Cowtown rezoning moves forward

By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

The owner of the Cowtown shooting facility in North Peoria has agreed to remediate lead contamination due to discharged ammunition found on Arizona State Land Department property.

The state agency manages lands that generate revenues for Arizona’s K-12 public schools.

Last year, the department commissioned an environmental assessment on its surrounding land and found lead contamination near the south-central portion of the privately-owned Cowtown.

ASLD spokesman Mark Scarp confirmed Cowtown owner Westward Ho Adventures agreed to remediate lead contaminants, conduct an additional study on state trust property and remediate any additional contaminants found due to Cowtown shooting activities, according to the agreement. The agreement also requires Cowtown establish a procedure to address future possible encroachment onto the state trust property, and enter into an agreement to prevent possible future encroachment.

Negotiations over the last couple months to remediate the contamination had stalled a case to rezone the Cowtown property from Special Use Permit and Floodplain to Cowtown Planned Area Development to clarify allowed uses, development standards and operational criteria to reflect the character and nature of Cowtown.

As a result of the agreement, the planning commission resumed consideration of the case and unanimously approved it for council recommendation, March 1.

Peoria City Council is expected to consider the case April 17.

Brian Greathouse, who represents Westward Ho Adventures, said he supports all the findings of the rezoning case.

“We are excited about moving forward,” he said.

Over the years, Cowtown 10402 W. Old Carefree Highway has hosted a variety of recreational and entertainment activities, including shooting competitions, firearm training classes and advanced tactical law enforcement training.

State officials not only have health and safety concerns about the facility and its uses, but fiduciary concerns as the lands it manages generate revenues for Arizona’s K-12 public schools. The department  protects against actions that could devalue those lands, Mr. Scarp said.

Outdoor shooting ranges are lightly regulated in Arizona.

Don Turner, president of the Nevada Firearms Coalition, that state’s National Rifle Association affiliate, was hired by Cowtown as a consultant to review the facility’s site plan. He was also tasked with reviewing the Cowtown Operations Handbook to determine best management practices for the shooting facility. Mr. Turner is an NRA instructor and Range Technical Team advisor, and has experience managing the Ben Avery Shooting Facility 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd. Phoenix.

Mr. Turner concluded the facility is in compliance with appropriate safety and management concerns, according to city documents.

Planner Lorie Dever said city staff and the property owner are working on an agreement to make sure best practices are maintained in the future.

At the March 1 planning commission meeting, Chairman Shawn Hutchinson brought up the possibility of helicopter tactical training and shooting that could occur on the Cowtown property.

Mr. Greathouse said the owner must file a Special Use Permit, to be reviewed by the city, to perform this type of training, which is limited only to military and law enforcement agencies.

A training like this will not occur on a regular basis, he said.

“A private group can’t charter a helicopter and all the sudden start shooting wildly. It will be a very controlled and regulated environment by people who know what they are doing,” Mr. Greathouse said. “They would have to submit plans to the city, notices will go out. There are a lot of safeguards in place.”

If you go

What: Peoria City Council will consider the Cowtown rezoning case.

When: April 17

Where: Peoria city council chamber 8401 W. Monroe St.

More info: peoriaaz.gov