Scouts' firing range irks residents

Rocky Mountain News ^ | July 7, 2007 | Ivan Moreno

[DogByte6RER]

Scouts' firing range irks residents

Neighbors say clay shooting events disruptive

By Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News

July 7, 2007

ELBERT - Neighbors say the Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch is anything but that. The realization came after an explosion of shotgun blasts from the camp in May, when Boy Scouts held a two-day clay shooting fundraiser.

"It sounded like Hamas had a training camp next door," said Elbert County Sheriff William Frangis, who fielded numerous calls from people who live near the ranch.

The Scouts say no one complained to them.

Although the camp has had a shooting range for rifles and shotguns for years, noise has not been an issue until now.

Neighbors say part of their frustration is that the Scouts only notified them of the event with the sound of the guns, and they never applied for permit from the county.

"They didn't talk to anyone; they just did it," said 75- year-old John Dunn, a former Elbert County commissioner and 44-year county resident who lives about a quarter mile from the Scout camp.

"The noise was unbelievable," Dunn said, adding that it was enough to scare the elk, deer, and birds in the vicinity. "We haven't seen them since."

The Scouts have planned five more fundraising events from July through August, but they're waiting for a permit from the county commissioners to continue using the clay shooting range. The commissioners will hear their case Wednesday.

But while there's a cease-fire for now, residents fear more events like the one held May 19 and 20 will not only disturb their peace but will bring down the value of their properties.

[org.whodat]

Although the camp has had a shooting range for rifles and shotguns for years, noise has not been an issue until now.

Grandfather clause!

[SandRat]

What really irritates the left/busy bodies about Scouts

Read the words carefully and you'll see.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

Narrowsburg, NY

[fogofbobegabay]

When I was a Boy Scout back in the 70’s, our troop would have a camp-out once a year at the Presidio. We din’t do any shooting there, but I have many fond memories of camping there. We would go and explore the abandoned coastal defense batteries and i recall how we were chased off the CO’s lawn by his poodle.

[wagglebee]

Yep, I shoot sporting clays all the time, if nobody is at one of the stands next to the parking lot, you can’t hear anything.

[Uri’el-2012]

Dirk Bird, director of the J BAR CC Ranch Camp, a Jewish summer camp across the road, said he's worried that if fundraising events persist on weekends they will "adversely impact our religious services."

The Denver Area Council BSA has for many years made offers for the property
of the J BAR CC camp adjacent to Peaceful Valley ranch.

The offers were always never high enough, the offers were always above market value.

[SandRat]

Well, in a way there is, sort of --

There is the

• Computers Merit Badge
  
• 11th Jamboree On The Internet 20-21 October 2007.
  
  JOTI is an annual event when Scouts and Guides all over the world make contact with each other by means of the Internet. It is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, thus contributing to the world brotherhood of Scouting. JOTI is a world-wide event mainly for Scouting groups in all youth programme sections, although members may participate individually.
  
  JOTI is officially open 48 hours, from Saturday 00.00h until Sunday 24.00h local time. JOTI is held at the same time as the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) which focuses on amateur radio communication. Activities for the two events are often conducted together. Well over 500,000 people participate each year.
  
  JOTI and JOTA are for members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and also for members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
  
  JOTI TOOLS
  
  

[scottteng]

http://www.denverboyscouts.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=10942&orgkey=1701
“Raising in excess of $200,000, this year’s Sporting Clays Invitational was an unprecedented success. Held May 19th at the Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch and sponsored by Coors Brewing Company, AMG National Bank and Wells Fargo, the event boasted 31 shooting teams. The money raised during this year’s event ensures that Scouts enjoy a quality and safe experience at Denver Boy Scout properties. For more information or to participate in the 2008 event please send inquiries to sportingclays@denverboyscouts.org.”
To all in Colorado go bust some clays next year to support your boy scouts. Please note the boy scout reservation is 3000 acres not some tiny old camp in the middle of suburbia.

[Sender]

Read the words carefully and you'll see.

That pretty much sums up everything the left is against.

