Outcry over potential gun shop in Berkley to lead to zoning changes

BERKLEY — Plans to open a gun shop in downtown Berkley have been abandoned after outcry from residents.

Community members came to the Sept. 16 City Council meeting to voice their displeasure at the potential of a gun shop looking to open in the downtown and within distance of Berkley High School.

The business, Storm Strong Arms, had submitted an application Aug. 20 to open a location at 2758 Coolidge Highway. However, the shop withdrew its application Sept. 9.

According to the city, there are no plans for Storm Strong Arms to resubmit its application.

Mayor Bridget Dean stated at the meeting that she understood that the plans caused concerns, especially given the proximity to the high school.

“I appreciate these concerns and want you to know that we take them very seriously,” she said. “In response to community feedback on this matter, our city staff plans to recommend that the Planning Commission consider new restrictions for firearms retailers. The proposal would limit these businesses to the Woodward (Avenue) and 11 Mile (Road) retail districts with a 1,000-foot buffer from schools and from each other. This change, if approved by the Planning Commission and then the City Council, would limit locations where firearms retailers could be located, giving us more local control over such decisions in the future.”

Under the current zoning ordinances, Dean said, a firearms retailer is classified as a general use, and general retail uses are permitted in downtown Berkley. As such, if a business were to meet all safety, legal and zoning requirements, the applications couldn’t be denied by the city.

“We recognize our community’s needs and desires have evolved since our ordinances were last updated in 1993,” Dean said. “That’s why we’ve been proactively working with our community since spring 2023 on a comprehensive rewrite of our zoning ordinances. The goal of this update is to address various uses that weren’t anticipated in our current regulations.

“I see you, Berkley. I hear you,” she continued. “I want to thank each of you who reached out to share your thoughts on this matter. We got your emails; I’ve read them all, I know that my colleagues at this table have read them as well. Your commitment, your voice makes our community stronger and we truly value your input. We’re committed to working together to ensure Berkley remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone. As we move forward with updating our ordinances, we’ll continue to keep you informed and we welcome your ongoing participation in this process.”

Dean directed residents to visit berkleymich.org/zoning for more information about the zoning ordinance rewrite.

Though the business now will not open in Berkley, residents still took time to speak on both their concerns and support of the idea of a gun shop in the city.

Bridget Mahrle said she was happy that the business withdrew its application.

“When I discovered that Berkley had no restrictions preventing a gun store from opening just a minute’s walk from our high school, I knew immediate action was necessary,” she said. “I am incredibly thankful that the community’s concerns were addressed and that the proposed gun store will not be open. I am very grateful to that business owner. However, our work is far from complete. … Our children deserve to learn in an environment where their safety is a priority. So let’s ensure that our zoning laws reflect this commitment.”

Carla Osborne stated that after doing a Google search of all the gun shops near her home, she found they were all located on main roads and they didn’t have schools near them.

“It’s very important that we get this ordinance and these zoning restrictions in place as soon as possible,” she said. “I know that’s something that you guys have been working on. I know that it’s something that we have fallen into this with our puppy stores. We’re on the back end of this trying to dig ourselves out. We’re being contacted by other cities to come and talk at their council meetings to explain what happened in Berkley so that they can enact those ordinances in their cities so they don’t have the same thing happen that we had here, where it’s too late. We don’t want to be on the back end of this with a gun store. So, I ask that you keep this in mind when things come before you and make sure that, you know, really take a good look at it.

On the other side, Charles Tyrrell said he was “horribly disappointed” at the news of the withdrawn application.

“It is a legal business,” he said. “It meets all the requirements for being in that space. Everything was fine and dandy. … What are we teaching our children when a small, very vocal, very loud minority can bully somebody to leave their plans behind and not open a business here in Berkley in a space that has been vacant for quite some time.”

A representative from Storm Strong Arms declined to comment on the story.