Seldovia residents waited four hours Tuesday night to voice opposition to the Kenai Peninsula Borough classifying 29 acres near the city as recreational, the first step towards it becoming a shooting range.
“I am very much against having a gun range there, I am directly affected by it, I was given no notice, I’m across this little body of water on the bay. Like I said, I never would have bought my property if I’d known there was going to be an active gun range there.
“I’m not against the gun club, we had a city council meeting and the town feeling is everybody’s for the gun club, they’re a bunch of good guys, I know many of them. Personally I like to see them shoot and have fun just like anyone in recreation but personally I think that this is the wrong area.”
Seldovia resident Richard A. Harkness stated in a written public comment that he supports the location and “The Club will be of great recreational and educational benefit to local residents and visitors alike.”
Another Seldovia resident, Keith Swick, stated in a written comment: “My home is within approximately 1500′ from the current shooting range in the Hopkins Brothers Construction yard, there has never been enough activity for it to be a nuisance.”
However, the public testimony given at Tuesday’s meeting was in opposition. Assemblyman Willy Dunne voted no and explained why…
Asmb. Dunne: “I hunt, I’m not opposed to shooting sports but this is obviously the wrong location and I think the problem is a lack of public notice and a lack of public input.”
Mayor Mike Navarre apologized to the Seldovia residents who traveled to the meeting to testify, saying when the idea was first presented to the borough it seemed legitimate, but it was apparent from testimony that is not the case.
The KPB Assembly voted down the resolution unanimously.