Council OKs Lockport Township public safety training facility and accessory outdoor firing range after months of debate

The Crest Hill City Council voted April 7 to approve zoning changes and special-use permits needed for a Lockport Township public safety training facility that will include an accessory government-operated outdoor firing range.

The council first approved a text amendment to the Crest Hill Zoning Ordinance to define, permit and regulate government-operated outdoor firing ranges in the city (Ordinance 2015). After later debate and a separate motion, the council also approved a related ordinance granting special-use permits for the training facility and accessory range and waiving certain Planned Unit Development (PUD) submittal requirements (Ordinance 2016). Both measures passed by narrow votes.

Why it was contentious: The proposed facility drew sustained public comment and aldermanic debate focused on three main concerns—noise from live-fire training, potential effects on nearby property values and whether residents had sufficient notice and opportunity to engage. Supporters, including Lockport Fire Protection District Chief Michael O'Connor and several neighboring fire and police chiefs, argued the facility would improve interagency training, help the Lockport district reach an ISO rating that lowers insurance costs and consolidate training to a single engineered site designed to reduce noise.

Chief Michael O'Connor described extensive design and mitigation measures in response to resident concerns: he said the training site was redeveloped from initial designs to move the range farther from the nearest subdivision, place a classroom building between the range and residences, orient shooting away from houses, add side berms and raise berm…