Town of Otisfield
Planning Board
Public Hearing Minutes
August 1, 2017
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chair –Karen Turino. KT: due to the large crowd in attendance, we will be moving this down to the Community Hall. *The meeting was called back to order at 7:17 PM at the Community Hall by Chair – Karen Turino.
2. Attendance: Chair – Karen Turino, Vice Chair – Rick Jackson, Recording Secretary – David Hyer, Herb Olsen, Stan Brett & Alternate – Beth Damon
Announcement of Quorum: Board had a quorum.
Code Enforcement Officer: Richard St. John
Secretary: Tanya Taft
BOS Hal Ferguson and Rick Micklon in attendance.
RM: Announced that this is a Public Hearing. He has asked that everyone direct questions through the PB Chair and clearly state name and address to be given for the record. *Public Sign in sheet passed around.
(Items that are Part of tonight’s Public Record)
- Sign in sheet (2) pages
- A letter from Daniel & Elizabeth Kostura
- Maureen Howard’s Statement that was read out loud
- Letter from Fire Chief Kyle Jordan
APPLICATION STATUS: Voted complete at last meeting when PB receives Fire Chiefs written statement.
3. Discussion on the following item: Site Plan Application:
A. Uel Gardner DBA Weaponcraft LLC representing owner Jeffrey Richardson at Map R09 Lot 057. At the Pit off Station Rd. Proposing an educational training site for firearm safety & proficiency. Site Walk was held July 11th @ 6:30 PM. Uel: We are based in Casco. 2 of my 3 partners are Mainers. My goal is to provide the best training possible for anyone who needs safe, proficient training. ICS and NIMS compliant training and evaluations are some of the things they do. We are looking to improve the safety of that space. The berms / banking’s, non-ricochet materials will be added. Building a sand berm in front of it. An 8’ side berm will be built on either side of the range for 100’. A 40’ and 20’ box will be added for extra layer of protection. Parking was laid out
and presented. Existing snowmobile and 4 wheel trail will be blocked off to keep them from riding into the pit for their safety, but they are not stopping access on existing trails. They are just going to keep them out of the pit itself. Vehicular traffic will be kept out. The signage will keep foot traffic out. Security cameras will be installed. They are going to discourage any traffic in there. Typically we run training classes 8-10 days a month. During hunting season we avoid Saturdays. 6-10 days a month of training. Not during the winter. They are not planning to plow the road, but they are going to upgrade and maintain the road. It will be gated at the station road entrance. Occasionally there is a need for Night time training because the majority of attacks law enforcement deals with happen at night, it’s usually around 6 or 8 times per year, and will end at 10;30. If you would like to be on the email list to be notified when training will happen, we can notify you. It’s
about an 8 hour day for training. We have flexibility on when we start and when we end, depending on your concern and input tonight.
OPENED UP FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
HENRY HAMILTON: I appreciate that you are going to send emails so we know when to put our ear plugs in. I am a hunter, but not outdoors shooting range. You are infringing on the neighbors who are putting their homes up for sale. You are trying to devalue our property. Why can’t you do it in doors? We love this town for the peace and quiet. UEL: In doors is great for short distance. Typically the longest you’ll see a shooting target indoors is 25 yards at a paper target. There is no benefit under duress when you’re life is threatened. We teach people to survive and that is our goal. That cannot be accomplished efficiently in doors. We are planning to build an indoor range in Southern Maine that’s for basic pistol skills
MAUREEN MOONEY-HOWARD: Read a prepared statement (Submitted into public record) Suggesting for future public meetings, it gets posted in both newspapers. She didn’t see it in the Advertiser Democrat. She was told it was posted twice in the Sun Journal. Therefore you did meet requirements, but didn’t meet the intent of ordinance. I don’t buy the sun journal. I do look through the Advertiser Democrat. 6 days before this meeting, it was not there. Town sign, not all people drive by that sign. Want to insure greater public knowledge.
Who is responsible for landowners being notified? TT: Myself and the CEO. MH: Have there been any complaints? KT: We received one tonight in writing. MH: How far out did you go to notify abutters? TT: We notified abutter’s within1000 feet. MH: Not here against gun rights and glad you are here to make a successful business. But I do not believe Spurs Corner is the right spot for this business. Our rural character is the important characteristics to be cherished. The Comprehensive Plan sets standards for things like this. Traffic, noise and odor should be considered for compatibility. The PB has the authority and the responsibility to follow through on this. The noise from this site will adversely affect our community. I am requesting the applicant get additional sound tests that realistically reflect what it would be. One where 8 people will be discharging at the same time during similar durations to a training session. What other sites
have you looked at in surrounding areas and why did you choose this site? UEL: We have looked at other properties. We have not had any noise complaints. We call the Sheriffs’ Office before the start of the day and no complaints have been received. The air horn is not my idea, that came from the PB. I am willing to go along with it. It would be strictly for the neighbors or people on the trail. That was not our doing. We have looked at pit on Rattlesnake Mountain, a place in Casco. Remoteness is relative. All over Southern and Western Maine, probably 15 or 20 locations, because we’d like to have different locations. Automatic weapons: they are like assault weapons. You push the trigger and it goes bang until you let off. A steady stream. That is not what will be in there when we are training. You wouldn’t even know we were using them. Semi-automatic weapons will be used.
