO PLAY SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL WE'RE TRYING TO MEET AND TO MITIGATE.I JUST, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, I KEEP THINKING THAT IF THIS DOESN'T GET APPROVED OR IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS BY RIGHT, THEY CAN GO SHOOT ALL DAY LONG AND THEN NOBODY CAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE DECIBELS THAT THEY'RE DOING IT AT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE, AND DIDN'T THEIR WAY YOU CAN DO IT, BUT MRS. COOK, I KEEP HEARING THE COSTS, THE COSTS.
DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE? WHAT A STUDY WOULD COST? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? IT COSTS US ABOUT $4,000 TO DO OUR OWN, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE A COMPANY COME IN AND HAS SOMETHING MORE THAN A DECIBEL.
SO YOUR STUDY THAT, SO IF I COULD JUST SAY SOMETHING REALLY QUICK.
SO THE, THE CITY THAT YOU PRESENTED, THE C BEING COST, YOU $4,000 TO DO THIS.
MA'AM AND THE AMOUNTS PROBABLY GONNA GO UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON AMMO PRICES TOO.
CAUSE WE FIRED A LOT, A LOT, A LOT OF ROUNDS THAT DAY WITH NO COMPLAINTS TO WARREN COUNTY.
WHEN WAS THE STUDY DONE? I THINK IT'S ON THAT PAPER.
AND UM, THE VERY END FEBRUARY 19TH, THAT WAS THIS PAST WEEK.
WHEN WAS THE, THIS GREATER STUDY WAS DONE THE SATURDAY PRIOR TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION? I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER.
YEAH, EITHER THE END OF OCTOBER, THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, IT WAS JUST PRIOR TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SIR.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THOUGH.
HE IS GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
SO IF YOU WANT TO COME TELL HIM, THEN WE'RE ALL LEGAL, UNLESS HE CAN TELL YOU THE COST.
UH, SO I'VE DONE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DECIMAL REGIONS INSIDE FACTORIES, UM, YOU HAVE NOISE MITIGATION FOR WORKERS' COMP, UM, YOU KNOW, HEARING WALLS DAMAGE TO THE EMPLOYEES AND WE CHARGE AROUND $10,000 FOR THAT, JUST THAT STUDY.
PLUS YOU'RE DOING AN AMMO FOR HIM.
AND IF YOU WANT TO CANCEL OUT TRAFFIC FROM 81 OR 66, YOU WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT EITHER STOPPING TRAFFIC TO GET A FAIR AND BALANCED THREE OR MINE WHERE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AND THEY'LL HAVE TO SHOOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OKEY-DOKEY SO YOU COULD GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS THAT MR. PETTY GAVE YOU AGAIN.
AND THAT SAYS THAT 60 DECIBELS FROM THE NEAREST PROPERTY UPON COMPLAINTS.
SO WE, IF AT SUCH TIME, AS THERE IS A COMPLAINT, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GO OUT TO MAJOR THAT CALIBRATE, GET THE READINGS AND SO FORTH TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE.
WHEN I MET WITH YOU GUYS, YOU WERE SAYING THAT, UM, OUTDOOR DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS WILL BE DONE PRIMARILY IN THE AFTERNOON.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE? CAUSE THIS SAYS, UM, THAT FROM 10:00 AM TO SIX, AND WHEN I WAS TALKING TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE IN THE, MOSTLY IN THE AFTERNOON, EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON DURING THE WEEK, MOST OF OUR, ALL OF OUR CLASSES ARE PRIVATE.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD DEPEND ON PEOPLE'S SCHEDULES.
WE ALSO SAID 10:00 AM, WHICH IS KIND OF A MIDDLE GROUND BECAUSE WE'VE SAID IF STEPHEN CITY OR STRAUSBERG NEEDED TO COME OUT TO RECERTIFY, WE DON'T CHARGE THEM, BUT WE WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO COME BEFORE 10:00 AM COURTESY TO THE NEIGHBORS, OBVIOUSLY AT 7:00 AM.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD IN, OKAY.
UM, HEARING ALL OF ALL THIS INFORMATION WE'RE BACK TO BEFORE NUMBER FOUR AND HOW DO WE WRITE THAT CONDITION? SO WHAT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT IT TO STAY? I MEAN, YOU DO, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO CHARGE THEM THEN AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 TO DO THIS STUDY AND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT, THEY HAVE TO BE AT 60 DECIBELS
[03:30:01]
AND WE'LL GO OUT AND HAVE THE SHERIFF GO OUT AND TAKE HIS LITTLE DECIBEL READER AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS.AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO CORRECT IT.
OR THEY'LL BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
YOU'RE SAYING, YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN.
