Meeting Notes 072016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 situation. If we find evidence of a commercial enterprise –meaning that there is compensation from the general public to use the facility –then the operator would be required to obtain the appropriate permits.We have no regulatory mechanism to require permitting for a private range. x Planning staff approached the Board of County Commissioners about the need toestablish regulations for commercial shooting ranges in the course of its work revising the “recreational facility” standards. At the same point in time there was discussion about the need to provide some direction or provide the Commissioners with options about how to regulate private shooting ranges to address public concerns over noise, safety, and what not. We attempted to provide those regulations, and it was determined that the land use mechanism was not the appropriate way to do that. The determination by the elected officials was that the land use component was appropriate to address commercial standardsonly. One consideration is that Planning staff is available only between thehours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Craig Benedict, Planning Director, addressed the Committee alongside Mr. Harvey. He saidover the past 15 years therehave been complaints about recreational usesof land which hinged on whether the activity was commercial or private. Those complaints have involved go-kart tracks, motor cross, softball fields, and soccer facilities. Shooting ranges also were considered recreational uses. We found that our regulations were not strong enough to be able to make the distinction between commercial and private recreational activities. We now have more specific rules about commercial vs. private recreational operations, and have the clarity that Planning will handle only the commercial operations. With regard to the commercial operations, the question for us is whether the enjoyment of a piece of property isimpinging upon others. Is there noise, dust, glare, or traffic issues, for example. Our rules on commercial shooting ranges address these matters through requirements on the distance from neighbors and setbacks. We do not address types of firearms or safety. Our earlier efforts to generate regulations were not focused on shooting ranges per se;they were focused on the larger category of recreational land uses in which shootingranges are included. In reply to additional questions from Committee members, Mr. Harvey said: x Applications for a Special Use Permit to open a new commercial shooting range would go to the Planning Department. The Department would require a land use survey. There are certain zoning districts in which recreation facilities are allowed. The applicant would go before the Board of Adjustment for a public hearing, which would be advertised and noticed so that adjacent property owners would have theopportunity to express their support or displeasureto the