North Haven — The owner of a North Haven-based firearms training program has withdrawn his application to sell guns out of the facility following public opposition to the plan.

Peter Estrada, whose firearm academy Urban 2a runs out of 140 Washington Ave., had submitted a change of use application to the town Planning & Zoning Commission in hopes of being able to add a counter with firearms available for purchase. But the proposal sparked opposition from residents who said the location was not appropriate for a gun store.

The storefront sits in a commercial area near multiple fast-food restaurants and a comic book store, which critics said attract families.

One opponent of the plan was First Selectman Mike Freda. Following a New Haven Register story reporting Freda's concerns about the application, Freda said, the landlord of 140 Washington Ave. contacted him to discuss the matter.

"They certainly saw my point of view, the landlord and the tenant, and they very graciously recognized the fact that I opposed it," Freda said. "This was a very productive discussion in a professional fashion. I presented my point of view, they understood, and they ended up withdrawing the application."

ECJ Enterprises LLC owns the Washington Avenue building, town property records show. Its principal member is Americo Carchia, according to the state's business search and Estrada's change of use application.

Multiple requests for comment left for Carchia and Estrada were not immediately returned.

Estrada told a reporter earlier this month that he understood residents' concerns and was debating whether to move forward with his application. He was open to other locations, he said, but believed a gun store likely would draw opposition no matter where it was proposed.