Virginia: Two Goochland County Panels to Consider Restrictions on Recreational Shooting!

Please Make Your Voice Heard!

Tonight, Tuesday, June 19 at 5:30 p.m. the Goochland County Board of Zoning Appeals will hear an appeal by Orapax Farms, a 30-year old hunting preserve located on nearly 700 acres, which asserts that Orapax has a "by right" to use its property to operate a sporting clays facility in conjunction with its hunting preserve. This "by right" appeal is consistent with current zoning regulations, as well as with Orapax's prior use.

In denying the original Orapax request for approval of a sporting clays facility, the county zoning administrator is somehow inferring that while lawful hunting is appropriate on the nearly 700 rural acres, shooting sporting clays in not. This decision was based on either a lack of familiarity with sporting clays, or it is an outright slap in the face of law-abiding sportsmen. For more than a quarter century Orapax has operated as a good neighbor and respected member of the community. Their support for hunting and recreational shooting in Goochland County should be applauded, rather than restricted. 

Also, on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m., the Goochland County Planning Commission is likely to consider a proposal that would amend the existing county zoning ordinance by including "gun, rifle, skeet and other similar shooting ranges as conditional use" in regulations governing land zoned as "Agricultural, Limited, District A-2." 

This is, yet again, another attempt by the Planning Commission to further restrict lawful recreational shooting in the county.

Please plan on attending both meetings -- tonight at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. -- to show your support for hunting and recreational shooting in Goochland County! Both meetings will be held in the Goochland County Administration Building at 1800 Sandy Hook Rd. near the Rt. 522 and Rt. 6 junction -- please be sure to alert your family, friends and fellow sportsmen and urge them to attend as well.