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Morgan County planners hear strong public opposition to rifle‑range rezoning; action tabled to March 26
Summary
After extended public comment raising lead remediation, water and replacement‑range concerns, the Morgan County Planning Commission voted unanimously to table legislative action on rezoning and related Rollins Ranch development amendments to March 26 while staff obtains EPA soil results and prepares additional analysis.
The Morgan County Planning Commission on Jan. 12 heard more than an hour of public comment about a proposed rezoning tied to the county’s rifle range and the Rollins Ranch development agreement amendment before voting unanimously to table the legislative action to a March 26 public hearing.
Residents urged the commission to delay any formal recommendation until the county finishes an EPA soil study and provides clearer engineering analyses. "It could take years and years to move forward," said John Sherman, a Morgan County resident, urging the commission to condition any favorable recommendation on securing a replacement range or new land before the existing range is closed. Cameron Porter, who lives adjacent to the parcel in question, said the county had not demonstrated compliance with the general plan’s requirements to show culinary water availability and to evaluate roads, drainage and other services.
Speakers raised potential environmental and fiscal risks. A commenter who said he has experience with shooting ranges cautioned that lead remediation costs could be substantial, giving a range of millions of dollars for excavation and disposal. Another attendee with hazmat experience summarized EPA best practices and warned that excavation and long‑term monitoring could leave the county with ongoing obligations. Those concerns prompted multiple commissioners to emphasize the need for technical review.
County staff and a commissioner told attendees the county has not sold the rifle‑range parcel and reiterated that the planning commission only makes a recommendation to the county commission. The recording and rain delays previously postponed EPA testing; the chair said the county requested the item be tabled so missing data can be gathered. The chair also said a work session with Commissioner Watt is scheduled and the commission is requesting creation of a rifle‑range committee to explore options (improve in place, extend the existing footprint or relocate).
The commission also set procedure for continued public participation: the legislative matter will be reheard during a public hearing on March 26, and the county commission will also consider the item later in its process. In the meantime staff will circulate materials and the chair asked that public commenters share their research with the county. The commission’s vote to table was unanimous.
What happens next: The EPA soil results and county engineer reviews of stormwater/detention calculations are expected to be considered before the commission forwards any recommendation to the county commission. The chair encouraged residents to attend the March 26 hearings and to participate in the proposed rifle‑range committee.
