Planning Commission recommends approval for retail firearms store at 1220 South Fork Road; Board to consider permit

The Smyth County Planning Commission on May 28 recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a Special Use Permit for a retail store operated by Brian Karriker at 1220 South Fork Road in Marion. The application was heard at a joint public hearing with the Board of Supervisors.

Zoning Administrator Becca Creasy told the commission the business had outgrown a previously permitted home occupation and that several building and safety elements would need to be brought up to code. Karriker described security measures including a subscription-based alarm system and exterior cameras and provided proposed hours of operation (6 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. on Saturdays).

Commissioners asked whether any shooting would take place on the premises and whether explosive targets such as Tannerite would be sold. Karriker said there would be no on-site shooting tied to the retail business and that he would not sell Tannerite in the store. He said a makeshift private range existed in the rear field but that it was not under his operation. Planning Commission members expressed concern about building safety and potential explosives; no citizens signed up to speak.

The Planning Commission voted 6–0 (one commissioner absent) to recommend approval, finding the application met the standards in the zoning ordinance. The Board of Supervisors recessed the joint hearing with no immediate Board vote recorded on the permit; the Board will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation at a future Board meeting.