Hearings by the township planning board on activities at the United Sportsmens Association of North America's local gun club resumed this week, though the two sides have yet to reach a resolution on what activities are permitted at the site.
A hearing held in May 2012 and August 2011 found certain activities taking place at the club to be non-compliant with existing township approvals for the site. The non-compliant activities included training and qualifications for law enforcement, alleged firing of automatic weapons on the club's ranges (which is denied by USANA members), and a general increase in activity at the club.
The township maintains that USANA had approval granted only for general "hunting and range-style shooting," which officials said does not cover activities such as law enforcement training.
Led by the club's counsel, Joel Ferdinand, USANA President and Founder Skip Myers testified that the club's 25 ranges have remained basically the same since the 1970s, aside from minor cosmetic improvements to the ranges.
Myers noted that there were some additions made to the club between 2008 and 2010 when the club was sold to HarborSite, a group of military veterans who had hoped to transform the site into a tactical training center and sportsmen's lodge.
Residents who live in the area of the USANA have raised complaints against the club in recent years about increasing noise and sounds of automatic gunfire. Many have said that the issues with the club started when HarborSite took over.
When asked by Ferdinand if USANA was still associated with HarborSite in any way, Myers responded, "That's an insult."
Ferdinand said he expects that to be the final hearing to take place on March 26, which will include public comment and possibly a vote by the planning board on USANA's application.
Previously published on NJ.com
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