The Warren City Council has directed staff to draft an ordinance to alter regulations regarding ammunition manufacturing within city limits.

Two sections of the code were before the planners at the behest of council for review — regulations regarding the storage and wholesale of ammunition as well as the presence of arsenals.

“I look at this … (as) defense of supplies needed for Second Amendment” protections, Councilman Joe Michaels said in January, and also “prohibiting an industry from operating in our city in a time when we are looking for jobs.

“My concern with arsenal,” he added, “is because (of the) complete vagueness of this ordinance. There is no definition of arsenal in this ordinance.”

The Planning Commission last month recommended to council a series of changes that would permit the wholesale ammunition stage by special exception, taking the issue before the Zoning Hearing Board to give anyone with an objection a forum to raise that.

The commission also agreed that the business should be in industrial areas and not within 500 feet of residential areas, schools, parks, churches and other communal areas.

The arsenal recommendation from the commission was to strike the item entirely.

Executive Secretary Teena Leary said council could direct staff to draft an ordinance which would be referred to the commission for consideration.

She said council would then hold a public hearing on the change before enactment.

That’s exactly the action that council approved on Monday night.