Upland Planning Commission on Thursday voted 5-0 to approve Conditional Use Permit (CUP) number CUP-25-0008 to allow a firearms retail business at 715 North Mountain Avenue.

The commission found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the existing-facilities exemption and adopted a resolution approving the permit subject to the required findings and the conditions in the staff report, with an added condition requiring the applicant to work with staff to void the existing CUP at their prior location within 30 days after fully moving into the new site.

The permit covers retail sales of firearms, ancillary gunsmithing and limited manufacturing, occasional training/seminars, and related services in an existing two-story commercial building built in 1979. Staff said the use requires a Federal Firearms License (Type 7) issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and has obligations under the California Department of Justice (DOJ) for background checks and storage. "One of the steps to get it issued is the approval of the CUP," a staff planner said during the presentation.

The commission heard that the proposed hours of operation would match the applicant’s current location: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Staff reported the project meets parking requirements (44 spaces provided; 33 required) and noted required security upgrades including steel doors, closed windows, and shatterproof display cases. The police department reviewed the plans and did not request reopened front windows for sight lines; staff said the department will have access to the store’s security camera recordings on request.

Commission discussion focused on the status of the applicant’s prior CUP across the street and how to prevent two firearms retailers operating side-by-side. The applicant said they are in escrow on the new site, and escrow would close near the end of the month with a planned leaseback for a short period. The applicant also said they planned a lease clause to prevent another firearms retailer entering the vacated building, but staff clarified that under Upland rules a CUP for a conforming use becomes null and void after one year of disuse. The commission added a condition so the applicant must work with staff to void the old CUP within 30 days after fully occupying the new site.

A motion by Commissioner Borger to find the project CEQA-exempt and adopt the resolution approving CUP-25-0008 carried 5-0. The motion included the new condition to have the applicant void the existing CUP after the move; Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. The item is final but subject to a 10-day appeal period noted in the staff report.

Several commissioners and staff emphasized that the ATF and DOJ licensing processes remain separate from the local permit and must be satisfied by the applicant before federal/state licenses are issued.

Votes at a glance: CUP-25-0008 — approved; vote 5-0; motion by Commissioner Borger; second Commissioner Johnson; added condition: applicant will work with staff to void the existing CUP within 30 days after fully moving to the new location.