CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Cape Coral is one step closer to building a gun range for the police department.
Cape Coral city council approved $650,000 to be used for the design of the police department's training facility.
Fox4 spoke with CCPD about the need for this since Lee County Sheriff's Office has a gun range.
"It's hard to get time at the range, we don't get enough training time, we spend a lot of money in overtime and fuel costs driving there and back," said Master Corporal Phillip Mullen, Cape Coral Police Department.
According to GPS, it takes about 35 minutes to get from CCPD to the Lee County Gun Range in Buckingham.
"We'd be saving a lot keeping it in the cape, and being able to have a training facility, right at our doorstep," said Mullen.
The training facility will be located on the corner of Andalusia and Durden Parkway. Cape Coral City Council approved the 15-acre area in September 2018.
"It's not going to come from the general fund, it's not going to come from the taxpayers pocket," said Mullen.
$2.7 million would be coming from State Appropriations and an estimated $5.5 million from Police Impact Fee Reserve. The estimated total cost of the project is $8.3 million and that includes design, permitting, and construction.
“Where you have any shortfalls in funding, that there is contingency plans that will be developed and not passing on additional taxes to the citizens,” said Dennis Winchester, Cape Coral resident.
