Save Byram Township NJ from shooting range and gunshot noise
http://www.savebyram.org
In Opposition to Proposed Hudson Farm Shooting RangeA shooting range and commercial recreation business is being proposed by Hudson Farm on the former Westby property along Roseville Road.
The shooting range is to be located on the mountain facing the Forest Lakes Community and adjoins the CO Johnson Park. Shooting at the range is all year, seven (7) day per week from 9:30 a.m. to dusk.
Typically, with 75 to 200 rounds per shooter will be expended during the day. Advertisements for the shooting event are at $400 per person and $1500 per four-some indicate that a significant group of shooters will assemble.
Mr. Ursin talked of groups of 20 on December 20th. On September 6th it was mentioned there would be 100-200 shots/person. Then on December 20th there was testimony of 75-100 shots.
Over a couple of hours, this intense shooting, with its reverberations, will change your life. We won't comment on how such limitations can be enforced as they are changing with the wind.Mr. Kellogg, owner of Hudson Farms is requesting a zoning change for the property from Agricultural zone to Commercial Recreation zone (this is the same zone as Wild West City).
The request conflicts with the guiding Byram Township Master Plan. Mr. Kellogg just recently purchased the property knowing full well that the Westby property was not zoned for commercial recreation and that it conflicted with the Master Plan.
Why do we need a Commercial Recreation zone in this residential area of Byram Township?
We don’t. Mr. Kellogg has a similar outdoor recreation business located in the Northeast section of Byram Township and there is no need to proliferate this type of commercial recreation business within the Township.There are numerous disadvantages to allow a shooting range business at the former Westby property:
1. The tranquil nature of Forest Lakes will be significantly and unnaturally disturbed by the continuous gun fire during the outings. The continuous gun fire will degrade the quality of life for the residents within one of Byram Township most densely populated areas.
2. Because of the gun fire disturbance, property values in Forest Lakes will be negatively affected and thereby impact the total Byram Township tax ratables.
3. Because of the gun fire disturbance, realtors may have to disclose that a shooting range is located in the area when selling a property in Forest Lakes.
4. With all the gun violence in schools and the most recent Lenape Valley HS incident, what is the affect of continuous gun fire on the children of Forest Lakes and children playing at CO Johnson Field?
5. The concentration of lead from the shotgun pellets will create an environmental hazard on the property.
6. Byram Townships Master Plan, that took many years to create, would need to be altered as the “Shooting Range” and “Commercial Recreation Business” enterprise does not conform to the Master Plan. The Commercial Recreation zone opens the door to further development of non critical businesses of a similar nature.
7. There are virtually no advantages to the residents of Byram Township to alter our Master Plan and afford a special zoning change to a landowner that purchased the property as an agricultural entity.
