Chickamauga commission rejects rezoning for shooting range

Thursday, April 19, 2012

A Chickamauga audience was overwhelmingly against a proposal tonight to build an outdoor shooting range across the street from a daycare center.

The Chickamauga Planning Commission agreed and voted unanimously against rezoning the property. The commission's vote is only advisory; the matter goes before City Council at its May 7 meeting.

Paul Chapman had proposed the range behind a metal-sided building at 1568 LaFayette Road. Academy for Little People daycare sits across the road.

Chapman wants to lease the space for his 10-employee ammunition manufacturing business, North Georgia Firearms & Ammunition, which has outgrown its space in Fort Oglethorpe.

"I am not here to diminish anybody's business," he said, referring to the daycare's opposition.

He said the shooting range would be surrounded by a berm and sturdy railroad ties would prevent stray bullets.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.