I will be doing no firing at my shop. I won’t even be doing any chambering at my shop.”

Bill Breyer, Aquidneck Gunsmithing

200 Highpoint Ave.
Portsmouth, RI 02871
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PORTSMOUTH — A proposed gunsmith shop in the Portsmouth Business Park cleared a hurdle Wednesday as the Planning Board voted unanimously to give it a favorable opinion to the zoning board. 

On Thursday, Aug. 20, the Zoning Board of Review will hear Aquidneck Gunsmithing, LLC’s petition for a special-use permit to construct a 1,800-square-foot building on a 73,914-square-foot lot for a gunsmith/repair shop for firearms on High Point Avenue.

The town’s Design Review Board, on Aug. 3, also gave the proposal a favorable opinion, saying owner Bill Breyer had met the criteria for the site plan, building façade, landscaping, lighting, and signage. 

“The criteria for architectural expression has been met in that it proposes to fit in with the other buildings on the site, in keeping with the barn style that was existing,” the design board stated in its opinion.

The proposal is technically considered a manufacturing use, but that’s only because the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) considers any kind of work with firearms as manufacturing, according to Mr. Breyer. 

If two pieces of a gun are attached to one another, “they call manufacturing for the purpose of their permitting,” he said.

Michael Murray, Mr. Breyer’s attorney, agreed. He said the manufacturing designation was used “under an abundance of caution” in order to comply with federal guidelines.

Michael Asciola, assistant town planner, told the board he believes the proposed venture would be a service business, not a gun manufacturer. 

There will be no mass production of firearms at his shop, only the building of “one-off rifles for individual customers” and repair work on guns to improve safety and performance, Mr. Breyer said, adding he also won’t be selling guns.

The testing of firearms will be done off site — either at the Newport Rifle Club or the Tiverton Rod and Gun Club, said Mr. Breyer. “I will be doing no firing at my shop,” he said. “I won’t even be doing any chambering at my shop.”

Local resident John Carcone asked whether any “caustic” or dangerous chemicals, which are often applied during plating, would be used at the business.

“I will be doing some spray-painting on metal work and I will be disposing of that in accordance with the law. Other things I will be doing don’t really require caustic chemicals,” said Mr. Breyer, adding he will not be doing and plating or using acids in his work. The business will also comply with any requirements regarding the storage of chemicals or paints set by the fire department.

Board voted unanimously to grant the favorable opinion, subject to approval of a septic system, a R.I. Department of Environmental Management permit for the wetlands on the east side, a landscaping agreement with the Design Review Committee and fire department review.

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