The Redlands Planning Commission approved our Conditional Use Permit modification to install the remaining 1071 feet of the shot curtain you see above. That picture shows just the first 129 feet that we put up as a test section. The curtain will be 1200 feet long by 45 feet high and the panels cover 34 vertical feet. We will have the next big section done in the next couple of months.
Without this curtain, we would have had to close down Redlands Shooting Park because our shot was falling into an endangered species habitat. Because all the lead just falls down at the base we will be able to eventually cover the cost of the curtain through collecting the lead.
We think that the background the solid curtain provides will make it the best background to shoot against anywhere. The orange targets really “pop” against it. In fact, we think it will be worth the trip to come shoot the “Redlands Wall” and we are thinking about a special shoot for that.
We also want to thank Jim Tyner for his work fixing this problem. He was the first person I called when we got the letter from the EPA. I knew he had created the lead management program for the North Hollywood Club. He came up with the shot curtain idea, negotiated that as an acceptable solution with the EPA, worked with the special fabric manufacturer, found the right utility poles, got the wind loads calculated, found the construction company, negotiated the lease modifications with our landlord, created the construction plans, drawings and plot plan, wrote the CUP modification application for the City, worked with the planning department and then appeared for us before the Planning Commission. Because of his knowledge we haven’t had to pay any legal or engineering fees saving us 10s of thousands of dollars. He did this all on a volunteer basis and it’s a 2 hour drive each way when he has had to come here and meet with people. If you see him at a TriCounty Shoot, say thanks.
Terry & Jacque Bilbey