Goochland Planning Commission defers decision on Virginia Sports Park after hours of public comment on noise, wetlands and lead

The Goochland County Planning Commission voted 4‑1 to defer action on Virginia Sports Park’s conditional use permit application for an 85‑acre sporting‑clays and archery facility after a night of extensive public comment and technical testimony.

Planner Ben Ellis presented the proposal as a sporting‑clays course with trap, 5‑stand and archery facilities, a clubhouse, access and support improvements and mitigation measures including berms and 50‑foot perimeter buffers. Ellis said staff had prepared draft conditions—19 in total—addressing hours of operation, shot fall zones, parking, an environmental stewardship plan and limits on tournaments while noting outstanding information on noise, lead mitigation and some plan details.

Adnan Hamidi, director of Virginia Sports Park, told the commission VSP is a nonprofit focused on youth and safety and said the organization had committed to an environmental stewardship plan and to follow state and federal rules on lead. “We are…