Nervous neighbors want zoners to close gun range
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
BY REBECCA SCHMOYER
Star-Ledger Staff
About three dozen Allamuchy residents plan to attend tonight's zoning board meeting to urge officials to shut down a gun range near their neighborhood.
The New Jersey Arms Collectors Club has owned the range on Cat Swamp Road for almost 50 years, long before the area was developed.
But those who live nearby say activity at the range is putting their families at risk, said resident John Scala.
"There's no way you can make an outdoor rifle range safe for the community. It's endangering the lives of the residents," said Scala, who has lived in the area for about three years. "I just hope the town steps up to the plate and does the right thing to protect its citizens."
Charles Cutler, the township's zoning and construction officer, said there are about 25 homes within 1,000 feet of the range.
Club members will go before the board of adjustment tonight to seek approval for modifications at the range. Cutler said the club also will ask the township to deem the shooting range a permitted use for the site.
Edward Zohn, an attorney for the club, said he believes the range has a right to exist because it was there before the homes were built.
"The club's been there since 1957, and those houses have not," Zohn said. "And the club has never expanded the area where the shooting takes place."
Zohn said the 20-acre range has enough space to safely accommodate its members.
In 2003, the range became involved in controversy after a homeowner on nearby Peter Road found two bullets lodged in the side of his house.
The township temporarily suspended shooting at the site, until a Superior Court judge ruled it could resume. However, the judge also ordered the range to reapply to the zoning board.
Cutler said that after that incident, residents sought the advice of an arms expert from Picatinny Arsenal, who toured the site and concluded the range was unsafe.
Tonight's meeting, which begins at 7:30, will be held at the municipal building.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
BY REBECCA SCHMOYER
Star-Ledger Staff
About three dozen Allamuchy residents plan to attend tonight's zoning board meeting to urge officials to shut down a gun range near their neighborhood.
The New Jersey Arms Collectors Club has owned the range on Cat Swamp Road for almost 50 years, long before the area was developed.
But those who live nearby say activity at the range is putting their families at risk, said resident John Scala.
"There's no way you can make an outdoor rifle range safe for the community. It's endangering the lives of the residents," said Scala, who has lived in the area for about three years. "I just hope the town steps up to the plate and does the right thing to protect its citizens."
Charles Cutler, the township's zoning and construction officer, said there are about 25 homes within 1,000 feet of the range.
Club members will go before the board of adjustment tonight to seek approval for modifications at the range. Cutler said the club also will ask the township to deem the shooting range a permitted use for the site.
Edward Zohn, an attorney for the club, said he believes the range has a right to exist because it was there before the homes were built.
"The club's been there since 1957, and those houses have not," Zohn said. "And the club has never expanded the area where the shooting takes place."
Zohn said the 20-acre range has enough space to safely accommodate its members.
In 2003, the range became involved in controversy after a homeowner on nearby Peter Road found two bullets lodged in the side of his house.
The township temporarily suspended shooting at the site, until a Superior Court judge ruled it could resume. However, the judge also ordered the range to reapply to the zoning board.
Cutler said that after that incident, residents sought the advice of an arms expert from Picatinny Arsenal, who toured the site and concluded the range was unsafe.
Tonight's meeting, which begins at 7:30, will be held at the municipal building.
