An important meeting of BOCC regarding Keyah Grande application for a special use permit to be held next Tuesday, December 17 at 1:30pm at the Archuleta County Administration Building at 398 Lewis Street.
The County Planning Commission (the “PC”) recommended approval of a special use permit for an open air shooting range at Keyah Grande, over objections by neighboring landowners and others regarding potential damage to their property values, health and enjoyment of their property.
I had asked that the matter be tabled and studied because I felt the Planning Staff either mistakenly believed or was misadvised that they could not address such harm from noise to these taxpayers. The PC did not discuss either my request or the property owners’ objections or suggestions. They also heard testimony from taxpayers who lived near Keyah Grande about the noise problems with the current shooting range which is currently small and is used by fewer shooters than are expected in the new range.
The Planning Commission also ignored these objections and suggestions.
At the end of the meeting one commissioner suggested a condition of approving the permit be that Keyah Grande meet the the Planning Department staff to consider possible mitigation of possible harm from noise voluntarily while still taking the position that this was not their responsibility.
Basically this meant that Keyah Grande is being required to do nothing about the problems it may cause, despite the fact that it will be charging undisclosed fees from up to 100 “Members” of this private range.
The special use permit was recommended unanimously and is set to be considered at the BOCC’s meeting on Tuesday,
I urge all taxpayers to try to attend, in person or via Zoom, or to contact their Commissioner. No one is against shooting ranger or hunting. Citizens and property owners simply feel that the dealing with noise problems should be considered and dealt with now.
This is a poor way to plan for the future.
Urge the Commissioners to table the matter and refer it to the PC for further study of perhaps by a special Committee. The BOCC should look into what powers they have, what options for the County and Keyah Grande may be available, what other communities in Colorado and elsewhere are doing to address similar issues… and what effect this decision will have on similar requests in 20 and 40 years.
I urge everyone to get involved.
Judge Jim Denvir
Retired