Agenda - Council - 03/22/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To Whom it May Concern, Good afternoon, I would like the opportunity to address a few things before the Mayor and City Council makes their official decisions regarding Derek Trout's Level 1 and Level 2 HOP permits. With all the amendments and stipulations that are being considered and requested to be able to come to agreement on this approval I urge you to consider if he should be getting approved for this permit at all. Even with these additional conditions being added many of us in the neighborhood feel there are numerous concerns that have yet to be addressed by the City Council. must be very honest and upfront that it was disappointing to watch as only one of the Council members directly addressed the very serious concerns with Mr. Trout continuing to repeatedly violate his current permit and even some conditions of the level 2 HOP. These violations have occurred for over two months and are ongoing. He has been given two additional extensions to correct these violations since his 1st violation was documented on January 24th, 2022, and was originally given 14 days to correct these code violations. I am confused how he can be considered for approval for the next level permit if he has such little regard for the codes and regulations the city has set forth for the Level 1 permit that he agreed to (and failed to) abide by. There is photographic, documentation, written and verbal testimony and evidence given by numerous Ramsey citizens of this on-going behavior.Thus far he has had no accountability for violating the codes and regulations and continues to take advantage of this regularly. It seems counterintuitive to approve the next level permit. What Mr.Trout is proposing and applying for is not a small home business endeavor. I strongly believe that when it is moved to a larger standing building detached from the house and a significant increase in product and in-person sales transactions are expected this should be looked at as a larger business and even walking the fine line to a commercial business endeavor on home/residential zoned land.This opens the door for anyone to have a separate building for a large or commercial business on their residential, home zoned property. Hopefully the Council will take this into consideration when making the decisions to approve or deny the Level 2 permit and whether to leave the Level 1 HOP permit in place. would finally like to re-address the safety and security concerns. I respectfully disagree that this is not the same as a gun collector or someone who simply has guns in their home.This is a very large storage facility stocking firearms,ammunition, and more. It is inviting and welcoming in strangers into a small,secluded residential neighborhood to look at and purchase large scale firearms and ammunition. As appreciative as I am of all Military Service members and the honor they bring to our country, Mr. Trout's military status,certifications, and education on gun handling and firearms training are irrelevant when considering his ability run a safe and secure business in a pole barn that is detached from his home occupancy on his residential lot. Even if he takes all the safety measures expected and even goes above and beyond those expectations there is no way of controlling the unknown and uncontrollable variables that are being brought into our neighborhood regularly.This is not a high security brick and mortar building in a high traffic,well light area. The risk is significantly higher for there to be danger,accidental incidents, and security issues for surrounding neighbors if his building was to get broken into or there was careless traffic coming in and out. We should not feel unsafe or anxious living in our own homes. My children should not feel anxious playing outside of the fence in our own backyard. My children should be able to walk/bike/scooter around the block without wondering if someone is speeding around the four blind corners we have. We acknowledge your time is incredibly valuable but please I urge you to take a look at our neighborhood for yourself and see if this is an appropriate and safe place to have a firearms, ammunition, and firearms training business. We are not asking you to take away Mr.Trout"s rights to own and operate a small in-home business or a larger commercial business. We are asking that you hold him accountable to upholding the codes and conditions of the permit he currently has and if he is looking to expand his small home business to take the appropriate route in finding a brick and mortar building in an appropriate and safe commercially zoned place to have his firearms business. Thank you for taking your time to hear me out and for having the patience and understanding in listening to my and others' feedback on this matter. My hope is that we can all come together to make this work for everyone in the neighborhood.