WESTFORD — Ahead of a Monday night Planning Board hearing, two dueling petitions began to circulate, both focused on a proposed firearms bylaw that could regulate future firearms businesses in Westford.
The proposal, which has undergone a number of changes since it was initially proposed in February, will appear in the Oct. 16 Special Town Meeting warrant.
Recap of the proposal
This information was originally reported by WestfordCAT on April 11 and has subsequently been updated on May 31 and July 17 to reflect the current draft.
The proposed bylaw would not impact businesses that have already received approval, such as a firearms dealership at 359 Littleton Rd.
The proposal could limit the number of firearms businesses within Westford at one given time. The current draft bylaw would allow four special permits for firearms businesses within the town.
The draft bylaw would not apply to sportsmen’s clubs, such as the Westford Sportsmen’s Club or Stony Brook Fish and Game Association.
New firearms businesses would be allowed under a special permit in the Commercial Highway and Industrial Highway districts under the proposal, which primarily falls along Littleton Road.
The draft bylaw could limit new businesses within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, religious institutions or existing firearms businesses.
Under the most recent proposal, the Planning Board would be the Special Permit Granting Authority for future firearms businesses.
Additionally, the Planning Board could impose a number of criteria for a proposed firearms business that fall within 500 feet of a facility that “serves persons under age 18 who commonly congregate to participate in scheduled and structured activities.” Under the proposal, businesses would need to submit a security plan as well as an operations and management plan to the Westford Police Department.
Businesses would be unable to operate before 9 a.m. and must close by 7 p.m. under the proposal.
“Defend the Second Amendment in Westford, Massachusetts”
One petition, organized by “Westford Pro 2A”, shares petitioners reservations on the current draft bylaw.
Petitioners say they oppose certain setbacks, particularly where “children generally congregate,” as written in the proposal.
“This is subjective and removes too many potential places for businesses to locate and should itself be removed,” the petition reads.
Additionally, petitioners say they are against the reduced cap on firearms businesses, which was reduced from five to four. The cap was originally reduced to accommodate 359 Littleton Rd., which has not opened as of a July 17 Planning Board hearing.
“We do not like caps, and we do not like setbacks. But both together are far too restrictive,” the petition reads.
Petitioners also call on the Planning Board to allow shops to open along Route 40. Under the current proposal, shops can only open along Route 110 adjacent roadways.
Petitioners are concerned with language regarding restrictions on hours of operation and licensing.
“All businesses are under immense pressure to survive in the current economic climate. We should not be restricting them in ways that they need, to operate to be successful,” it reads.
Petitioners say they are willing to concede on some setbacks, including setbacks from schools and churches, calling these setbacks “completely unnecessary.”
Petitioners say they are also willing to “talk further” regarding setbacks between firearms businesses.
The petition has 92 signatures at the time of reporting.
“Protect our Community: Limit Gun Shops in Westford”
A second petition, organized by “Westford Residents” seeks to limit future firearms businesses in town.
“We are writing this petition to address the urgent need for common sense zoning bylaws and oversight regarding gun shops in our town,” the petition reads.
Petitioners cite a gun shop cluster that occupied a mill building at 410 Great Rd. in Littleton. The retail space, which will soon shutter as voters passed a Firearms Zoning Bylaw at a Feb. 15 Special Town Meeting, housed approximately 80 firearms retailers.
“We must take proactive measures to ensure that what happened in Littleton does not happen here in Westford,” the petition reads.
Petitioners say the issue is “deeply personal” to them.
“Our children deserve a safe environment where they can grow and thrive without fear of gun-related incidents near their homes or schools,” the petition reads.
Petitioners suggest implementing a “store maximum limit” to “ensure responsible distribution while maintaining public safety as our top priority.”
Though the proposal allows for up to four special permits for firearms businesses, the board has flexibility in adding additional special permits in cases where specific business needs are not met by existing businesses.
This petition has 111 signatures at the time of reporting.
