The Eldred Township board of supervisors has denied a hearing for a zoning change that would allow an outdoor commercial shooting range.

Eldred Township supervisor Vice Chairman Mary Anne Clausen said the township received a request for a hearing to amend an ordinance on allowable use at the Feb. 4 regular supervisors' meeting.The letter the township received was from MHK Attorneys of Brodheadsville on behalf of RTSP LLC, a New Jersey company.The company, one of 47 5-Star National Shooting Sports Foundation rated shooting ranges in the country, has entered into an agreement of sale for the property owned by David J. Tanzosh and Timothy J. Tanzosh of Kunkletown, currently zoned Rural Resource District. The property is near Mrs. Bush's Personal Care Home in the township.The request for the hearing was to ask the township to amend or change the current zoning ordinance to allow for a private commercial outdoor shooting range.Clausen said that as part of the Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred and Ross townships Joint Comprehensive Plan, shared uses are permitted.Since Chestnuthill and Ross have accepted the shared uses for a commercial shooting range in the CJER area, Eldred does not have to allow it.The board voted 3-0 to deny the hearing.Resident Bob Bush, who owns the personal care home with his family, was concerned about the possibility. He asked how many shooters would be allowed, whether it would be for professionals or public use and what kind of noise levels would be heard.Clausen said they have no specifics. She also said that the party who requested the hearing, which has been now denied, can appeal to the township zoning officer.If the zoning officer denies the request, the company can make an appeal to the township zoning hearing board. If that request is denied, they can appeal to the court system.Supervisor/secretary Sharon Solt said that the township went through a similar experience with Bruce Hawk a few years ago, when Hawk contested that his property was not being used as a racetrack but the township maintained that according to the township's zoning description, it was. Hawk took his appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, which he lost.Resident Vernon Barlieb told the supervisors that they should be aware that in order to access the Tanzosh property being considered for the shooting range, people would have to drive through his brother Leon Barlieb's property on a right of way that is only 15 feet wide.Leon Barlieb said a normal road is 33 feet wide, and he is concerned people would be driving on his property if two cars met on the road.