by Alex Brooks
Karen and Charlie Davis, proprietors of Karen & Charlie’s Guns in Berlin. Came before the Petersburgh Planning Board on Monday March 30 for informal discussion about putting up a pole barn next to their house and moving the business into it. [private] Their house is between Route 22 and the Little Hoosick River across from Taconic. Planning Board Chairman Frank Sheldon asked if the spot they wanted to build on was in the flood plain. The Davises said it was not. Sheldon then said he would also want to know how the premises will be secured, considering the nature of the business.
Charlie Davis said they used to operate the business out of their home, and they are still licensed to use that location. He said none of the security measures you might expect are required. He talked about bars over the windows, an alarm system, security cameras and that kind of thing.
Sheldon replied that even if their license doesn’t require it, the Planning Board is still going to want some information about how the Gun Shop would be secured in its new location as part of the Site Plan Review process.
Davis said he and his wife want to move quickly to build the pole barn and move the business into it. He said if approval is not going to be simple, they’ll just keep the business where it is, in Berlin.
Sheldon said it would take at least a month, because there would have to be a public hearing before approval is granted, and they would have to gather some information about the proposed siting of the business before they could go ahead with the public hearing. Davis said in that case they will not apply for a permit, and they’ll just continue in their present location.
Sheldon said if they do decide to come back and go forward with this plan, he would just want to verify whether they are in the flood plain or not, and review the security measures planned for the business. [/private]