Gun range to re-open July 1

By Jane DeGeorge
Eagle Reporter
Published: June 19, 2008

Madison County’s shooting range will re-open to local law enforcement officers July 1.

The supervisors recently approved a temporary policy – that expires Dec. 31 – which will cut back the range’s hours and the number of days it can be used each month.

In June 2007, a neighbor’s noise complaint eventually led to the shooting range’s closure after officials agreed a special use permit would be required to operate the firing facility on a portion of county-owned property zoned for agricultural use.

The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted to unanimously approve this special use permit at its regularly scheduled June 4 joint meeting with the planning commission, according to Supervisor Bob Miller. Prior to the supervisors’ vote, the planning commission had voted to unanimously recommend the special use permit’s approval, according to Madison County Planning Commission Secretary Mary Breeden.

At the board of supervisors regularly scheduled June 10 meeting, the supervisors approved a property management policy – a requirement of the special use permit – that outlines new restrictions regarding the operation of the shooting range.

Range’s hours reduced

This policy allows law enforcement officers to use the range for a maximum of six days per month during the following hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Night shooting at the range will be allowed from Nov. 1-March 31 but only until 8:30 p.m. for a maximum of two days per month.

Previously, the shooting range was used from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday for an unlimited number of days each month, according to the county’s special use permit application.

The new policy also allows the sheriff’s office to have up to two “training blocks” during this six-month period, which would allow them to use the shooting range for a maximum of 10 days during a “training block” month. MCSO staff must schedule a training block at least 15 days in advance to allow sufficient time for nearby property owners to be notified, according to officials.

The above restrictions refer to use of the range property for “shooting activities” – which also includes the use of less-than-lethal devices and other devices or equipment that make noise.

MCSO employees are allowed to use the shooting range property for an unlimited number of days each month for any other training activities that do not involve “shooting activities.”

Oversight increased

The new requirements also put the county’s facilities and maintenance department director, Ross Shifflett, in charge of overseeing the range’s day-to-day use by managing its schedule, reviewing a sign-in sheet of all visitors and controlling access to the property, according to the policy. 

Officials have not yet finalized how law enforcement officers will access the shooting range and how it will be limited when the range is not in use. It is not clear whether an unpaved, gravel road off Shelby Road (Route 662) will continue to serve those using the shooting range.

While the temporary policy is in place, only employees of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange may use the range, according to the policy. However, federal, state or other local law enforcement officers may use the range if “engaged in joint training exercises” with MCSO or CVRJ staff.

Previously, the range was used by out of county law enforcement officials including, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, National Ground Intelligence Center, United States District Court/Federal Marshals and Federal Probation Officers, Charlottesville SWAT team, miscellaneous retired law enforcement officers and the game warden, the county’s special use permit application states.

The policy also allows for the county administrator to request that MCSO or CVRJ staff monitor noise levels during their shooting activities.

Repairing relationships

Officials hope the requirements outlined in the temporary policy will appease neighbors’ concerns while still allowing MCSO deputies to train locally.
“[This] is the best way I can see to get things back in operation and repair some relationships and move along,” County Administrator Lisa Kelley told the board at its regularly scheduled June 10 meeting. 

In recent years, nearby property owners have raised concerns about noise and traffic issues related to the shooting range, according to officials. Since it was first opened in the mid-1980s, the range’s hours, frequency of use and number of organizations and individuals permitted to use the range have expanded.

During the past year while the range has been closed, MCSO deputies have been using firing ranges in Luray and Culpeper and Louisa counties, according to Sheriff Erik Weaver. The sheriff’s office had proposed to include an extra $40,000 in its budget for the coming fiscal year for increased mileage, over-time and equipment costs due to this change, Weaver said.

During the next six months, officials plan to work with property owners to figure out any problems that may arise with the re-opening of the range, Kelley said at the board’s June 10 meeting.

Later this year, county officials will establish a more permanent policy regarding the shooting range’s use. At the June 10 meeting, Supervisors Vice Chairman James Arrington suggested that the county consider eventually opening the range back up to some other groups, including firearm safety instruction classes.