Gun shop and range proposed for old Hudson Cinema 9 location

• Vacant Hudson Cinema 9 movie theater

A Minnesota gun shop owner hopes to open an indoor shooting range in the vacant Hudson Cinema 9 movie theater on O’Keefe Road. The city will have to amend its zoning code to allow indoor gun ranges in general business districts for John Monson of Bill’s Gun Shop & Range to advance his plans. Photo by Randy Hanson

Talk about it

The old Hudson Cinema 9 theater building will become a gun shop and indoor shooting range if the plans of a Minnesota businessman come to fruition.

John Monson, the owner of Bill’s Gun Shop & Range, is asking the city of Hudson to amend its zoning code to allow the shooting range in a general business (B-2) district.

Monson operates two similar indoor ranges at his shops in Circle Pines and Robbinsdale in Minnesota.

Dennis Darnold, community development director for the city, said gun shops are allowed in Hudson’s general business districts, but not shooting ranges.

“Historically, I think the reason gun ranges were not permitted is that most of those were outdoor types of facilities,” Darnold said.

He said he personally wouldn’t have a concern about an indoor range as long as all of the pertinent safety regulations were followed.

The request for the zoning amendment is on the agenda of the Plan Commission’s June 14 meeting. The commission will review the request and give a recommendation on whether the City Council should approve it.

Darnold said there are several options for officials to consider in regard to the proposed zoning amendment.

The city could simply make indoor gun ranges a permitted use in B-2 districts. Or it could require a certificate of compliance for gun ranges, in which case the owner’s plans would be reviewed prior to approval.

Another option would be to require a conditional use permit for shooting ranges. A public hearing, a review by the Plan Commission and approval by the City Council are needed to receive a conditional use permit.

Darnold said if the city is going to allow indoor ranges in B-2 districts, it should also consider allowing them in industrial districts.

The Hudson Cinema 9 building, located behind Crest View Drive on O’Keefe Road, has been vacant since the owners built the new Hudson 12 Theatre on Stageline Road east of Hwy. 35.

Tags: business, retail, hudson