Illinois Zoning Board OKs Blackwater Firing Range

[tannybogus]

The Jo Daviess County courtroom had plenty of breathing room on Wednesday, Aug. 27, but Martin Hippie promised he could change that if the zoning board gave him a chance.

"If I had known about this earlier, I'm sure we could have packed this room with people opposed to Blackwater," he said. "I think the public has a right to know, and zoning is really a way for us to protect our land."

Representatives of Blackwater had what they believed to be a modest proposal. They said they would like to replace an existing live-fire shooting range with a new one of similar size. The structure will consist of a 60 by 60 foot pole barn-type structure on a concrete slab, and they assured the board that it will not be hooked up to any utilities or increase traffic on nearby roads.

"It will in no way be hazardous or detrimental to the surrounding properties," promised Blackwater employee Eric Davis.

In fact, Davis argued, the new shooting range will reduce noise by using plywood to absorb sound from the firing, and will meet higher safety standards than the current facility.

But opponents argued that Blackwater was improving and expanding its facility little by little, in such small ways that it could escape scrutiny by the county government.

"A training facility is being used on agricultural land, and it seems kind of strange to me," said Hippie, Democratic candidate for the county board. "Either the zoning should be changed, or the use should be stopped."

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/03-1

Apparently Blackwater moves in then EXPANDS!:yoiks:

[madrchsod]

1. i live about 35-40 miles from there

they want to put helicopter training up there but the folks around there are farmers and some wealthy transplants from chicago who are blocking blackwater. there is a group here that is fighting them looks like this one flew under the radar.