Walnut Creek's Design Review Commission reviewed plans for a nine-lane indoor shooting range on North Main Street on Wednesday, Aug. 19, forwarding advisory comments to the Planning Commission, which will decide whether to grant the conditional use permit at a future hearing.
The project, filed by applicant Gabriel Casillas of Elite Armory, would add 1,280 square feet to the rear of a vacant 3,000-square-foot building at 2615 N. Main St. that formerly housed Lewis & Lewis Carpets. The expanded 4,280-square-foot facility would include the shooting range, instructional classes, firearms training and retail sales.
The commission's role at the Aug. 19 hearing was advisory only. Commissioners reviewed the building's proposed exterior, site layout, landscaping, lighting and materials but did not vote on whether the range can open. The specific content of their comments has not yet been published in meeting minutes.
The project drew heavy public interest. Six addendum packets of written public comments were submitted before the hearing, according to the city's meeting agenda.
Neighbors remain split. Francisca Hernandez, a longtime employee at Jim's Auto Body Shop a few doors down from the site, told CBS News: "The apartment buildings behind here. And being so close to the freeway, that would worry me."
Lori Sandoval, a nearby resident, expressed support, saying gun ranges she has visited are "perfectly insulated" and require proof of a permit before anyone can shoot.
Noise and safety measures
A noise study by Acoustics Group, Inc., described in the city's staff report, modeled sound levels at the four nearest homes and found all would remain below ambient noise during operating hours, ranging from 26.9 to 45.9 dBA. AGI based its model on live-fire measurements taken at Elite Armory's Tracy range. The study acknowledged gunfire could be faintly audible at two locations when background traffic noise drops, but levels would still comply with the city's noise guidelines.
Elite Armory operates a gun and ammunition retail store in Castro Valley and says, per the staff report, it has 17 years of operational experience. The company told CBS News it worked with Action Target, one of the country's largest range builders, to design the facility, and said its safety features go "significantly above and beyond" state and federal requirements. Proposed mitigation includes grout-filled concrete block walls, acoustical and ballistic baffles, sound-rated doors with airtight seals and a rubber berm trap for projectile capture.
The site, zoned Service Commercial, sits among auto body shops, auto sales businesses, NorCal Golf Academy and Splash Swim School. Parking would expand from five spaces to 21, four more than the 17 required by city code.
Proposed public hours, according to Contra Costa News, are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Additional reservation-only hours for law enforcement and licensed trainers would extend into early mornings and evenings.
What's next
The Planning Commission will hold a separate hearing on the conditional use permit, final design review and CEQA exemption. No date has been announced. The city's staff report classifies the project as a "Major Project" because the addition exceeds 500 square feet.
Residents with questions can contact associate planner Gerardo Victoria at (925) 943-5899, ext. 2369, or [email protected].
