Shooting range gains partial approval
Plans are off for the establishment of a commercial outdoor shooting range in western Leavenworth County.
Last August, Joseph and Cheryl Nave, who live at 25299 4-H Road, applied for a special-use permit to operate a commercial shooting range on their rural property.
Monday morning, Leavenworth County commissioners approved a special-use permit that does not allow the commercial shooting range. However, it does allow the Naves to teach commercial firearms safety classroom courses on their property. And it allows them to continue their business through which they have a federal license to sell firearms and ammunition.
Commissioners said the Naves may operate their business from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They also specified the Naves must provide adequate parking and restrooms.
Among the other provisions, the permit states the Naves must comply with applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
Though the Naves will not be allowed to operate a commercial range, they will be able to use the range.
“They can have that range and shoot at it all day long as private citizens,” said Chris Dunn, the county’s director of planning and zoning. “… The special-use permit restricts it from being used as a commercial range.”
County Commissioner Dean Oroke said this was a case in which commissioners weighed landowners’ rights against neighbors’ rights. Neighbors petitioned against allowing the commercial shooting range.
“I call it a complete matter of compromise between all parties,” Oroke said.
Dunn said it was his understanding that if the Naves wanted to re-apply for a special-use permit to operate a shooting range, they’d have to wait another 12 months.