Planning commission approves two-year land-use permit for private archery range

Shannon Watson requested a special land-use permit to operate an outdoor archery range on 27.34 acres at 1486 School Road, using about 3 acres of the parcel for events and practice. The Planning Commission voted 5-0-1 to forward the permit to the Board of Commissioners with the seven stipulations presented by staff (including two added by staff during the hearing); the applicant was told he must attend the Board of Commissioners meeting on June 10 at 2 p.m.

Why it matters: The permit would allow scheduled public archery events and practice on privately owned land. Conditions in staff stipulations address access, safety, health permitting and site review; the permit term is two years and would require renewal thereafter.

At the meeting, Watson described the proposal: "The range will consist of probably 1 event a month. There will be basically 2 stations ... you have 1 lane, 1 shooter at a time. You shoot all 10, and then you move to the next station." He said the longest target is about 40 yards and that terrain places shots downhill into a valley, which he said provides a backstop: "... the way the land lays, it's all ridges and valleys. So the backstop is the ridge. We shoot down in the valley. So even if you miss the target, it's going down and not up."

Staff explained the permit covers three acres of the 27.34-acre parcel. Two stipulations added during the hearing require the applicant to improve access and obtain an updated driveway permit from Paulding DOT, and that access details be determined during plan review. Other stipulations addressed public-safety and event controls, including a prohibition on providing alcoholic beverages at events (stipulation 5). When commissioners asked about neighbor notice, Watson said he had spoken with adjacent property owners and that events would be sited away from neighbor boundaries: "I'm ... right in the middle of my own property." He also said he would pursue outreach to 4-H and expressed willingness to host youth practice if needed.

Formal action: Commissioner Aston moved to approve the land-use permit with the seven stipulations as presented (including the two staff additions); Commissioner Fitzgerald seconded. Motion passed 5-0-1. The case will be placed on the Board of Commissioners agenda for June 10 at 2 p.m.; the applicant must appear.

Discussion vs. decision: The record separately captures applicant statements about operational details and staff/commission inquiries about safety, access, neighbor notification and regulatory compliance. Approval from the Planning Commission is a recommendation; final permit issuance depends on the Board of Commissioners and plan-review compliance, including DOT driveway permitting.

Clarifying details and on-site operations: The applicant said he plans one event per month, two shooting stations with ten targets each, and would provide parking and a porta-potty. He agreed to adhere to the staff stipulations and acknowledged the land-use permit is valid for two years and must be renewed prior to expiration.

Ending: Staff recorded no in-person opposition during the meeting. The Board of Commissioners will make the final determination at the June 10 hearing.