As long-term and short-term residents of Goochland County, we are not opposed to the responsible use and ownership of firearms, nor are we strangers to the occasional sound of recreational firearm use in our neighborhood. We recognize our country's constitutional right to bear arms, and we do not begrudge our neighbors their personal "range time" on their own properties.

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Many of us like the idea of a public clay sporting range in Goochland County, but strongly believe it must not negatively affect existing property owners. Per Goochland County Code, a CUP application must not:

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"be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort or general welfare;
be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted, nor substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood; 
impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permitted in the district;" (Chapter 15, Sec. 15-60. 1-3)

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To be clear, the currently proposed location for the Virginia Sports Park would have damaging affect on existing property owners in terms of inescapable noise during daylight hours on weekends and week days, property devaluation, and lead pollution.

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1. Noise Pollution: Continuous or intermittent gunfire would destroy the peace and quiet that defines our neighborhood. The June 9, 2026, shooting demonstration consisted only of eight shooters, but a high impact event such as a fun shoot or tournament could generate anywhere from 25 to 125 shooters onsite, firing simultaneously and successively. The persistent noise of shotgun fire will severely diminish residents’ quality of life and property values.
    

2. Environmental and Health Risks: Lead contamination from ammunition can leach into soil and groundwater, threatening wells, wildlife, and nearby water systems. The long-term environmental effects of outdoor shooting activities are well documented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for children. While it is noteworthy that VSP has altered their proposal to avoid firing into wetlands, the lead dust will still settle in-situ and be carried by wind into neighboring properties.
    

3. Light Pollution and Night Sky Visibility: Significant light pollution will diminish our ability to enjoy the natural darkness of our rural area if lighting is installed at the parking lot, buildings, and/or clay stations.
    

4. Property Values: Studies show that proximity to shooting ranges negatively impacts property values and makes homes harder to sell.
    

5. Incompatibility with Conditional Use Permit Requirements: Goochland County Code requires that applications for conditional use permit must:

   1. "not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort or general welfare;"

   2. "not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted, nor substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood;"

   3. "not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permitted in the district;" (Sec. 15-60, CHAPTER 15 ZONING)​
      
      By its very nature, a shooting range with upward of 50 shooting stations will pose a detrimental devaluation of adjoining property owners' comfort, will be injurious of their use and enjoyment of their properties, and impair their property values.
       

6. Conflict of Interest: VSP's Board of Directors includes Tom Winfree, currently the Board of Supervisor member for Goochland County’s District 3. This conditional use permit requires a vote of approval by the Goochland Board of Supervisors. While Mr. Winfree would not be permitted a vote, his involvement with both VSP and the County raises serious questions regarding conflict of interest.