Home Gun Business Approved

Planning Chairwoman Anna Liisa Covell found herself on the other side of the table Monday when she recused herself from her duties and sought a special exception use permit to run a gun repair shop out of her home on the east side of Edgewater Avenue, near Nobleton.

Covell said she and her husband want to convert their hobby into a home business.

Covell stressed there will not be any walk-up or drive-up customers and that all interaction would be done via telephone and the Internet.

Planning commissioners also stipulated that all deliveries be made off-site.

There will be no signs at their home advertising the gun repair business and no employees.

The Covells would do custom gunsmith work and also build custom ammunition.

"We have used our home address for this gun repair and ammunition hobby for over five years," the Covells wrote. "This new business venture will give us the opportunity to charge for services that we have been currently (doing) for free."

Covell said this business venture would supplement her and her husband's income when they retire from their electrical business which they own.

"The gun repair business is a take-off on a current personal hobby," the Covells wrote.

Covell's colleagues approved the project 4-0.

In other news from Monday's P&Z meeting:

-Planning and zoning commissioners unanimously approved a conditional plat for a 12-home subdivision one-quarter mile north of Dunkirk Road, east of Bayshore Drive and Bayshore Court, near Lake Theresa in Spring Hill.

-P&Z commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the erection of a 180-foot communication tower on the south side of Grizzly Bear Lane, just east of U.S. 19.

The applicant said the tower would be camouflaged as a flag pole with all the antennas hidden. An American flag will be positioned on the very top of the structure.

-Board members voted 5-0 to reestablish a master plan on a small parcel at Spring Hill Drive and Port Court to develop a 3,746-square-foot professional office building.