Justin Whaley walks away from the planning notice sign proposing a special permit outdoor shooting range on Bakewell Mountain in north Hamilton County. The 184-acres are located on Retro Hughes Road.The bulls-eye for a controversial northwest Hamilton County firing range proposal got a little smaller Monday.
Dead Zero Shooting will have to work around a negative recommendation from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency to obtain the special permit it needs to operate a commercial gun range along Retro Hughes Road on Bakewell Mountain.
The planning commission voted Monday to issue a “deny” recommendation on the special permit case after more than an hour of civil but contentious case-making from both sides in a packed meeting.
Commissioners ultimately sided with a group of Bakewell Mountain landowners who have contested the range, saying it would bring undue hardship by creating noise, traffic and safety concerns.
“We’re talking about the quality of life of those persons who live in that area,” commission member Yusuf Hakeem said before making a motion to deny the permit. “Many of us, the largest investment we ever make is a home that we live in.”