Planning commission recommends denial of zoning text amendment to allow private shooting ranges across much of Berkeley County

The Berkeley County Planning Commission on a motion recommended denial of a proposed amendment to §6.4.7 of the county Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance that would create a special‑exception use allowing private firearms and archery ranges in the Agricultural Flex 1 (Flex 1) district. The applicant, Mr. David Clark, president and operator of Cloverfields Sportsman's Club (Clover Fields Bridal Shooting Range), is pursuing the amendment after code enforcement opened a violation for an outdoor firing range on a roughly 6‑acre parcel off Clover Lane.

Commission staff told the panel the proposed change would be generally applicable to any parcel zoned Flex 1 and therefore must be written with clear, enforceable performance standards. Staff said the request “does not conform to the comprehensive plan at this time,” noting many Flex 1 parcels fall in the plan’s rural living designation and that proposed performance standards were not adequate to ensure…