Economic Impact Overstated

At the October 30th community meeting, VSP stated that the development of a clay shooting range and archery center on Walton Road would bring beneficial economic and community impact to Goochland county, specifically citing patronage at county restaurants, gun ammunition store, and hotel.

We believe the economic impact was overstated for the following reasons.

​1. VSP is registered as a non-profit.

A non-profit organization is exempt from federal, state, and local taxes, so the economic benefit to the county is minimal. If VSP sells ammunition onsite or rents firearms, archery equipment, etc, sales tax would be collected.

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VSP has stated that generated sales and profits would be utilized towards the expense of running the facility.

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2. Lack of Local Restaurants, Hotels, Ammunition Store

There are no restaurants within the immediate radius of Hadensville, and the "local" gun store is located 16 miles south in the Courthouse. Considering VSP's proposed site is within two miles of Interstate 64, patrons are more likely to bring their ammunition purchased elsewhere, rather than go out of their way to Goochland Courthouse.

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Additionally, Goochland's one and only hotel is located 25 miles away in the eastern part of the county. The nearest hotel is 17 miles away and located in Louisa County. Range patrons may spend their money at a nearby gas station, but realistically, they are not going to seek out county restaurants.

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It is more probable that range patrons would purchase their own ammunition elsewhere and bring their own firearms, rather than purchasing or renting on-site, and will by-pass Goochland businesses in lieu of Short Pump, Zions Crossroads, or Charlottesville on their way back to their respective homes.

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While the county will receive little to no direct economic benefit, local residents will be left picking up the bill with depreciated property value due to the noise and lead pollution. 

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County employees have already commented that this range can be touted for tourism and amenities, with the only cited concerns being that there should be adequate buffering with I-64 and no recorded comment about the family homes within 600 feet of the shooting stations.

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Meanwhile, the families of Walton Road will be unable to enjoy their properties without the sudden, persistent sound of gunfire. Children's birthday parties will be interrupted by non-stop gunfire on tournament weekends, and quiet Sundays at home will be a thing of the past. 

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Despite claims from VSP that a shooting range will increase property value, every study, article, and opinion listed online states that properties in proximity to gun ranges decrease in market value, are harder to sell, and usually at a loss.

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Why should the desires of a developer, whose position as sitting Board of Supervisor member unfairly influences public perception, be held above the rights of families, who have lived on this road upwards of 60 years, to enjoy their properties?

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