GORDON CHAMBERLAIN: Is there an income and expense document from this company because I would like to know where Otisfield is going to benefit from this? We’re being asked to put a situation in that area that The Town won’t benefit from. KT: that’s not part of the application, but your complaint has been heard. GC: Fireworks can go on and on and there’s no limit on firework use in this town. Just about any night. It does disturb animals. KT: I hear you, but we are here to talk about Weaponcraft. GC: Are we going to share in the good fortune? KT: not as the ordinance is currently written. UEL: If I put a pig farm in there, would I need to give money to the town? Honestly, we are very good about trying to do what we can to support the community.
We’ll provide fire arms training to you at no cost, that’s how we can give back. I’m at about a $60,000 investment to make this safe for the town. We are a for-profit and the land is taxable. JEAN HANKINS: I am a walker, Otisfield doesn’t have many places to walk, but we have the jugtown forest. The main access I use is by the sandpit. It’s not going to impact my life, but I can’t think of a faster way to ruin the town of Otisfield. UEL: I hear your concern, I too like to walk in the woods, please remember the jugtown forest and the property that I am leasing is private land and we have granted permission to the public to use it. You can look at our schedule and know when we are or when we are not shooting. Things can exist together.
PAUL BOURGET: I am possibly the closest to the shooting range. We love the wild life and I heard a fire range was putting in. I am from Rhode Island originally, and I love Maine. I really love how quiet the town is. I have 6 children. My neighbor has a child, another neighbor has a child. We hear the gunshots that are there already and they surprise us each time. I want my kids to be able to go out in the woods and explore. UEL: I don’t live at Spurrs Corner. I sympathize but don’t empathize. I live in Casco. Fireworks from middle of May till they are gone, Friday, Saturday, dragging dogs out from under bed because of fireworks. It is not hurting my dogs, or my family, and honestly I feel that’s part of it. People have the right to do that. Those people have the right to
do that and this is America and I have that right to do that. I’m not trying to ruin your Town. I’d like to offer gun safety and responsibility to your children. I am about kids and community and noise vs safety are two very different things. I can’t fix the noise. The noise measured at the closest home was basically with a rapid fire, and they don’t exceed the decibel levels that you would hear in Lewiston and a neighbor was mowing his lawn. It’s an intermittent sound. It will be safe and we will provide whatever we can for the community. I can teach you first aid, but I can’t make the children not be afraid of noise.
BRENDA CHAMMINGS: Storage shed will not contain anything explosive? UEL: No explosives, it will have paper targets, first aid supplies, things of that nature. BC: Will be this be open all season? UEL: No it will not. The bulk is from when the snow is gone until school gets out and when school starts up again till November. Winter survival trainings happen but they don’t require guns. First aid with snowmobiles, and the occasional snow shoers would be going in. I really wish it was strong all through the summer, but people are on vacation. BC: Are you planning to buy it? UEL: my intention is to buy it, but if you were going to spend $60,000 to improve something; you’d probably want to see how it goes first. Tax map shows it going across pipeline, but it
doesn’t. I could put jersey barriers in, but no fence, if it says impact area, you shouldn’t trespass.
BONNIE CHILLE: You are talking about a business and making money and everyone hear is talking about their homes and family safety. They have put a ton of money in their homes and you are making a profit that we don’t care about. You’re selling your business. People here own homes. UEL: What is it that you would like to see other than me going away? BC: Make it sound proof. I don’t want to hear guns for 8 hours a night. UEL: The sound doesn’t bother me. Hearing something in the distance is not the same. When we go out there, my wife comes with me. Every time someone slams a tailgate at the transfer station a bird flies away. Noise exists in the world. I‘d like to make this happen in a manner that has the least amount of impact, but I can’t make everyone have a
suppressed gun.
BOB HARRIS: I know where you are coming from; I retired from the state prison. I did all of that qualifying training you discussed. There are stupid people. I went into the National Guard. Guns jam and idiots are looking down the barrel. I have a horse out there, he’s 34 years old, every time you are out shooting, I have a horse that’s out there getting traumatized. UEL: I’m not down there now, and not trying to be disrespectful, but we are not down there shooting so please don’t say “I’m” traumatizing your horse. KRISTEN ROY: I took part in updating the Comprehensive Plan, twice. I sat with neighbors and we discussed as a group/town, what we want for our town. We talked about what is important to us as a group. I don’t hear much respect from you coming to us. We are
not a rich community. The people who live next to the shooting range, there one investment in life that is tangible to them is lost. Their property is devalued. Our town will lose taxable income. I don’t hear any compassion from you about what’s going to happen to us. You equate your business with things that are a nuisance. We didn’t come here to live near a shooting range and this shooting range does not fit in to our towns values. You as a Planning Board have the right to declare others beyond the 1000 feet as abutters. From what I saw from your sound engineer, no sound tests were done from any of the properties nearby. UEL: The sound was done at the nearest dwelling; it was done directly behind it. Everything beyond that is a matter of math. That report can be extended mathematically to let you know what that sound is from any given location. We chose the closest location and cloud cover to determine worst case scenario. Is there anyone here who wishes to speak
about something positive? About 8-10 hands were raised.
