Gun maker wants to relocate from Des Plaines to Mount Prospect

A Des Plaines firearm maker is seeking to relocate to Mount Prospect, but is running into resistance from a group of concerned residents.

The petitioner, Zastava Arms LLC and Redstar Ordnance LLC — a firearms wholesale/import, manufacturing and distributing company — is asking Mount Prospect to amend its code to allow the operation of a facility at 105 Weiler Road on the village’s southern edge.

It would not be a traditional public-facing retail firearms dealer, Mount Prospect officials said.

Although the matter was on Tuesday’s agenda, the village board decided to postpone the discussion because of the absence of two trustees, Terri Gens and Colleen Saccotelli.

The company currently operates at 55 Bradrock Drive in Des Plaines. It approached Mount Prospect about the property more than four years ago. Its lease in Des Plaines runs out in July.

Mount Prospect Community Development Director Jason Shallcross said the text amendment was requested because of a possible conflict with Cook County regulations mandating a one-mile separation from schools and parks.

The Mount Prospect location sits near the Interstate 90 interchange. It is about 400 feet from Metro Prep, a private school, and Majewski Metro Park, which is visible to commuters along the tollway.

The village’s text amendment would impose a quarter-mile separation and supersede the county’s requirement.

Village Manager Michael Cassady said a vote may be moot because the county granted Zastava approval. Despite that, Zastava told village officials in correspondence, the county has advised passage of the local amendment to avoid complications.

The proposal has drawn pushback from residents and anti-gun violence advocates. Several showed up at Tuesday’s meeting and one village resident, Katherine Burton, said she sent written questions to trustees and Mayor Paul Hoefert.

“I don't see any benefit to the community in allowing them to open up in Mount Prospect,” she said, expressing concern about opening the door to retail dealers or shooting ranges.

Arlington Heights resident Mary Kay Baldino was concerned about the potential precedent.

“It's not just about this one business,” she said. “It's really much bigger than that, because any gun dealer could then operate in Mount Prospect within a quarter-mile of a school or park where our kids are.”

Not all residents oppose the relocation. Mount Prospect resident Dutch DeGroot called it a viable business, pointing out they don’t sell the guns outright.

“Does anybody really think that there's going to be a flood of gun manufacturers coming to Mount Prospect?” He asked.

It’s unsure when the proposal will be back before the village board.