Commission approves outdoor shooting range west of Wilcox with conditions

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved docket SU24‑22 to allow an outdoor shooting range on applicant‑owned parcels west of Wilcox, subject to multiple conditions intended to protect public safety and the environment.

Staff described the project area as roughly 400 acres and said it would include pistol, rifle and shotgun ranges, phased construction, and access from Marguerite Road. Staff noted traffic circulation is the one applicable factor that did not fully comply because the proposed primary access is a local road; staff nonetheless reported eight favorable zoning factors and that Kibler Feedyard (nearby landowner) supports the proposal.

Representatives of the Wilcox Firearms Training Center, a local 501(c)(3) that runs hunter‑education and safety programs, said a supervised public range is needed in the Wilcox area and proposed rules to limit hours to daylight, require range safety officers when the facility is open, and incorporate best‑management practice design (berms, shooting‑alley orientation) to prevent projectiles from leaving range boundaries.

Commissioners asked about dust control, wildlife and potential impacts on migratory birds; staff added conditions requiring dust control on Marguerite Road, a soil contamination mitigation plan, coordination with State Lands and BLM best practices, and a requirement that the applicant combine the tax parcels into a single parcel before permitting. Staff also required that range rules and emergency contacts be posted and that range officers be on site during business hours.

After discussion, the commission approved the special use unanimously. The conditions listed in the staff recommendation — including measures for berms, standoff distances, dust control using 2‑inch gravel on the quarter‑mile access stretch, and an EPA‑style soil mitigation plan to address potential lead contamination — are part of the approval.

Action: SU24‑22 — special‑use authorization for an outdoor shooting range on combined tax parcels 202, 013, 014, and 018; approved with conditions (unanimous). The commission advised applicant to pursue permits and the required consolidation of parcels before site work.

Speakers quoted or summarized in this article are taken from the meeting record: staff planner Matthew Taylor and representatives of Wilcox Firearms Training Center (Patina Thompson).