Data could be loaded for a proposed indoor gun range in south-Barrie.
On Monday night, councillors approved a motion that staff work with proponent Roger Gray, the Chief Firearms Office of Ontario and Barrie Police Service to identify applicable regulations and potential amendments to city bylaws required to provide an exemption to allow for an indoor gun range on King Street.
A mail-out would be sent to all affected King Street businesses, along with any sensitive uses within 500 metres of the proposed location, seeking feedback on the application — with any costs associated with the mail-out be charged to Gray and/or the Simcoe County Sports Shooting and Educational Academy.
Feedback from the mail-out would be sent to Barrie councillors before they make a decision on the exemption.
City council will consider final approval of this motion at its Nov. 8 meeting.
Gray has told councillors his facility would be a state-of-the-art shooting range, with a three-tiered educational facility that would serve as a private club to members of the public, hunters, sport shooters, as well as local law enforcement, military personnel and the security industry. He said the range would meet all security and sound abatement standards, using the most advanced sound proofing and buffers.
In order for Gray to submit an application to the Chief Firearms Office of Ontario for an indoor gun range in Barrie, a motion of council to provide an exemption from the city’s regulatory bylaw is required, according to city staff.
Barrie’s regulatory bylaw permits the discharge of firearms only in these specific cases: police officers discharging a firearm in the course of carrying out their duties; a municipal law enforcement officer destroying an animal; a shooting competition or display, provided council has given its consent to hold the competition or display; and activities carried out at Barrie Armouries by the Department of National Defence at 37 Parkside Dr.
In addition, no one shall discharge any firearm, either for gain or in such a manner or in such places, as to disturb other people.
