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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00070422STAFF REPORT Prepared by: Molly Hitchcock Item: Public hearing and consideration of a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT for an indoor shooting range for CHAMPION FIREARMS (CUP) to be located at 700 University Drive East in the Village Shopping Center. (0-227) Applicant: MIKE STULCE Staff Recommendation: Unless the public hearing bring to light any new information indicating potential negative impacts, Staff recommends approval. Item Summary: For more than six years Champion Firearms has been in the shooting sports retail business and has provided gun repair services and safety and concealed carry courses at their store in the Parkway Shopping Center. They are moving to the Village Shopping Center (at the corner of University Drive East and Tarrow) to expand their retail space. They are requesting a Conditional Use Permit for an indoor shooting range at this location to expand their services. The new site is in a C-B Business Commercial zoning district. It is surrounded by developed C-B (and the OV Corridor Overlay District) to the north and east, R-4 Apartment/Low Density and R-2 Duplex Residential to the south, and C-N Neighborhood Business and R-1A Single Family Residential across Tarrow to the east. The subject property falls outside of the OV Corridor Overlay District. Comprehensive Plan Considerations: The Land Use Plan designates the area Retail Regional. "Retail Regional" describes areas that permit regional-scale development of tax-generating businesses such as retail centers and service commercial. A variety of other uses share the shopping center, including offices, retail, restaurants, and a church. The Village Shopping Center has access from University Drive, a major arterial, and Tarrow, a major collector. The businesses fronting on University are included in the University Drive Overlay Corridor, which is intended to be an "entrance" into the City and is to include attractive commercial developments that sere the City" population and its visitors. Item Background: Indoor shooting ranges are new uses allowed with a conditional use permit in a C-B Business Commercial zoning district. The ordinance was amended by City Council December 15, 2000 to include this use, and this is the first request for such a permit. No other indoor shooting ranges operate in College Station. The applicant will be following the National Rifle Association guidelines and recommendations for indoor ranges. These standards address safety and air quality issues and noise mitigation. Staff Recommendations: Section 14 of the Zoning Ordinance authorizes the existence of conditional uses. The Commission may permit a conditional use subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, when after public notice and hearing the Commission finds that: (Staff comments are in italics) 1. "The proposed use meets all the minimum standards established in the ordinance for the type of use proposed." Staff conducted a technical review and found general compliance with development regulations. 2. "That the proposed use meets the purposed and intent of the ordinance and is in harmony with the development policies and goals and objectives as embodied in the Comprehensive Plan for Development of the City. The request is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. 3. "That the proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, welfare, and safety of the surrounding neighborhood or its occupants, nor be substantially or permanently injurious to neighboring property." The public hearing is an opportunity for the Commission to measure the potential impact on surrounding land uses. The Commission may impose additional reasonable restrictions or conditions to carry out the spirit and intent of the ordinance and to mitigate adverse effects of the proposed use. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, increased open space, loading and parking requirements, additional landscaping, and additional improvements such as curbing, sidewalks and screening." Commission Action Options: The Commission has final authority over the Conditional Use Permit and associated site plan. The options regarding the use permit are: 1. Approval as submitted; 2. Approval with conditions relating to specific site characteristics or with time limitations; 3. Denial with specified reasons for denial; 4. Table; or, 5. Defer action to a specified date. Supporting Materials: 1. Location Map 2. Application 3. Store layout 2 NOTIFICATION: Legal Notice Publication(s): The Eagle; 12-20-00 Advertised Commission Hearing Dates(s): 1-4-01 Number of Notices Mailed to Property Owners Within 200': 28 Response Received: One residential neighbor called with noise and safety concerns and two notices have been returned stating the addressees were against the request. 3