Tuesday night the Borough Assembly heard from many community members, largely about the sale of 77 acres to the Snowshoe Gun Club.
Many people who testified on the ordinance used the time primarily to air concerns about current gun club issues and questioned how making the range bigger would fix those problems.
Christine Hutchison lives about a half mile from the gun range.
Hutchison: “When the raceway right there next came up for reconsideration of their conditional use permit, I was opposed to extending it because I feel those recreational services at that location have exceeded their usefulness at that location. They need to start thinking about moving out and extending the area at the gun range does not do that.”
Assembly Member Mako Haggerty said that he fully supports the gun club and its services but hopes the issues can be worked out between the parties.
Haggerty: “I absolutely understand the neighbors perspectives too. And so part of how you deal with this stuff is you have to walk a mile in each others shoes and once that happens I think everything can be solved on their end and government does not have to get involved.”
A few who addressed the content of the ordinance did raise concerns over it being sold below fair market value at about $15,000, however Mayor Mike Navarre pointed out that the acreage is at the end of the rifle range and could not be sold for anything else anyways.
Many board members of the Snowshoe Gun Club were there to answer questions.
Board member Don Feltman clarified what the additional property being purchased would be used for.
Feltman: “The land that we’re wanting to purchase from the borough is not for a range expansion, its to extend our rifle range, it has nothing to do with extending the gun club. Plus its a safety factor with the bullet impacts from our rifle range, we’d like to get that land to extend our safety area.”
The ordinance passed unanimously.