By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — Sturm, Ruger & Co, Inc. has been given conditional permission to increase the size of its shooting range facility located on property in the Industrial Zoning District at the gun manufacturing plant at 411 Sunapee St. in Newport.
Detailed plans were presented to the Newport Planning Board at its Tuesday night meeting requesting the change. Only a few “minor things” need to be addressed before the zoning board gives its final approval.
Currently, there is one 25-yard shooting lane on the property and Ruger will now be adding three additional lanes, each 100 yards in length, to test firearms. The original 25-yard range will remain for an unspecified length of time.
During Tuesday’s hearing before the planning board, a company representative discussed in detail the construction plans for the new longer lanes along with safety features.
The larger range will continue to be for Ruger’s own operation for test purposes and not for private use. The land of the closest abutter is 330 feet away, testimony revealed.
“We wanted to come here to show you what we’re doing,” a Ruger official told the four Planning Board members in attendance.
The side berms at the range will be 16 feet in height while the impact berm will be 26 feet high. “The design followed federal guidelines,” a spokesperson emphasized. It will be fully baffled range and be fully protected.
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