Sparta gun range responds to noise, safety complaints from neighbors

[TripleDigitRide]

Gun range responds to noise, safety complaints from neighbors

[c.a.willard]

I haven't ever been to that range, so im not sure of proximity.  How close are the ranges neighbors?

 

They may have a legitimate complaint.  If the excessive noise levels deprive them of enjoyment of their property or decrease their properties value then it is a legitimate complaint. 

[TrickyNicky]

"It's a gun range, so there's going to be noise unless I put a silencer on every gun," said Baker. "I can't do that. We try to be good neighbors, but I can't say there won't be any shooting because I own a 20-lane gun range. There's going to be shooting out there."


Seems pretty reasonable to me... I do feel for the guy somewhat though, I'm sure the attraction of a range moving in next door would wear itself thin before too long. Oh well though, what're ya gonna do?

[Guest PapaB]

"I called 911, and I had to repeat myself because the 911 operator couldn't understand me because of the noise," said Bumbalough.

Bumbalough is former county commissioner and Quail Road resident Tim Bumbalough.

 

This putz calls 911 about a noise complaint? Sounds to me like someone's trying to push his weight around. As a former county commissioner he should have known to call the regular number, this wasn't an emergency, it was an inconvenience.

 

On the other side, the range owner should have selected a more unobtrusive location. Just because there are no ordinances stopping you from doing something doesn't mean it's a good idea.

[vontar]

 

"I called 911, and I had to repeat myself because the 911 operator couldn't understand me because of the noise," said Bumbalough.

 

 

really from around 300 feet away, with the 15 foot high barrier.

 

if that is the real complaint. I want to know what the noise level decibels are at 300 feet.

I have been able to call people on my cell phone at rifle/pistol ranges with little issue.  add 300 feet it should be much better.

[Guest nra37922]

Who was there first, the range or the homes?

[vontar]

Who was there first, the range or the homes?

sounds like the home owners in this case.

[Raoul]

300 feet really isn't very far.

[DaveTN]

300 feet really isn't very far.

I agree, but shouldn’t that have been an issue before codes issued permits? I would think if someone applied for a permit to put an outdoor gun range in a residential area those flags should went up then.

[Raoul]

I agree, but shouldn’t that have been an issue before codes issued permits? I would think if someone applied for a permit to put an outdoor gun range in a residential area those flags should went up then.

Agreed. I wonder what the process was. The zoning may be such that no public hearing or notification was required.

[Mike.357]

I doubt too many of us would be happy if an outdoor shooting range opened on property adjacent to our own.

 

The homeowners certainly are looking at diminished value of their property and homes.

[TripleDigitRide]

For similar reasons, I often wondered if anyone complains about CHMR. Based on Google Map images, it seems CHMR has more neighbors within close proximity than this range in Sparta.

[Raoul]

My range is currently in it's 3rd location. This time around we've been busy buying up as much adjacent property as possible. We're close to 900 acres so far.

[Guest nra37922]

sounds like the home owners in this case.

In that case they have every right to complain.  Wonder if someone got 'greased' to approve the range or just standard bureaucratic incompetence.

[Raoul]

In that case they have every right to complain.  Wonder if someone got 'greased' to approve the range or just standard bureaucratic incompetence.

Actually, looking at the info for White County I don't see any reference to a zoning office. As a result there wouldn't be any restrictions except for possibly safety concerns that would stand in the way of someone putting a gun range anywhere. 

[Guest nra37922]

Actually, looking at the info for White County I don't see any reference to a zoning office. As a result there wouldn't be any restrictions except for possibly safety concerns that would stand in the way of someone putting a gun range anywhere. 

In that case I would image that some judge is going to shut the range down or at least put in restrictions like hrs of operation, number of shooters at one time, etc....

[Raoul]

In that case I would image that some judge is going to shut the range down or at least put in restrictions like hrs of operation, number of shooters at one time, etc....

Yeah makes sense. Civil suit maybe.

[Guest nra37922]

Public nuisance would be my guess...

[BigK]

Shooting is my favorite pasttime. I'd shoot everyday if money and time allowed. If they restricted hours to something reasonable, like the TWRA ranges do, I'd be glad to have a shooting range 100 yds from my house. A free membership to come shoot would go a long ways toward keeping me from complaining too.

[Guest PapaB]

The gun range is on 52 acres.

 

Bumbalough said "From the rifle range to my fence line, I'm estimating it's about 300 feet,"

 

I'm guessing it's more than 300 feet and that's to his fence line.

 

"The angle, when I'm riding my tractor and they're shooting from the rifle range, is a fairly easy angle for a shot," said Bumbalough. But according to the range, "Anyone who shoots on the range has to have a range officer," said Baker. "All my range officers are certified. You'd have to turn completely around in order to shoot over there."

 

I'd say Bumbalough's mad that he couldn't stop the range from going in so now he's puffing up the complaints to make it seem worse than it really is.

[RobertNashville]

I haven't ever been to that range, so im not sure of proximity.  How close are the ranges neighbors?

 

They may have a legitimate complaint.  If the excessive noise levels deprive them of enjoyment of their property or decrease their properties value then it is a legitimate complaint. 

The one fellow said that when he called 911 the operator couldn't here him because of the noise!  If that's true I'd be pretty pissed too and not very happy that I had an outdoor range that close. However, although they they may have legitimate complaints they may have no power to do anything about it.

 

One of the benefits of living in a county is to escape all those pesky zoning/noise laws and property restrictions...one of the downsides to living in a county without all those pesky zoning/noise laws and property restrictions to handle issues like this.

 

About all they can do is to sue the range - maybe in three or four years it will be resolved!

[Guest RevScottie]

The range is on Hwy 111 as you come into Sparta. I'm sure the neighbors can hear gun fire as well as car and truck traffic. Sound is going to travel but there is no one near this property. The owner Ruby Baker is a prominent Realtor in the region and you can pretty much bet the real issue is rooted in money and politics. 

  

Here is a link to a picture of the facility to give you some idea of its location:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x88672d3b93fa8473:0x5734a6adcaa2e46d!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/111436667778775865018/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5ssparta+guns+and+more+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=QyxEUsqQOIWO9ASBx4GABw&ved=0CHYQoiowCg