The York County Planning Commission voted Jan. 14 to recommend approval of a special use permit for a new approximately 12,600-square-foot indoor firing range at 331 Dare Road, provided the resolution incorporates the applicant’s updated narrative and the county conducts annual checks tied to code enforcement.

Planning staff summarized the proposal and its compliance with the York County zoning code, including sections 24.1‑306 and 24.1‑457 governing firing ranges. Staff told the commission the 26.3-acre subject parcel is mostly zoned Resource Conservation (RC) with a small R‑20 portion at the entrance, and recommended approval of resolution PC25‑26R, noting the applicant’s proposed mitigation measures and required documentation would be submitted during site- and building-plan review. “Therefore, staff recommends approval of this application subject to the conditions set forth in proposed resolution number PC25‑26R,” staff said.

The applicant, Zev York of the Lafayette Gun Club, told the commission the club has increased outreach to adjacent homeowners and agreed to a series of operational and physical changes: expanded landscaping, higher earthen berms, capture netting on the eastern boundary of the 50‑yard range, and moving selected outdoor activity indoors. York said the club will limit shotgun gauges and shot sizes, limit certain reactive targets to 22 rimfire, conduct periodic third‑party assessments (including biennial NRA technical reviews with neutral reporting to neighbors) and reduce activity in the existing indoor range. “A new indoor range is beneficial to the club, the community, and the county,” York said.

Two nearby residents urged stronger, enforceable conditions. Greg Peterson, who lives adjacent to the club, said multiple police reports show projectiles and shrapnel have landed on his and neighbors’ properties over the past two years and argued that verbal commitments must be made enforceable proffers before the permit protects adjacent properties and public welfare: “We are the ones that have the bullets in our yards and the shrapnel on our decks,” he said. Al Colver, whose backyard backs the club, said he has filed police reports after finding bullets and shrapnel and asked the commission to require third‑party inspection and independent oversight rather than rely solely on club self‑monitoring.

Staff also reported outreach results: since the last Planning Commission meeting staff received nine letters of support and one letter expressing concern that some applicant commitments are not formalized in the resolution.

Commissioners praised the applicant’s recent engagement with neighbors and discussed adding the applicant’s latest narrative and sketch plan as a dated, codified attachment to the resolution and requiring annual checks by zoning and code enforcement to confirm compliance with conditions. The commission noted its role is advisory and that enforcement would follow if the Board of Supervisors approves the rezoning and special use permit.

A motion to forward PC25‑26R, revised to include the date of the applicant’s most recent narrative and the discussed reporting condition, was carried by roll call. The clerk recorded the affirmative votes of Mister Brooks, Mister King, Mister Criner, Mister Smith, Mister Titus, and Mister Timbrell; the motion passed.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be sent to the Board of Supervisors for its consideration; any required documentation for noise attenuation, the certified architect/engineer statements, and the site plan will be reviewed by county staff during the site‑plan process.