Precision Gun Range LLC, and Baron Creek LLC v. Jerry Wise, Kathy Wise, David Drake, and Brozia Drake, Owen County, Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals (mem. dec.)

Indiana Court of Appeals·Decided November 30, 2020·No. 20A-PL-231·Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Nov 30 2020, 9:54 am court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK

the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals

estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES Michael L. Carmin JERRY WISE, KATHY WISE, Daniel M. Cyr DAVID DRAKE, AND BROZIA CarminParker, PC DRAKE Bloomington, Indiana Jonathan W. Hughes Andrew M. McNeil

Martha A. Dean Bose McKinney & Evans LLP Law Offices of Martha A. Dean, LLC Indianapolis, Indiana Avon, Connecticut ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE

OWEN COUNTY, INDIANA

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

John J. Moore

Tuohy Bailey & Moore LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA Precision Gun Range LLC, and November 30, 2020 Baron Creek LLC, Court of Appeals Case No. Appellants, 20A-PL-231 Appeal from the Owen Circuit v. Court The Honorable Michael D. Keele, Jerry Wise, Kathy Wise, David Special Judge Drake, and Brozia Drake, Trial Court Cause No.

60C02-1907-PL-304

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-PL-231 |November 30, 2020 Page 1 of 18

Owen County, Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals, Appellees.

Brown, Judge.

[1] Precision Gun Range LLC (“PGR”) and Baron Creek LLC (“Baron Creek”) appeal the trial court’s January 3, 2020 order which granted a request for stay and preliminary injunction. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [2] Jerry Wise and Kathy Wise reside in Owen County, Indiana, approximately 1,119 yards due south of a rifle range operated by PGR. David Drake and Brozia Drake reside immediately west of the Wises.

[3] In March 2015, PGR filed a Conditional Use Application through Michael Marshall with the Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals (the “BZA”) to “create ‘Gun Club’ – Recreational on Lots 3-6 Franklin Industrial Park II.” Exhibits Volume I at 9. The application included a site plan with a rifle range and a pistol range. The conditional use application was filed for the property addresses of Lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Franklin Industrial Park. At the time of

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-PL-231 |November 30, 2020 Page 2 of 18 the application, Baron Creek owned Lot 6, but it has never owned Lots 3, 4, or 5.

[4] On April 9, 2015, the BZA conducted a public hearing to consider PGR’s conditional use application which provided for the operation of a rifle range in a west to east shooting orientation. The minutes from the meeting indicated the board members agreed that the request had met all conditions, regulations, and development standards required in the zoning ordinance, approved the conditional use request, and ordered that the gun range owners meet all safety standards and building requirements “per the State, Local and Federal for [sic] Firearms for both the proposed indoor and outdoor ranges and future development.” Id. at 15.

[5] Between April 9, 2015, and September 26, 2015, PGR oriented the rifle range in a north to south direction. It received no written authorization to do so, and the rifle range opened on September 27, 2015, in a north to south shooting orientation.

[6] The Wises found bullet holes in their home, shop, and trailer. The Drakes found a bullet hole in their home’s gutter. The Wises found the first bullet hole on November 13, 2016, and reported this discovery to the Owen County Sheriff’s Department. Sergeant Michael Browning responded, inspected the property, and identified two bullet holes in the exterior siding of the steel shop, evidence of a bullet hitting concrete blocks, and a bullet hole in the side of a racecar trailer. Jerry Wise reported the incident to PGR, and PGR by its

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-PL-231 |November 30, 2020 Page 3 of 18 representative and range-manager, Kimberly Bartlett, indicated that it was aware of a problem with the left hand side of the range, and would fix it and repair the damage.

[7] On or around February 6, 2017, the Wises discovered a bullet in their home. On February 28, 2017, the Drakes discovered a bullet in their gutter and reported the incident to the Indiana State Police, and Sergeant Christopher Fears conducted an investigation. On March 15, 2017, Sergeant Fears met with Bartlett at PGR. Bartlett told Sergeant Fears “that the rifle alley could possibly be moved, and they would look into the solution. Ms. Bartlett advised . . . that as of this date, the rifle alley would be closed indefinitely until it is fixed or changed. She advised they would lock it down and not utilize it, at this time.” Appellants’ Brief at 17.

[8] The rifle range was closed during the period of March 2017 until May 25, 2019, but PGR continued to operate the pistol range during that time. When the rifle range was closed, neither the Drakes nor the Wises had any concerns about bullets entering or striking their properties.

[9] Although the rifle range was closed in March 2017, PGR notified the public via a November 21, 2017 press release that it would be reopening it on December 1, 2017. On December 5, 2017, the BZA made a motion to close the rifle range until expert findings could deem it safe, and that month it closed the rifle range. PGR continued to operate its pistol range.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-PL-231 |November 30, 2020 Page 4 of 18

[10] On January 11, 2018, the BZA met to discuss the conditional use. The BZA heard various complaints, and County attorney Richard Lorenz noted that any directional change in the range “should have been re-presented to the BZA for approval.” Id. at 18. The BZA voted “to give PGR 15 days to develop a presentation to demonstrate the safety of the range.” Id. All agreed that the rifle range would not reopen “until the BZA meets again on the matter.” Id. On February 2, 2018, the BZA met, and it “was agreed upon to maintain the range’s closure until new safety measures are implemented and revisited.” Id. at 19.

[11] On July 19, 2018, the BZA held a meeting where no action was taken on the range other than to authorize its attorney to work on a letter concerning a future closure. On September 20, 2018, the BZA held a meeting, reminded all in attendance that “a conditional use can be revoked at any time,” discussed hiring an outside specialist to review the safety at the range, and moved to request funding from the County Council “to hire an independent specialist.” Id.

[12] On October 23, 2018, the BZA met again to discuss the independent inspection. It indicated that the County Council denied funds for the specialist and noted, “[s]ince there was an approved motion to close [by the BZA], [the rifle range] will remain closed until approval is given.” Id.

[13] On May 24, 2019, the BZA held a meeting to consider the rifle range and ultimately tabled the issue “until further able to process.” Id. at 20. PGR

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-PL-231 |November 30, 2020 Page 5 of 18 unilaterally determined to reopen the rifle range on May 25, 2019. On May 26, 2019, Sergeant Browning responded to a call from Kathy Wise who reported that the Wises had located a bullet lodged in the north side of their residence. Sergeant Browning observed the bullet hole and recovered the bullet from the window frame just above the bedroom window. He also identified what he believed to be ballistic damage to the Wises’ new arbor in their back yard.

[14] On June 10, 2019, all three members of the BZA and the Owen County planning director visited PGR and met with Bartlett. On June 18, 2019, the BZA held a meeting, the minutes for which stated in part: “A motion to allow PGR to operate and remain open was made by R. Wood 2nd by S. Wood. Carried 3-0.” Exhibits Volume I at 28.

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Precision Gun Range LLC, and Baron Creek LLC v. Jerry Wise, Kathy Wise, David Drake, and Brozia Drake, Owen County, Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals (mem. dec.), (Ind. Ct. App. 2020).

Precision Gun Range LLC, and Baron Creek LLC v. Jerry Wise, Kathy Wise, David Drake, and Brozia Drake, Owen County, Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals (mem. dec.) (Precision Gun Range LLC, and Baron Creek LLC v. Jerry Wise, Kathy Wise, David Drake, and Brozia Drake, Owen County, Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals (mem. dec.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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