Gun club's half-mile-long rifle range has Belchertown, Granby homeowners on edge
Updated on July 30, 2017 at 8:06 AM Posted on July 30, 2017 at 7:30 AM
07.24.2017 | BELCHERTOWN -- Belchertown resident Diana Weldon, at left, expresses her concerns about the Granby Bow and Gun Club during the Belchertown selectmen's meeting. Her husband, Darrell Weldon is seated beside her.
07.24.2017 | BELCHERTOWN -- Belchertown resident Diana Weldon, at left, expresses her concerns about the Granby Bow and Gun Club during the Belchertown selectmen's meeting. Her husband, Darrell Weldon is seated beside her.(JIM RUSSELL PHOTO)
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By Jim Russell
Special to The Republican
BELCHERTOWN -- Alleged public safety and environmental concerns involving a 1,015-yard high-powered rifle range installed at the Granby Bow and Gun Club have residents of two towns up in arms.
Accusations of booming guns causing their windows to shake, concerns about stray bullets, fears of getting shot and allegations of problematic tree cutting were aired at Monday's Belchertown selectmen's meeting. Belchertown and Granby residents vociferously complained about the gun club and the club's alleged lack of concern for nearby Granby and Belchertown homeowners.
Robin LaBorde, of 88 Chicopee St., Granby, attended the July 24 Belchertown selectmen's meeting to voice concerns about the club, claiming stray bullets have become a hazard.
In a letter, he said neighbors living near the facility are "subject to missed bullets entering their land causing a very dangerous situation."
LaBorde wrote: "The screeching noise is deafening. It randomly happens after dark at any day, week or time. This noise appears to be echoing from the club grounds and sounds like it is either in our front or back yard."
Belchertown residents Darrell Weldon and his wife, Diana, who reside on Barton Avenue, said the blast from shooting rattles their windows.
Darrell Weldon said that previously the club had been "very good neighbors."
He said that youth often ride all-terrain vehicles through the property of the club, and irrespective of whether they are allowed on the land, they are at risk of being shot.
Weldon also said that a large number of trees were cut, and questioned whether appropriate rules were followed. He said the noise appears to have calmed down within the past week.
In an email to Belchertown selectmen dated July 6, the Wheldons lodged a formal complaint against the club with the town.
"Bad enough they stripped the mountain of beautiful foliage ... we can hear what sounds like an assault rifle with multiple shots very frequently. What is being done to address this?" the Weldons wrote.
The Weldons' residence is near the Granby town line and proximate to the club.
Belchertown selectmen, after hearing residents complain about the situation, said two members of their board would attend the next Granby selectmen's meeting, scheduled Aug. 7, and that if a "soft" approach failed to fix the problem, they were prepared to take a "hard" approach, although they did not specify what that might be.
Granby Bow and Gun Club's website says members have access to a 1,015-yard firing range -- "The ONLY 1000+ yard rifle range in New England that is accessible to its members!"
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The club, at 85 Chicopee St. in Granby, was founded on April 4, 1947, according to the organization's president, Andre Mercier, and Debi Mercier, the group's secretary, who is his wife.
The couple was contacted on Tuesday by The Republican.
"We have tried to resolve things with the people of Granby. We are trying to be good neighbors (and) we are very much involved in our community," Debi Mercier said in a conference call with her husband.
"We didn't think we needed an attorney, but this situation seems to be growing, and we wanted to be fair," she said. The couple said they would attend the Aug. 7 Granby selectmen's meeting.
Guns Inc. breaks ground for shooting range next to White Hut
Guns Inc. breaks ground for shooting range next to White Hut
Owner E. David Knapik said shooters will be able to fire up to a .50-caliber round.
The Merciers declined to respond to specific questions, such as how many members are part of the club and when the nearly half-mile rifle range opened to shooters. They would not dislcose the amount of land the club encompasses. They did not respond to questions about alleged environmental problems. Instead, they referred questions to their attorney, Edward F. George, Jr., who has an office in Woburn.
In an interview on Wednesday, George said he had not yet toured the facility with his clients, but planned to do so prior to the Granby selectmen's meeting, which he said he would attend.
The lawyer said there was not a lot he could share at this time, owing to attorney-client privilege, but said he would "make every effort to resolve the issues."
The lawyer's website says his areas of expertise include: "Sportsman's Club Representation in Multiple Safety, Environmental, Liability and Nuisance (sound and noise) Cases."
In a telephone interview following the Belchertown meeting, Granby Town Administrator Christopher Martin said municipal officials are currently investigating the controversy, including whether the decibel level of gunshots violate the community's sound ordinance. He said the town's zoning enforcement officer is actively involved.
"It is an issue the Granby Board of Selectmen is addressing. We have been investigating," Martin said.
The administrator said the matter will be on the board's Aug. 7 agenda, adding, "Hopefully we have representatives from Granby Bow and Gun Club present."
Martin said that while he hopes the matter can be resolved soon, the town's counsel is reviewing the town's options, should a legal response be required. He did not say what those options might include.
Asked about the tree cutting and the notice of intent the club filed in May with the Granby Conservation Commission, Martin said the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection "is conducting an investigation (regarding) any potential violations."