[SandRat]

It gets even worse for then when they go to the 12 Points of the Scout Law. You should enjoy this link http://usscouts.org/boyscouts/jwlaw.html

[marktwain]

“But while there’s a cease-fire for now, residents fear more events like the one held May 19 and 20 will not only disturb their peace but will bring down the value of their properties.”

In the circles I run in, living next to a shooting range *increases* property values. Perhaps the scouts could make arrangements with the neighbors for trading range rights with ... uh... noise easements?

[marktwain]

“That’s just the way it works.”

That’s just the local politicians political corruption through the zoning process. When government reduces the value of someone’s property, the government should pay the difference.

Zoning has been used as a way for local politicians to do things that would otherwise never be allowed or considered ethical.

In Yuma, Arizona, zoning was voted down repeatedly. People did not want the government telling them what they could do with their property. Finally, the state forced them into it... for matching funds. Of course the local politicians love it. It gives them tremendous, almost unaccountable, power.

[Melas]

Here in Texas we have to major cities of comparable size, Houston and Dallas. The DFW metroplex has zoning throughout it’s municipalities. Houston does not. As a result, you’ll find that DFW is much more livable than Houston. I’ll take zoning please.

[Melas]

In the circles I run in, living next to a shooting range *increases* property values.

I'd love to see this substantiated. I have a strong hunch that living next door to an outdoor shooting range has never increased anyone's property value, anywhere. However, I'd love to be proven wrong. Show me.

[marktwain]

It is a hard thing to prove, but I personally looked for a place close to a firing range, it was a big plus for me. When I saw places with their own private range, I was more interested. When I eventually got my own acreage, I built a private range on it.

Then, there is the planned Front Sight community in Nevada, which I believe has substantially increased the property values there (it was just barren desert before).

Here is an excerpt from their web site.

“Front Sight Resort is Even Building a New Master-Planned Community for Its Students.

Yes, Front Sight Resort is building a master-planned community encompassing the resort for the exclusive use of its students. Appropriately named the township of Front Sight, and dubbed “The Safest Town In America”, this gated community, when completed, will provide 177 one-acre luxury home sites, 350 condominiums, a commercial center, a community center, a private K-12 school, all municipal services, and even a 5,000 foot air strip. Front Sight Resort definitely takes care of our student’s needs for present and future training.”

[marktwain]

“Here in Texas we have to major cities of comparable size, Houston and Dallas. The DFW metroplex has zoning throughout it’s municipalities. Houston does not. As a result, you’ll find that DFW is much more livable than Houston. I’ll take zoning please.”

I have not lived in either city, so I don’t have a rebuttal to your opinion. I take it that you have lived in both?

I have, however, lived in several rural areas that have had zoning before and after... and inevitably, the local busybodies just can’t keep from exercising their power. You need a permit to build a shed, even on large acreage.

Zoning should at the minimum, have an exemption for any property over 5 acres.

I have read the model zoning laws that have been used for most of the zoning across the country. They start with an assumption opposite to all American philosophy: That which is not allowed is forbidden!

[Melas]

I understand your concerns. However, Houston has had some real problems with its lack of zoning. The one I remember the best was when an abandoned 7-11 was taken over by a small company that did zinc plating. That kind of industrial work doesn’t mix well with neighborhoods. The smells and frequent arrivals of well marked toxic waste trucks to haul off the byproducts drove propert values through the floor.

[marktwain]

My brother was building a house in Wisconsin. He bought the property and moved in a camping trailer to live in while they were doing the initial construction. A local zoning official showed up (the position had only been created the year before, and he had to show that he could earn his keep). He cited my brother for camping *on his own land* without a permit.

[marktwain]

To make it clear about my brother, this was 12 acres of rural property.

A similar zoning ordinance was passed in the county my parents lived in, lobbied for by the local resorts. It was eventually removed, but only after considerable efforts.

Did no one try to take the metal plating concern to court for creating a nuisance? After all, the residents were there first.

[JoeSixPack1]

I went to TMR Scout camp in the 60’s. Loved it, great memories!