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South Valley Riverton Journal

Herriman city council bans outdoor shooting ranges within commercial zones

May 03, 2019 09:40AM ● By Travis Barton

Outdoor shooting ranges will not be allowed in commercial zones in Herriman after a unanimous vote from the city council in March. (Photo courtesy Renee Olmsted Photography)

By Travis Barton | [email protected]

Outdoor shooting ranges will not be allowed in commercial zones in Herriman after a unanimous vote from the city council in March. 

Previously, shooting ranges were permitted under city code in the “outdoor recreation and entertainment” section of commercial zones. Which, as Mayor David Watts described during the March 13 city council meeting, meant an outdoor gun range could be located next to a grocery store. 

However, after the planning commission discussed the issue during its Dec. 6 meeting last year, the commission directed city staff to remove it. 

“We don’t have any additional standards or protective regulations to ensure that an outdoor shooting range within our (commercial) zone would be a safe and appropriate land use,” said City Planner Michael Maloy to the council in March. 

Other uses allowed in the code include archery ranges, batting cages, campgrounds, golf courses, drive-in theaters, tennis courts and amusement rides. 

Maloy said staff is now researching and preparing additional amendments to city code that would allow outdoor shooting ranges in zones with appropriate requirements to preserve public safety. 

The decision does not prevent shooting ranges from being built in Herriman but aims to set standards for shooting ranges. This is something city officials said should be done across the board.

“That is one of the things we’ve really tried to focus on is having a standard for any of our uses—to make sure that we put them appropriately where they should go and have the right precautions in place,”  Councilman Clint Smith said.