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Manhattan Shooting Excursions LLC owner Andrew Massimillian, center, speaks to the assembled crowd at the Ransom Twp. meeting April 5.

Abington Journal/Gerard Hetman

Ransom Twp. Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Esposito speaks to the crowd during Monday’s meeting.

Abington Journal/Gerard Hetman

RANSOM TWP.- After months of speculation about plans for the construction of a shooting range facility on land in Ransom Twp., residents came to Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting hoping for some answers. Held April 5, at the Ransom Twp. Municipal Building, the meeting included more than 60 residents from Ransom Twp. and other municipalities in the building’s meeting room to learn about plans for a shooting range on a property in the township. Those in attendance had an opportunity to hear from Andrew Massimillian, who currently owns and operates Manhattan Shooting Excursions LLC. Describing his company as fully certified organizers and supervisors of shooting events and excursions, Massimillian took aim at criticisms that have been circulating among residents about his desire to open a shooting range on a property adjacent to Snake Road. While holding up a copy of a flyer that was distributed throughout the township last month by a still-unidentified individual, Massimillian described the information about his company on the flyer as “falsehoods” and “libel-type things” that were leveled at his company without any basis.

“In regards to a shooting range, you should only need to be concerned about one thing…how strong is the management,” Massimillian said of the concerns among residents. He then offered an explanation of his company’s operations and the credentials he possesses to operate a shooting range, while explaining what he sees as benefits to the community from the presence of such a facility. Chief among these, Massimillian claimed, is the ability of his company to provide a safe, supervised location for recreational shooting to occur, and also to provide local police departments with a range to use for firearms qualification and training. Massimillian heard comments and criticisms from residents who raised a range of issues with the proposed range, from noise and nuisance issues to the location of the range on the property in question, which totals more than 600 acres.

One of those in attendance with questions was Jeff Hosko, who intends to move with his family to a property near the proposed range in the near future. Hosko said he was concerned about the impact such a facility could have on the quality of life in the neighborhood.

“If this range goes ahead, what will happen to property values in the area?” Hosko asked . “McDade Park is right down the street…if this goes through, they may as well put a “For Sale” sign on it. Would you want your children to be playing there with this going on?”

According to Massimillian, the property where he intends to construct the range is owned by West Mountain Preserve, which he describes as a “land preservation trust” dedicated to preserving rural land from development and exploitation. The land is also currently used by the West Mountain Conservation Club for recreational purposes, including hunting and shooting. WMCC President Rob Sochoka was on hand to address concerns relating to noise from recent shooting sessions on the property.

Ransom Township supervisors, explained that the land in question is zoned to accommodate a commercial shooting range, but that such a facility would also need to comply with other township regulations. Supervisors responded to several questions from residents regarding a number of surplus military vehicles that Massimillian has parked near the property in question. Ransom Twp. Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Esposito said the vehicles would either need to be licensed to drive on public roads or removed from the property by the end of April. Massimillian said he would comply with the situation and resolve the issue within the specified time frame.

The next meeting of the Ransom Twp. Board of Supervisors is set for Monday evening, May 3, at 7 p.m. at the Ransom Twp. Building.