Planning Commission Approves Supervisors Jones’ Shooting Range

A very large shooting range has been approved for a Millville Plains location by the Shasta County Planning Commission. The owner of the proposed facility is Board of Supervisors Chair Patrick Jones. He’s also a manager of Jones Fort, a Redding gun shop. The location is Leopard Drive, which runs to the north from Dersch Road about 4 miles east of Deschutes. The 152 acres would feature long-range rifle firing lines, handgun bays, and clay target shooting ranges. Structures would include a 5,000 square foot clubhouse with a 3,300 square foot covered patio, a 1,000 square foot caretakers quarters and a 700 square foot clubhouse especially for use by law enforcement. Jones would want to operate the club 5 days a week from 8AM to PMm and hold up to 14 events a year with up to 200 people; 2 of them with up to 500 people. It would also allow overnight RV. camping. Approval also requires a rezoning, which currently is zoned for 40 acre lots and would need to be changed to recreational. Neighbors are concerned about noise, as well as environmental degradation from the range, which runs along Bear Creek. The gun range now just needs the approval of the board before getting its final permits.