Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range

[texanjoker]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/loca ... nge/nYJGY/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Shooting range drama in Walburg.

[jimlongley]

"Large Caliber Weapons" and "We have felt the vibrations"

Sheesh.

"What a maroon."

[knotquiteawake]

attracts as many as 20 people on a Saturday morning

The HORROR! The crowds, the traffic! Those poor poor neighbors!

[Cedar Park Dad]

Usually I don't have sympathy as most ranges were there before the complaining residents were. However in this case, the range just recently opened. I'd be royally annoyed about it.

[bdickens]

Waaaahhhh!


I'd rather hear the gunfire on Weekend mornings than their dang lawn mowers leaf blowers.

[Panda]

attracts as many as 20 people on a Saturday morning

The HORROR! The crowds, the traffic! Those poor poor neighbors!

I wonder if the coverage would be the same if the neighbors were complaining about noise and traffic from a new mosque.

[Cedar Park Dad]

The range could show goodwill and build 15-foot earth-berms on the sides facing their neighbors to dampen the noise.

True that (assuming they haven't of course). I was at a competition recently. There was shooting in bays on either side of us, but the actual noise level in the bay was really moderate.

[baldeagle]

This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.

[gthaustex]

It is a shame, as we need more ranges. As mentioned above, this will create some hard feelings if nothing else. That said, someone feeling vibrations??? Do they have a Howitzer range for rental by the hour???

[RottenApple]

This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.

Yes and no. Private property is private property and neighbors shouldn't have a thing to say about how someone legally use their land. As this guy is complying with all state and local regulations... Well, the neighbors opinions shouldn't be given any additional weight at all.

That being said, he could certainly do more to alleviate the neighbor's concerns. According to the article, he has been doing some of that. Requesting his customers slow down, putting up "Children At Play" signs, changing his hours, etc. He even made improvements to the range, albeit without a building permit, in order to address some issues.

At this point it seems that he's being reasonable and trying to work with them, but they're just being whiney because they aren't getting their way. So at what point does he quit trying to accommodate them?

[Cedar Park Dad]

This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.

Yes and no. Private property is private property and neighbors shouldn't have a thing to say about how someone legally use their land.

Except historically if use of their land creates a tresspass on the neighbors' via noise pollution, pollution, or ther intrusion. Then, depending on the relevant statutes, case law, facts etc. it could indeed be actionable. I'm not knowledgeable enough in this case and state/locality to say more.

[Oldgringo]

This is an instance where some zoning laws might've come in handy. As much as I enjoy shooting, I wouldn't want to live next to a gun range that I did not own.

[alvins]

This is an instance where some zoning laws might've come in handy. As much as I enjoy shooting, I wouldn't want to live next to a gun range that I did not own.

well people move out to the county to get away from things. They didnt move out to the country to have zoning laws put on them. But thats the problem their is none and anything can move in at anytime and disrupt your quiet. What if a chicken or pig farm moved in. they would be annoyed by that also. and i rather have gun fire then it always smelling like poo.