Controversial shooting range site up in air

After a very long night in the basement of the courthouse, no one was quite sure what comes next as a community struggles with having a shooting range in their backyard, and those wanting training on the handling of weapons and a place to compete in shooting sports look for a home in Harvey County.

A conditional-use permit applied for by Manuel Camacho Jr. to operate a firing range was partially denied, but a permit issued for the same parcel of property located on North River Park Road in 1991 allowing for a shotgun target and skeet range is still in effect.

Surrounding property owners would like to see the range gone completely, though were satisfied that the Harvey County Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals denied a permit to use rifles and handguns on the property.

During the same motion, the board recommended allowing the facility to add an archery range.

“I still believe the community really needs a range,” Camacho said. “This county needs a range.”

Camacho said he wasn’t sure if he would look in another location, or what the future may hold for his efforts to create an area for shooting events using rifles and handguns.

The Harvey County Regional Planning and Zoning Commission Board of Appeals’ recommendation now will go to the Harvey County Board of Commissioners for formal approval.

The board of appeals spent much of Tuesday night listening to testimony in a public hearing — those in favor of approval of the permit spoke to the need of having a range in the county.

They included representatives of Kansas Clays and Arrows, which is using the property in question, area law enforcement and 4-H leaders.

“We need a place for kids to go and learn how to handle firearms,” said Gary Logsdon, a hunter’s education instructor. “As it is now, we teach classes without the opportunity to handle firearms.”

But the location of the current Kansas Clays and Arrows facility is within earshot of a number of property owners, nestled in amongst rural homes and working farms.

Surrounding property owners would prefer another location for shooting instruction and sports be found.

“There is a large community opposition to this,” said Katy Schrag, who lives about a half-mile from the site. “I don’t feel safe working in that area.”

One of the Schrag family farm fields is next door to the current shotgun range, and their home is within a half mile.

In all, 13 people chose to speak in opposition to the proposed permit, including a former owner of the property.

“My late husband and I intended for this shooting range to be a shotgun range only,” said Barbara Stucky, former owner of the land where Camacho’s proposed range sits. “If this permit is granted, I must apologize to my old neighborhood for opening up this can of worms in 1991.”

In 1991, a permit was issued for the operation of a “gun range.” The original letter did not designate what type of guns would be used — though for the last 18 years, the range has been used for shotguns only.

The planning zoning board recommended the use permit to not allow handguns and rifles because it would negatively effect the use, value and enjoyment of surround properties and it would be detrimental to or endanger the public health and general welfare of surrounding property owners — both criteria the board is required to consider when granting or denying a permit.