A Westport attorney who customizes firearms as a side hobby has received one of two town approvals needed to open an appointment only firearms customization service at 519 American Legion Highway.

MacKenzie Long, who keeps his legal office at the same address, said the business he co-owns, run under the Firearm Fanatics LLC, amounts mostly to a service in which he works with owners to customize their weapons —  most of the firearms he sees will be sent out for customization.

“This is more of a hobby of ours and something that my cousin and I want to do on the side,” he said. “We’re very passionate about it.”

Long appeared before the Westport Planning Board last Tuesday seeking a minor modification to site plan approval. The business is considered a light manufacturing use under the town’s table of uses, and as such it requires both planning board site plan review and a special permit from the zoning board of appeals.

That manufacturing classification does not mean he and his cousin will be building firearms at the location — “that is a broad term,” he said. “There’s no factory here (but) what happens is, the second you take a firearm apart ... you’re technically considered a manufacturer under federal law.”

Mack is pursuing a federal firearms license that will be granted by the ATF contingent on getting necessary town approvals; board members approved his request unanimously and Long’s next stop is the zoning board on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

There are two other firearms establishments in Westport, but those — Village Sports at 737 State Road and Shooting Supply at 848 State Road — are both brick and mortar retail stores.