PITTSFIELD — After a public hearing with little attendance, the Pittsfield Town Council approved a business permit for a gunsmith shop in a private home less than a block away from Manson Park School.

Councilors unanimously approved, but with conditions, the request for owner Jon Rice’s part-time business at 183 Lancey St. after about a 20-minute discussion Tuesday night.

The reason for the unusual public session the proximity of the shop to the school.

“Our biggest concern is not what you’re doing, but where you’re doing it,” said Councilor Donna Chale.

Rice, who is employed full-time in Augusta, said he understood the council’s position, but that he had been researching his move for more than a year.

He also submitted a detailed business plan before the meeting, and assured councilors he was not going to be a stocking dealer for firearms and would not carry ammunition on the premises. He holds a federal firearms license for gunsmithing — building and repairing firearms — and sales.

“But I’m not going to carry any inventory. I’m looking at consignments or special orders only,” Rice said.

The amended motion approved by the council specified that the business would be by appointment only and conducted when school isn’t in session. Chale added that she would be worried if someone was seen carrying a firearm across the school parking lot.

Rice said that he would be, too. “I’d call 911 if I saw it,” he said.

According to Rice’s business plan, if customers park in the school lot “they will be informed that they need to move their vehicle to the driveway at 183 Lancey St.”

Rice also said that as a licensed firearms dealer, he went through an extensive screening process that included an interview and visit by an inspector.

Mayor Timothy Nichols said he was impressed with Rice’s business plan, which also detailed how his home will be protected by a central monitoring system and an exterior motion sensor floodlight illuminating the driveway.

Councilor Gary Jordan, who first suggested holding a public hearing at an earlier meeting, said he was satisfied with Rice’s response.

“I haven’t heard one peep about this (from the public) and there’s no one here in opposition,” Jordan said.

But Chale said she didn’t think the hearing was well-publicized, even though ads were published in a weekly and daily newspaper serving the Pittsfield area.

Councilor Louise Baker said that when she first heard about the shop, “I was dead set against it because of the location. But because of this new information, I’m for it now.”

One resident attended the meeting.