Proposed archery facility at 29 Hathorn Rd draws mixed reaction; Board to conduct site walk

Attorney Chris Drescher represented owner Hiram Cutter in a request (ZBA 26‑14) for a variance to permit a commercial archery use on a 70‑acre parcel at 29 Hathorn Rd, with activity concentrated on about 8–9 acres. Cutter described plans for a steel building roughly 160 by 60 feet, with about 1,200 square feet of retail/repair space and an indoor archery range. He said membership access would operate by key fob, first‑time users would sign waivers, the outdoor course would be supervised during designated hours, and "the outdoor course would be supervised, while the indoor range would not; security cameras would be installed," according to the presentation.

Neighbors voiced concerns about safety distances, the proximity of outdoor lanes to property lines, potential stray arrows, event size and traffic, wetland impacts, and light pollution. Abutter Robert Simberg asked to review a detailed site plan before any variance is granted; Simberg also asked whether hunter‑education shooting would be live‑fire (the applicant said such shooting could be held off‑site). Rick Lambert, Senior Vice Commander of the Jaffrey VFW, and alternate Board member Marc Tieger spoke in favor, noting site cleanup and community benefits. Board members asked about membership scale (the applicant estimated "200 to 300 members"), range safety distances, lighting, and limits on event size; the Board continued the hearings for ZBA 26‑14 and ZBA 26‑15 (special exception for a public recreation facility) to a site walk on Monday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m.