2003.04.24 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Meeting April 24, 2003 - page 3 stop and scares his children. He wondered what it would take to completely shut BESA down. Dan Johnson, 12170 Upper Heather Avenue North, said it was a public nuisance, and it was wrong to expand on it. Tom Drewry, 12674 Hilo Avenue North, said he would like to see the use of muzzleloaders permitted. Jean Nelson, 12350 Upper Heather Avenue North, said she and her neighbors were not notified because they were outside the 350' mailing radius; therefore, had little time to research the background on the issue. Nelson said she felt psychological and emotional damage could occur due to listening to disruptive gunfire and once muzzleloaders were permitted, it would be hard to reverse the decision. She recalled a City Council meeting where she said she remembered BESA saying they wanted to be good neighbors and use noise abatement. She questioned whether it had ever been done. She commended the Planning Commission on all their work on the Comprehensive Plan but said she failed to see where muzzleloading guns came into play. She inquired on how many of the members were Hugo residents and she referred to an article on lead that indicated outdoor firing ranges put more lead into the atmosphere than industries. Schreifels said they reclaim lead at the range according to EPA's guidelines. Jeff Gruett, 7285 137th Street North, said he lived approximately one mile northeast of BESA and could hear the noise from his house but was not bothered by it. He said it did not make sense that he was allowed to discharge a muzzleloader on his property but not at BESA. He recalled a previous City Council meeting where a Council Member said that people buying property in the area should be made aware of the existence of BESA. Rick Lessard, 7342 125th Street North, said he thought BESA was a nuisance and the City should be considering restricting it, not expanding on it. Tom Crever, 12942 Ingersoll Avenue, said he felt it would not be intensifying the use, only allowing another type of weapon to be shot. Dave Holm, 6460 125th Street North, said he approved of BESA working with area boy scouts and offering gun safety programs but he was against the use of muzzleloaders because of noise and traffic issues. McRoberts said he does not see it as being an increase in intensity over what was already permitted. He also pointed out the condition in the existing permit that stated the City could set more restrictive levels, if needed, because of the general quiet nature of the City. The Community Development Director informed the Commission that there was discussion at the state level to prohibit cities from regulating gun clubs because some communities have put unreasonable restrictions on gun clubs. Rosenquist commented on the time it takes to reload a muzzleloader saying that the rate of fire could decrease.