Plan approved for new firing range in Mt. Lebanon
Harry Funk / The Almanac
David Brumfield, commission president, opens the gift of a gavel presented to him by fellow commissioners as he concludes his second four-year term.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon High School student Katherine Izzo receives a gift upon completing her semester as junior commissioner, congratulated by David Brumfield, commission president.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Commissioner Steve Silverman applauds after reading a proclamation from the commissioner acknowledging the public service of David Brumfield.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
David Brumfield greets his wife, Michelle, at the conclusion of his final meeting as a Mt. Lebanon commissioner.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
David Brumfield presents certificates to municipal interns Thomas Heagy, left, and Bryce McKain. They have been part of a new program that allows high school students who live in Mt. Lebanon to learn how local government functions.
Mt. Lebanon Commission granted final approval at its Dec. 12 meeting for a land development plan for a new firing range.
The $1.5 million project involves constructing a new building on the property of Mt. Lebanon Golf Course, off Pine Avenue. The existing range, which has been located at the municipal public works facility for 40 years, is undersized to accommodate proper training for police officers.
The commission’s vote was 3-1, with Kelly Fraasch opposing the measure and John Bendel not in attendance.
“It is no secret that I am not supporting this particular part of our renovations for public works. I think that we should have had full consideration and location on Cedar Boulevard,” Fraasch said about the street that runs parallel to the public works facility property, “not putting in a new structure over at a place that’s going to be impacting that neighborhood.”
The firing range will be built on the sloped area next to the golf course’s lower parking lot, which will be expanded by seven spaces. The building will not interfere with golf course operations, parking or the garden plots. (Map data ©2017 Google)
The golf course is in the northeastern part of the municipality, with the Castle Shannon Borough line near three sides of the property.
“I am fully supportive of a firing range in Mt. Lebanon for our police, for our students at Mt. Lebanon High School and for our recreation center,” Fraasch continued, “but not at this location.”
The high school rifle team, which has been in existence since the 1930s, had to move its practices and matches to a remote location following renovations to the school, which called for removing the interior rifle range and not replacing it.
The new municipal range will be housed in a 5,400-square-foot concrete building designed to complement the existing building at the golf course and to mitigate sound.
“The building, itself, is basically a concrete box,” Ronald Gigler, principal of project architect RSSC Architecture, explained during the discussion session preceding the commission’s regular meeting. “It’s very straightforward. There’s nothing really complicated about that. It’s the equipment inside of it that actually is a more strategic design.”
For that component, his company is working with Meggitt Training Systems of Suwanee, Ga., which specializes in live-fire and simulation weapons training systems.
Landscaping improvements at the new building’s site include a storm-water detention pond.
“The intention of that was so that we could direct the storm water away from the homes that are on Pine Avenue and away from the garden plots that sit below the parking lot,” Ian McMeans, assistant municipal manager, said. “The additional landscaping provides some more buffer between the facility and the homes, as well.”
Besides providing a venue for police training and scholastic competition, the range will allow the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department to continue its firearm safety and target pistol classes, both taught by National Rifle Association-certified instructors.
Funding for the project is provided for in the municipality’s 2017 bond issue that also addressed repairs to the 40-year-old Mt. Lebanon Ice Rink.
In other business at the commission’s Dec. 12 meeting:
- The municipality’s 2018 budget gained approval, as did maintaining the real estate tax rate at 4.71 mills. The general fund budget calls for $38.24 million in expenditures.
- Fellow commissioners acknowledged David Brumfield’s final meeting by presenting with a gavel as a gift. He served eight years representing Ward 4, including stints as commission president in 2012 and 2017, before not seeking re-election.