Lafayette Gun Club’s plan for new indoor range raises neighbor safety objections; hearing continued to Jan. 14

The York County Planning Commission reopened a public hearing on a special-use permit request from Lafayette Gun Club to build a roughly 12,600-square-foot indoor firing range at 331 Dare Road, then continued the hearing to Jan. 14 to give the club time to meet neighbors and address safety concerns.

Staff planner Jeanne told the commission the 26.3-acre property is mostly zoned resource conservation with a small R20 edge, that the parcel contains legally nonconforming outdoor ranges built in 1950, and that the proposed new indoor range would sit about 134 feet from the nearest residential lot line. Staff recommended approval of Resolution PC 25-26 subject to conditions including a Knox gate switch for emergency fire access and later site plan submissions documenting noise attenuation measures.

Zev York, a Lafayette Gun Club board member, told the commission the club is an “all volunteer organization” incorporated in 1949 with about 2,800 members. He described safety programs, certified range safety officers and recent investments in baffle systems, and said the new indoor range would move much activity inside and reduce outside noise. "We're not just a bunch of, you know, folks out there shooting tint cans on a dirt berm," York said, describing junior programs and training the club runs.

Neighbors and community representatives urged stricter oversight. Greg Peterson, who lives directly adjacent to the club, said, “Since 2024, multiple police reports have been filed documenting bullets and shrapnel escaping the Lafayette gun club,” described finding buckshot in his pool and 9mm projectiles in his backyard, and urged denial or conditions including independent engineering audits, permanent prohibitions on lanes that risk escape, continuous incident reporting and permit revocation if escapes continue. Sandra Culver said shrapnel had struck her house and described delays in county response to her complaints. Dr. Megan McGovern, who runs a therapy center for children on adjacent property, asked for more berming and protection because children and horses use trails and outdoor classrooms every day.

Commissioners split the issue into two concerns: most said they had no objection to the proposed new indoor building in principle but were troubled by unresolved safety complaints about the club’s existing outdoor operations. Multiple commissioners recommended the club meet directly with neighbors and present engineering or monitoring proposals before the commission makes a final recommendation.

The commission reopened the public hearing to allow continued public comment, then motioned to continue the hearing on PC 25-26 to January 14 so the applicant could meet with neighbors and return with responses. The motion to continue passed on a roll-call vote recorded by name by staff. The commission encouraged Lafayette Gun Club to report back on noise mitigation, berm or baffle improvements, and a plan for monitoring and incident reporting.

Next steps: The public hearing on PC 25-26 will resume Jan. 14. The commission’s continuance leaves the underlying special-use application open while staff and neighbors seek additional information and potential conditions.