West Mountain residents express opposition to proposed gun range at BLM open house
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- Residents speaks with BLM representatives at a BLM open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Greg Raines speaks with citizens at a BLM open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Citizens place stickers on a map to suggest alternative locations for a proposed gun range near West Mountain during a BLM open house in Payson, Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Attendees at a BLM open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Residents write comments at a BLM open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Brian Hulet speaks with citizens at a BLM open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
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- Greg Raines speaks with citizens at a Bureau of Land Management open house in Payson regarding a proposed gun range on West Mountain on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
More than 100 residents showed up to an open house organized by the Bureau of Land Management in Payson on Thursday to discuss a proposed 528-acre gun range on West Mountain that would be built on public land.
The open house had stations set up for residents where they could ask questions about specific issues like environmental impacts. Representatives from Payson City and the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), the organization seeking to build the range, were there to talk with citizens.
Comment boxes were available for residents to submit comments about the proposal, and a map was set up for attendees to suggest a different location for the range by placing a sticker on an alternative location. All but three stickers were placed outside of the West Mountain area, with individuals suggesting more rural areas, such as near Goshen or Mona.
Residents came with a host of concerns about the proposal ranging from increased road traffic to safety and water usage. However, the common denominator among the crowd was simple — the project is too close to their homes.
Jane Barker and her family own several acres of land that borders the northeast end of the project boundaries, and she said she wants her grandchildren to be able to explore the mountain like her children did without a gun range in the way.
Barker said they bought the land 33 years ago with the intention of creating lots for her six children, who are now grown, where they could build homes and raise their families.
“Now my kids are saying, ‘I don’t know if I want to live up there, Mom,'” she told the Daily Herald on Thursday.
Theron Dutson, who lives about a mile south of the possible gun range, said his main concern is about his property values decreasing and the increase in traffic a gun range would bring.
“We came out here because we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Get out of the subdivisions, get out of the cul-de-sacs and have a little bit of room,” he said.
But now, he said he’s being told his property values are going to take a hit if the project is approved. “People are not going to want to want to live next to all the noise and commotion that’s going on, the traffic,” he said.
Greg Raines, chief commercial officer for the CMP, said his organization has been looking at building a facility out west and chose the West Mountain location due to it being close to I-15 and only an hour away from the Salt Lake City airport.
Raines said the facility will give the community access to gun training offered by the CMP, which is a nonprofit organization focused on gun safety and education, and provide a location for law enforcement training as well.
“We’ll have gun training out there for anyone, anyone that wants to come out there and have pistol training, rifle, shotgun, or anything that they want to do,” he said. “We’re there to be a part of the community.”
Raines said he’s heard some concerns from the community regarding the noise the facility would create and said if the project is approved, they will put berms on the site to help absorb sound.
“We are doing some sound studies, we’re going to have sound mitigating berms out there,” he said. “There’s nothing really for the community to worry about.”
He added that all employees will be trained in firearm safety and all patrons will be required to go through a safety course before using the facility. He added that access to the range would be about $30 a day.
Raines said they are considering alternative locations as they move through the BLM application process, noting the suggestion map BLM had available during the meeting.
Payson City Councilmember Brain Hulet said the city is trying to “rebrand” as a location for tourism and is looking to bring more recreational activities to attract tourists. While the proposal is not within the Payson city limits, the area is within the city’s future annexation plan.
Hulet said he’s heard concerns about safety, sound and proximity to homes from residents but added the project still isn’t approved and is making its way through the process.
BLM has received more than 600 comments on the issue, said Ashley Snipes, public affairs specialist, with about 90 comments between Thursday and Friday.
Attendees of Thursday’s public open house had mixed feelings about the event, with some saying they were grateful for the opportunity while others felt unheard.
“When you talk to the people, I feel like it’s almost them patting us on the head and saying, ‘Okay,'” said Angela Lacey, who lives right next to the proposed range. “I don’t know if they’re hearing us.”
Dutson said he felt like he was only getting “fluff” from the BLM and CMP representatives who were present on Thursday evening. “I don’t think they’re really getting into the nitty-gritty,” he said. “If you start trying to dig details out, you can’t get any details.”
Barker said she was grateful for the open house and the willingness she saw from BLM to listen to her concerns. “I appreciate the opportunity to comment,” she said. “One of the ladies told me they read every comment. I hope that’s true.”
BLM is currently in the “public scoping” step of the project application, with public comment ending on July 19.
The next steps for the bureau are preparing an environmental assessment and then opening another public comment period once a draft assessment is available. The BLM will then respond to the second round of public comment, finalize the environmental assessment and issue a decision.
Residents can make public comments online until July 19 at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home.
