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Council hears extensive public questions on proposed home‑occupation gunsmithing business; second reading set for June 10
Summary
An applicant sought a conditional‑use permit to operate a gunsmithing business and occasional build classes from a residence abutting a school. Council and staff flagged enforcement, shipping and safety questions; the item returns for second reading June 10.
The Brookings City Council on Tuesday held a public hearing and first reading for a conditional‑use permit that would allow a major home‑occupation gunsmithing business at 2505 Larkspur Ridge Drive.
The applicant, Tyler Bridal of Havoc Engineering Group, told the council he holds an existing federal firearms license and wants to relocate the license to the residence so he may serialize and transfer firearms under ATF rules. Bridal said build classes would not be held on‑site; instead he intends to partner with licensed gun dealers for classroom sessions and to transfer serialized parts through those dealers. He said all sales, background checks and serializations follow federal rules and “there are no ghost guns, no 80% lowers.”
Council members and residents pressed staff and the applicant on several points: whether ammunition or live‑fire testing would occur on the premises, how kits and receivers are shipped and signed for, proximity to an abutting school, and how the city would enforce conditional‑use conditions if neighbors suspect violations.
Police Chief Drake told the council local enforcement typically relies on ATF inspections and federal record keeping: “We work very closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They're the ones that do the checks on all their records. They do random inspections… we normally would not do that at our level unless we were requested by them.”
Community Development staff said the Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions: the conditional‑use permit would be valid to this applicant only (non‑transferable), build classes cannot be held on the premises, and the applicant must submit proof of relevant licensing to the Community Development Department every three years. Staff noted the permit could be revoked if the city determines the applicant violated the conditions.
Council members expressed particular concern about the property’s adjacency to a school and about mechanisms for monitoring compliance; several said the ATF record‑keeping and the potential for federal inspections mitigated some enforcement concerns. Bridal said he lives at the address, that components are mainly inert when delivered, and that he has held the license three years without incident.
The item passed first reading and will return for second reading and final action at the council’s June 10 meeting. Staff and the applicant provided clarifications requested by council during Tuesday’s discussion.
