ShootSmart seeks SUP amendment to add limited firearms manufacturing for in‑house range use

City staff on July 28 briefed the Planning and Zoning Commission on an amendment to a specific-use permit for ShootSmart, 2440 West Main Street, to add firearm manufacturing as an allowed use limited to in-house assembly and customization.

Staff said the property is zoned light industrial and that SUP 835 currently permits a public firing range, training, competitions and firearm and ammunition sales. Staff said the facility already performs gunsmithing to repair and maintain firearms and that employees assemble parts into firearms for use at the on-site range. Staff noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) defines assembly and modification as firearm manufacturing.

The applicant’s proposed amendment would add “firearm manufacturing” to the SUP but would narrowly tie that allowance to an operational plan (Exhibit B) that staff said restricts activities to in‑house customization and assembly used at the range and not a retail manufacturing operation. Staff and a commissioner clarified during the briefing that the facility’s inventory of firearms used for rental at the range is owned by the business and not sold to the public on-site, and that the requested change is intended to reflect existing operations and to enable required permitting with federal authorities.

Staff recommended approval subject to a condition that any firearm manufacturing operation comply with the Exhibit B operational plan. Staff said the request is intended to formalize and limit the scope of in‑house assembly and gunsmithing rather than introduce broader commercial firearm manufacturing or retail production.

The briefing was informational; no action was taken that evening. Any formal public hearing and vote will occur during the regular meeting.