Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
18 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to <br /> 3 reconvene the meeting at 8:35 p.m. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Roll call ensued. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 8 <br /> 9 6. Follow-up Discussion Regarding the Regulation of the Discharge of Firearms in <br /> 10 Areas of the County with a High Residential Unit Density <br /> 11 <br /> 12 The Board finalized discussions related to the regulation of firearms discharge in limited <br /> 13 urbanized areas of the county. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 BACKGROUND: <br /> 16 This topic has been previously discussed on multiple occasions by the Board of <br /> 17 Commissioners. The two most recent discussions occurred in September 2020 and February <br /> 18 2021. At the February 2021 meeting, the Board of Commissioners directed the County Attorney <br /> 19 to bring back additional maps. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 The eight maps attached to this abstract are as follows: <br /> 22 • Residence with 300 Foot Buffers with Complaint Locations—This map shows the <br /> 23 approximate locations of all residences in the County with a 300 foot buffer around each <br /> 24 residence; <br /> 25 • Residence with 450 Foot Buffers with Complaint Locations—This map shows the <br /> 26 approximate locations of all residences in the County with a 450 foot buffer around each <br /> 27 residence; <br /> 28 • The four maps labeled Site 1 (Timberly Drive Area), Site 2 (Council Lane Area), Site 3 <br /> 29 (Dogwood Acres Drive Area), Site 4 (Active Shooting Range) show areas of the County <br /> 30 where there have been complaints and how those areas would be impacted by 300 foot <br /> 31 and 450 foot buffers; <br /> 32 • The two maps labeled Whirlaway Lane Area and Foxhill Farm Area show areas of <br /> 33 somewhat dense residential development and how those areas would be impacted by <br /> 34 300 foot and 450 foot buffers. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 Additional background information is available in the September 2020 and February 2021 <br /> 37 agenda packets linked below. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 The September 10, 2020 BOCC Work Session agenda materials may be viewed here. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 The February 9, 2021 BOCC Work Session agenda materials may be viewed here. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 As noted in all prior discussions there are state limitations on local government authority related <br /> 44 to restrictions on firearms and ammunition. The Board may, however, subject to certain state <br /> 45 restrictions, limit the time, place, and manner of firearms discharge. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 County Attorney John Roberts reviewed the background information for the item, and <br /> 48 noted requested maps have been provided. He said the State is very restrictive on how <br /> 49 counties can regulate the discharge of firearms. He said all existing shooting ranges would be <br /> 50 exempt from any new ordinances established by the county. <br />