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Sheriff and local chiefs seek expanded weekday use hours at County firearms range; board asks staff to confirm process and notify neighbors
Summary
Local law‑enforcement training staff requested that the Board expand weekday access at the county firearms range to better accommodate training schedules and modern suppressed weapons; the board asked staff to confirm whether a resolution is required and to notify nearby residents.
Sheriff’s office and local police training staff asked commissioners Tuesday to authorize broader weekday hours for the Pitkin County law‑enforcement firearms range and discussed site safety, noise mitigation and facility improvements.
What staff proposed
Training staff requested changing the range’s permitted days/hours (presently constrained by an older master‑plan condition) to allow weekday access between roughly 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for scheduled agency training and individual officer practice. Trainers said the county’s tactical and long‑rifle equipment has changed since the hours were established; most long‑rifles and service weapons are now fitted with suppressors, and training patterns and technologies (simulation, rifle optics) make longer scheduled weekday access useful for officer scheduling.
Safety, noise and site features
Staff and trainers described the site as a well‑constructed outdoor range that shoots into a large hillslope/backstop and said its current design and use (suppressed long guns, no tracer ammunition) limit fire risk and local impacts. Training staff proposed additional measures including improved berm orientation to further reduce sound, installation of two insulated shipping‑container classrooms that have been secured through grants (to replace existing unheated buildings) and continued coordination with the landfill operation on access.
Permits, approvals and board role
County staff advised the board that the original hours were documented under an earlier planning process and that current state statute and county practice treat county‑owned facilities differently than private‑use zoning, so the BOCC retains authority to set hours and conditions for county property. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether a formal resolution is required, and staff said they would check the record and return with the appropriate next steps. Several commissioners requested the county notify nearby residents and community associations in advance of any hours change.
Next steps
- Staff to confirm whether the change requires a BOCC resolution or can be handled administratively and to bring the required paperwork back to the board. - Staff to prepare neighbor notification and communications materials and to confirm the permitting/utility steps needed to install the insulated training containers and any electrical/permit requirements for them. - Staff to examine minor berm/orientation improvements as part of long‑term sound‑mitigation planning.
No formal decision was made at the work session; the board provided direction for staff to return with the legal process, notification plan and any permit requirements.