DAVE SAUNDERS: PB, you are in charge, not the presentation that is being heard. You have a natural resource here that people would die for and that’s serenity and tranquility. Don’t let him come to your town and put his shooting of guns here. I think this is a bad idea. Don’t give up your best natural resource. We love it here. You have a tremendous business opportunity, there’s no training facility suitable for what you want. Perhaps you can go create one somewhere.
PUBLIC: we moved to this area because it was quiet. Auburn has a shooting range outside. They don’t need Otisfield. This will raise lead levels. UEL: Regarding Lead levels: first off lead does naturally occur, but the intention of the design is to make the spent/used lead reclaimed. Companies come and remove that and typically it’s done on a regular schedule. As for the brass, other than the lead that’s left in the casings, that has value as well, so cleaning up is important and it matters. The shooting are not going to make you have to close your windows because of lead in the air. It’s heavy and falls in a short distance.
RENEE RICHARD: According to maps by IF&W, we share an aquifer with the sandpit, which means lead could potentially get into my well water. I have children; we bought the house 2 years ago. I don’t want to explain what the gun shots are to them. We have audio for this site from our back porch that we can play. It comes from the transfer station and guns that go off in the sand pit. I work nights, and have for the last 4 years and I don’t want to be woken up by gun shots. I don’t like that you have undermined the potential for lead poisoning. Top gun in Poland is obligated to have 3 layers of air filtration to prevent lead from getting into the air. I truly am concerned for my family and friends coming to my property. My quality of life might be at risk.
STEVE RANCOURT: You don’t live near the gun range. EPA should come in and check levels. The neighbor mowing his lawn being less loud is bull, because my neighbor is mowing constantly.
TOM COADY: I have several sheep, pigs and livestock. One of my sheep recently had a heart attack and died from a sudden loud noise. A short abrupt noise can kill them.
OTIS BROWN: I do applaud your efforts to come here. I believe you lead a safe outfit. The town has no sound ordinance but I don’t think this is the place for an outdoor range.
EMILY BUELL: I am a dairy farmer, so I leave the house at 4:30 am, but if you are going to be firing weapons late into the night, 6-8 times a month, I don’t want my dog waking me up. I know you said you’re not responsible if the dog doesn’t like the noise. My dog shouldn’t have to sit at home, under the bed shivering in fear. You clearly expressed you don’t have any care for Otisfield residents. I am urging the Board to consider the thoughts of the people, if you don’t, you will have an angry community. UEL: You don’t know me at all. None of you do. I didn’t come here to shove this down your throat; I came here to listen to suggestions. I went to the town Planning Board and proposed what I would like to do. Relative to the majority of the area, this is a pretty remote
property. I have heard what you said, I am affected by it when you tell me I don’t care, because you are wrong, *I will pull my application. I hear what you said, I don’t want to be a bad neighbor or want you to hate me, what we do is important but I’m not here to shove this down your throat. If you object to it this much, I don’t want to do this to you people. I would like to thank the Planning Board for their time. It’s an expedition. If it’s not going to work, it’s not going to work and I appreciate your time. The audience stood up and applauded.
HERB OLSON: I would like the people in attendance to know, you already have a gun range in town. it’s illegal, we have had fires down there. There are no berms, nothing, so I agree with you, we are listening to this, if this is the beginning of what you want, then let’s continue with it, because this application was safe, the others are not. Let’s get an ordinance in town against it.
DIANA OLSON: My husband is on the Planning Board, but we do have (2) other ranges in town. We are blamed for the shootings that take place down there. There are fires, the boats were targets and there are no berms. This is 174 acres open to all. It’s on the snowmobile trail, no berms. Kids come through this property on the way to public beach. A lady who was not aware of where she was drove down the property because her GPS misguided her. She had no cell service and she was scared to death. She was so lucky that someone came down to find her and she was not shot. You’re saying no to a safe place because you don’t want it in your back yard. It’s just a matter of time before there’s a serious accident at the other locations.
NOREEN EDWARDS: would like to thank the Planning Board for the public hearing and thanked applicant for listening to our concerns. I agree with herb, we need to look at the other shooting ranges if there are safety issues in our town.
KRISTEN ROY: I too have concerns about that area. We as a town have the power to enact a recreational fire arms ordinance where we can say what we want as a town and make an ordinance. We can also develop a Sound Ordinance.
KAREN TURINO: Thanked the applicant and the Public for coming to make their feelings known.
4. Upcoming Dates:
A. Planning Board Regular Meeting August 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM
5. Adjournment: With no further business, the regular meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM. RJ/SB- Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by: Karen Turino, Chair
Otisfield Planning Board
Approved on: August 15, 2017
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