WELL, YOU, YOU TAKE WHAT IT SAYS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONDITIONS? SO JUST I'M SO SORRY.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED.
SO FOR THE CONDITION, NUMBER FOUR, WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING.
NUMBER FOUR, AS THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN THERE, IT SAYS IT SHALL THE NOISE SHALL NOT EXCEED 60 DECIBELS.
IS THERE ANY HOURS OF OPERATION? THESE ARE ALTERNATE IN CASE THESE ARE NOT FOLLOWING.
I THINK YOU'D STRIKE THE UNDERLYING PART.
YOU'RE NOT REQUIRING THE STUDY.
IF EVERYTHING ELSE, EXCUSE ME, EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS OKAY, THEN WE CAN WORK OFF.
WE CAN WORK OFF THE ORIGINAL WHITE SHEET.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER, I WOULD NOTE IF YOU'RE GOING TO STRIKE THE UNDERLYING PART, MAYBE GO WITH THE 10:00 AM.
RIGHT? WELL, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
IF WE WEREN'T GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING, WE'RE WORKING OFF THE WHITE SHEET, SO IT'S NOT CONFUSING.
SO WE'RE ON THE WHITE SHEET UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU GOT, YOU'VE GOT SOME OTHER CHANGES ON THIS YELLOW SHEET.
THAT UNLESS WE'RE PAST FOUR FROM FIVE DOWN, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
ARE THERE ANY OF THOSE 5, 6, 7, 8 OR THE ADDITION OF NINE THAT WE NEED TO RECONSIDER ON THE ORIGINAL FORM? I DON'T THINK NUMBER NINE IS NECESSARY.
IN MY OPINION, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OF CHANGING FIVE THROUGH EIGHT FROM THE ORIGINAL FORM TO ANY OF THE CHANGES ON THE YELLOW FORM, I WOULD CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO FIVE B MA'AM, WHICH CHANGES THE TIME FROM 10:00 AM TO 6:00 PM, RATHER THAN SOMEBODY TRYING TO GUESS WHAT TIME THE SUN DISAPPEARED.
AND I LIKE TO LOOK AT NUMBER SEVEN THAT IN LIEU OF REQUIRING TO MEET THE BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS, THAT IT'D BE A SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT, WHICH IS EASY ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU STILL GET THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING INSPECTIONS, FIRE, AND RESCUE, AND THE BOARD APPROVES IT.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT, SAYS STRIKE, AND THEN YOU COULD STRIKE NINE.
IS EVERYBODY AGREEABLE TO THOSE CHANGES? YES.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CHANGES? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION MR. PETTY? YOU'RE GOOD WITH ALL THAT.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST CLARIFY WHERE WE ARE.
I WILL FORWARD A READING ALL OF THEM, BUT I WILL SAY ON THE YELLOW SHEET, YES, WE ARE GOOD WITH ONE THROUGH THREE AS IS YES.
NUMBER FOUR WILL REMAIN AS THE ORIGINAL.
WHEN WE STRIKE THE NEW REQUIRING OF A STUDY, FIVE IS GOOD.
FIVE B WILL BE ADJUSTED AS PRESENTED, CHANGING IT FROM 9:00 AM TO 10:00 PM AND STRIKING OR SUNSET NUMBER SIX.
ARE WE GOOD STRIKING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENT? OKAY.
WE CITED IN NUMBER, NUMBER ONE, CORRECT.
NUMBER SEVEN, WE ARE STRIKING, UM, THE SECOND SENTENCE AND ADDING THAT A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED FOR
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EACH EVENT.NUMBER EIGHT IS STILL THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL AND STRIKING NUMBER NINE, REQUIRING THE, UH, SAFE OPERATION.
AND THEN I WILL REFER YOU TO YOUR BLUE SHEET.
IF, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO TAKE A MOTION, THERE IS A MOTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S THE SECOND ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT PLANNING, COMMISSION AND STAFF AND AS AMENDED.
SO ONCE EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN FAMILIAR WITH THE MOTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, PLEASE.
SO I'M GOING TO GO FIND ME THAT THE REQUESTED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE WARREN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE.
I MOVED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUESTS TO TRAVIS DODSON FOR THE COMMERCIAL OUT COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPERATION WITH THE CONDENSED CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF WITH THE ADDITION OF THE YELLOW SHEET, THE YELLOW SHEET OF WHAT WAS JUST READ BY, OR DO I NEED, OR DO I NEED TO GO AS AMENDED? THANK YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT ROLL CALL MRS. SHIRAKI MR. MABE, MRS. COOK.
I MRS. OATES, MR. BUTLER, THE AYES HAVE IT.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UM, YOUR VERY RESPECTFUL CONDUCT TONIGHT.