By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Once a proposed shooting range in Ellis County was off the table, members of the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission quickly agreed to approve the recommendation of a conditional-use permit for a gun shop north of Ellis.

Mike Sender originally had asked for approval of both the shop and a shooting range. The range was not intended to be open to the public, but rather to allow gun shop customers an opportunity to sight rifles and test guns before purchase.

But that still left uneasiness among planning commissioners and neighbors to the project.

"We can sit here and say it's just for a couple of guys who want to come out and buy a gun and shoot it before carrying it off the place. That's one thing," said Bill Poland, planning commission chairman. "But if it's permitted as a public range, it can be used as a public range."

The discussion prompted Sender to withdraw his request for the shooting range.

The planning commission -- and neighbors -- then had no problem with the gun shop request.

The shop would be located on Sender's property about 8 miles north of Ellis on the Ellis blacktop.

The CUP for the gun shop was approved by a 7-1 vote. The issue will go to the county commission after a protest period ends June 9.

In other business:

* The commission unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for a rock quarry on Taylor Bemis' property on Yocemento Avenue. The rock would be used for the proposed Hays Wind LLC project southwest of Hays.

* The commission approved a recommendation of a $50 application fee for special event permits.