Council upholds conditional use, allows home‑based gunsmithing at 1701 West Riverbend

The Brandon City Council voted to allow a resident to operate a small‑scale gunsmithing business from a garage at 1701 West Riverbend Street after rehearing an appeal of the Planning & Zoning decision.

Dave Sorenson, a neighbor who identified himself as living at 1701 West Riverbend, raised traffic and noise concerns and asked how many customer visits the shop would handle. "Weekly, probably five to 10 cars a week," Sorenson said when discussing expected vehicle volume. Council members asked about deliveries and noise; the applicant said owners would deliver firearms in person for ATF logbook entries and that operations would produce minimal noise because no lathes or CNC machines would be used.

Planning & Zoning had approved the permit 4–1 with specific conditions. The council confirmed and applied those conditions before the vote: an ATF Federal Firearms License must be obtained; no ammunition may be sold on site; firearms not actively being worked on must be stored in a locked safe; services are by appointment only; and the number of fully operational firearms on site that are not owned by the applicant is limited to 10. The council voted to allow the conditional use by motion and voice vote.

The council framed the hearing as a rehearing of the April 16 Planning & Zoning record; members noted they were limited to considering evidence and testimony from that earlier hearing and the administrative record. No council member requested remand or modification of the conditions set by Planning & Zoning.

The decision resolves the pending appeal but leaves enforcement of the conditions to city staff and the Planning & Zoning process, including any follow‑up or compliance checks.

The council moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.