Lombard holsters gun shop plans
Lombard board members shot down plans Thursday for a retail gun shop and indoor shooting range on the village's west side.
Trustees were split on whether to let Gun World locate in an industrial park after some residents and representatives for neighboring businesses expressed opposition. Village President William Mueller cast the deciding vote against Gun World's request.
"It's incompatible with the other approved uses in this area," Trustee Dana Moreau said.
Officials noted that a ballet studio and gymnastics school are located near the gun shop's proposed location.
"At any given time, there are hundreds of children in that area, and that concerns me," Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick said.
Trustees Jack O'Brien, Greg Gron and Richard Tross disagreed.
"Where else but in an industrial park?" Gron asked. "It will be a safe building. It won't be advertised. I'd rather see it in an industrial park than on Roosevelt Road."
Retail gun shops are allowed in certain business districts along Roosevelt Road and North Avenue. The shooting range would be allowed in those same areas with special provisions, called a conditional use, from the village board.
Gun World, which operated in Bensenville for more than 30 years before closing to make way for O'Hare International Airport expansion, sought to open a 20,000-square-foot venue at 355 Eisenhower Lane South off Finley Road.
Plans included 2,000 square feet for retail with the remainder housing a repair shop, security and training rooms, a virtual-reality range for police training and a shooting range with 30 firing positions. Health, safety and security measures were proposed.
"This location is ideal," said Marshall Subach, attorney for Gun World. "This will not be a hangout for kids or gangs."
Neighboring landlords expressed concerns that a gun range would stymie efforts to lease adjacent buildings and harm existing tenants' businesses.
Nearby residents said they feared the potential effects on their quality of life, not only from the potential noise but also the customers who are not law enforcement.
"I don't want to hear guns going off from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.," said Barbara Thornton. "I'm also concerned with property values."
A Gun World customer spoke in favor, noting she couldn't hear gunfire at an eatery next to the Bensenville location.
"Gun World has become a family to me," customer Michele Fowlkes said. "They take pride in what they do. You cannot get through the door without a (firearm owner's identification) card."