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To learn why we oppose the location of this development, click here.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?

Virginia Sports Park and Training Center at Goochland (VSP) was incorporated in October 2022 as a nonprofit entity by Tom Winfree. Mr. Winfree currently serves as Goochland County Board of Supervisor for District 3 (Chairman for 2025). VSP's goal is to establish a clay shooting park and archery center in Goochland County, targeting youth engagement but seeking to operate from 8am to dusk, 365 days a year.

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VSP is currently seeking to establish their sports park on an 85-acre parcel of land leased from Luck Stone, zoned A-1, on the 4600 block of Walton Road across from Ange Road. It is a narrow parcel, with I-64 on its southern boundary, and its northwesternmost proposed shooting station is only 400ft from a shared property line and 600ft away from an existing family home. (See interactive map for overlay of shooting stations and residences.)

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The proposed range would be open to the public, 365 days a year from 8am to dusk, including weekends and holidays. There are seven existing family homes within a quarter mile; 35 homes within a half mile; 120 homes within a mile; and over 400 homes within two miles, which is the outermost radius at which shotgun sound can travel.

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VSP's application notes that an average of 20-25 patrons would be expected on weekdays and 40-75 patrons on weekends. However, in recorded comments at their second community meeting, VSP stated that upwards of 70-100 patrons would be expected on tournament weekends.

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*The application has since revised the total acreage from 75 to 85.​​

To learn why we oppose the location of this development, click here.

Above: Image taken from "Conceptual Plan 12.5.2025" developed by Hewitt Solutions and submitted to Goochland County for CU-2025-00012.

vsp concept site plan cu-2025-00012.png
vsp updated concept.jpg

Above: Image taken from "Conceptual Plan 12.5.2025" developed by Hewitt Solutions and submitted to Goochland County for CU-2025-00012. The schematic notes are placed over where the closest adjoining residence exists at 4603 Walton Road.

To view all documents submitted for the pre-application and application, you can create an account with Goochland County's Self-Service page (here) and search for "PRE-2024-00054" and "CU-2025-00012" or you can access the documents on our public Google Drive folder (here).

WHY WE ARE OPPOSING VSP

Stated simply, a public-use shooting range does not belong next to existing family homes.

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Despite the developer's assertion that the parcel contains adequate buffering for existing neighbors, this is patently false. The closest residence is less than 200 feet from its side of the shared property line and approximately 600 feet from the closest proposed shooting station.

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There are seven family homes within a quarter mile; 35 within a half mile; 120 within a mile; and over 400 within two miles.

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VSP has proposed to install a 50ft vegetative buffer in areas where it does not currently exist and where permitted due to draining. The U.S. Forestry Service estimates that a 100ft vegetative barrier only reduces dba levels by 3-5, making this vegetative buffer largely a concession of appearance not effectiveness.

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As an addition to their pre-application conceptual design, VSP is offering earthen berms at a height of 8ft above shooting stations, but only in select locations and where drainage permits. However, earthen berms are only effective in reducing sound when they are continuous. Because VSP's berms will not be continuous, they will be ineffective.

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​There will be no escape from the noise, and property owners may be subjected to hearing-damaging decibels simply by using their own backyards.

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Additional concerns include the pollution of wetlands and neighboring wells with lead. The developer asserted that there will be some sort of lead management plan but offered no details regarding said plan. Their soil expert claimed that Goochland's clay soil will "neutralize" the oxidization of the lead, but provided no cited sources for his claim.

 

Dispelled birdshot is categorized as "product," not waste, by the EPA, which affords some loopholes for active management and mitigation of lead. With families living in close proximity and the existence of Deep Creek wetlands on the developer's proposed parcel, there is reasonable concern about lead pollution and poisoning.

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Neighboring property owners can expect a devaluation of property anywhere between 3.7 and 10%. Despite the developer's claims that a public use range will "increase" property values due to its net benefit for the community, the suggestion is laughable. No one wants to live next to a public-use range, especially one that has no effective buffering of acreage, vegetation, or barriers.

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For these reasons and more, we oppose the location of this development.

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Timeline:

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  • October 3, 2022: VSP registers with the SCC as a non-profit incorporation with these founding directors: Tom Winfree, W. Justin Lacey, Matthew Neels, E. Philip Murray, Dr. Richard Lehew, Adnan Hamidi, and Raymond McNaughton.​

    • Current directors: Tom Winfree, Jad Malaeb (Land Use & Development Manager with Luck Stone since January 2023), William Walter Raymond, E. Philip Murray, Robert J. Leipertz

    • All VSP SCC documents can be seen on the SCC website or on our public Google Drive folder: VSP SCC Documents

  • February 7, 2023: VSP filed a pre-application conditional use permit (PRE-2023-00009) to develop their park on 71.74 acres located on Three Chopt Road near Shannon Hill Road. An application fee was never paid, however.

  • November 2023: Tom Winfree wins election as Supervisor for District 3, having run unopposed.

  • January 2024: Tom Winfree begins his term as Board of Supervisor; Jad Malaeb begins employment with Luck Stone as Land Use & Development Manager (per LinkedIn profile).

  • January 13, 2024: VSP held a pre-application meeting with Goochland County planning and zoning staff for a new CUP (PRE-2024-00054) to develop 75-acres (out of 365+ acres) of land leased from Luck Stone on Walton Road. The public currently does not know who attended, what was discussed, or what comments/concerns were raised, among other things, at this meeting.

  • November 18, 2024: Jad Malaeb, a Land Management Director with Luck Stone, appears on VSP's SCC information (filed past the October 31, 2024, deadline).

  • December 17, 2024: The pre-application (PRE-2024-00054) is filed with Goochland County to develop 75-acres* of land leased from Luck Stone.

  • May 13, 2025: Development Review Committee meeting with Goochland County planning and zoning staff. Again, no information about this meeting is currently known.

  • October 30, 2025: A "community" meeting, at which the community was not permitted to raise their concerns beyond comment cards that were gathered and summarily dismissed (read more here), was held per pre-application requirements. A second community meeting was promised.

  • November 17, 2025: A CUP application is filed with Goochland County (CU-2025-00012).

  • December 9, 2025: Pre-application meeting held with Goochland County planning and zoning staff. Again, no information about this meeting is currently known.

  • December 9, 2025: A second community meeting was hosted by VSP. Read more about this meeting (and watch it) here.

  • January 15, 2026: The VSP proposal is scheduled for a public hearing with the Goochland County Planning Commission.

  • TBD: The VSP proposal will be voted upon by four of the five Goochland Board of Supervisors. Chairman Winfree is recused, due to his position as President of VSP. 

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