Planning commission allows Manteca Sportsman Club to reopen rifle range under time-limited canopy and stricter safety conditions

The San Joaquin County Planning Commission voted 5–0 to modify Use Permit 3009 and allow the Manteca Sportsman Club to resume rifle shooting under a package of safety measures including temporary canopies, repaired berms and updated operating policies.

Senior planner Giuseppe Sanfilippo told commissioners the modification follows a 2022 sheriff's investigation that found rifle projectiles had landed off-site, including at the Office of Education’s Durham Ferry Outdoor Education Center. The staff recommendation incorporated prior compliance steps and proposed conditions to ensure shooting activities would not be detrimental to public health or safety.

John Swan, president of Manteca Sportsman's Club, introduced a team of range experts and submitted a letter from a ballistics consultant supporting the proposed canopy design. Don Saba, a long‑time member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) range development committee, testified that a sloped steel canopy can deflect rounds and that a canopy design with a long sloping armor plate is an acceptable short‑term containment measure. "I think that the canopies are really a best solution. They're a safe solution," Saba said.

Representatives of the San Joaquin County Office of Education, including Mike Hakam, told the commission the Office of Education's own ballistics review confirmed bullets from the club had reached the Durham Ferry site and urged stronger measures, including a permanent "no‑blue‑sky" baffle system. The county's retained expert, Jason Wiesenberg, recommended using AR500 steel (a harder steel grade) for canopy facing and said canopies should only be an interim measure while a permanent overhead baffle system is designed and funded. "Whenever you talk about steel and rifle rounds, using rifles, AR400 is never part of the conversation," Wiesenberg said, recommending AR500 instead.

Commissioners discussed berm height, steel grade and range safety officer staffing. Commissioners also raised the need to repair the berm face, which staff and witnesses said contains large rocks and debris and should be cleared and rebuilt to function as a reliable impact berm. Under the adopted amendment, the commission included the Office of Education expert's recommendations: permit use of safety canopies as a short‑term solution not to exceed five years; require AR500‑rated plates (in place of AR400) for canopy facing; develop, publish and enforce updated range operating policies; require a range safety officer ratio consistent with the expert guidance (a 1:5 RSO‑to‑shooter ratio was discussed); and repair the impact berm.

The motion to adopt the staff recommendation as amended was made by Commissioner Rhodes and seconded; the roll call vote was 5–0 in favor. The chair explained that the decision can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors by the deadline printed on the record.

The commission’s action distinguishes between direction (adopting modified permit conditions and interim canopies) and the longer‑term objective (installing a permanent overhead baffle/no‑blue‑sky system), which the record shows will require additional engineering, funding and time for design and permits.