(11/9) In front of a packed meeting room the Town Council affirmed the decision by the Town’s Planning Commission to reject a zoning text change amendment requested by Thurmont resident Kirby Delauter to allow shooting ranges within the Town’s Industrial Zone.

The Council’s decision comes on the heels of Liberty Township denying Delauter’s request for a shooting range in Liberty Township.

Delauter withdrew his initial request for a range he had proposed building on land adjacent to the new Rutter’s service station, just across Rt. 15 from the Emmit Garden, following concerns that the request was too vaguely written and lacked safety and sound control. While Delauter’s resubmittal did address safety issues, it failed to satisfy Planning Commission concerns over noise, and as a result, was rejected on a vote of 2 -1.

Christopher Jakubiak, of Jakubiak and Associates, who has been retained by the town to assist in zoning reviews and land use studies, told the Town Council prior to their vote, that the shooting range was not a use consistent with intent of the town’s comprehensive plan which established the Industrial Zone for the purpose of attracting business to the town that would serve as ‘employment centers’ for local residents.

Jakubiak’s report noted that the proposed range’s size of 10 acres "would consume a large share of the land planned for the Town’s Employment Center." In addition, a gun range "would create a noise impact that the zoning ordnance – now in effect – would not allow for permitted industrial use."

Council members keyed onto Jakubiak’s findings, questioning the potential of any local employment the range would bring, or for that matter, any benefit Emmitsburg would gain from the range. Commissioner Sweeny pointed out that there where already 4 ranges within a few miles of Emmitsburg and saw no need to have one in town.

A representative of the new Rutter’s service station also spoke against the proposed range, citing concern for the safety of their customers. Residents questioned how many people would use the new Rutters if the first sound that greeted then as they got out of their car was the sound of gunshots.

Nine residents took the opportunity to voice their concerns against the proposed ordnance. All cited noise and safety. Several pointed out that while Delauter’s proposal would mitigate noise coming from the range, it did not eliminate the noise.

Dr. Portier of Emmitsburg Osteopathic Primary Care Center said that she was concerned about the effect of the sound of shooting on the many patients she treats with PSTD, and that the range would not be ‘healthful’.

Many who spoke against the range said they had moved to Emmitsburg because of the peace and tranquility it offered and feared that an in-town outdoor shooting range would destroy that tranquility.

Not a single member of the public spoke in favor of the range.

The final vote of 4-0 was met with audible sighs of relief from residents who had come out to speak against the proposal. (Per the Town’s ethic’s code requirements, Commissioner Davis abstained from voting as family member works for Delauter.)