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Planning commission grants special‑use permit for Long Island Lake; residents press concerns about gun‑club noise and oversight
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a commercial‑recreation special‑use permit for Long Island Lake, formalizing a mix of cabins, a gun club and related facilities; neighbors pressed the commission on noise, traffic and whether local limits apply to the Pavilion Gun Club, and staff noted the Nebraska Shooting Range Protection Act limits local operational controls for existing ranges.
The Sarpy County Planning Commission on March 17 recommended approval of a special‑use permit to classify Long Island Lake as a commercial‑recreation area, bringing a mix of cabins, a gun club and other existing site uses into compliance with county zoning.
Staff explained the roughly 71‑acre site — commonly called Long Island Lake — includes several existing single‑family residences, cabins and the Pavilion Gun Club. The applicant and property owner, Long Island Gravel Company, sought to add one additional cabin and asked that the property’s mixed uses be recognized as conforming under a commercial‑recreation special‑use permit.
Jaclyn McKim, the applicant’s representative, said there are four existing homes plus the proposed new unit and confirmed the applicant will secure easements needed for shared access. Several nearby residents expressed concerns about noise, traffic and public‑safety implications of allowing the mixed uses to be formalized. Jane Stangle, who lives at the development entrance, asked why the site was being treated as commercial rather than strictly residential and whether future noisy activities such as airboats would be permitted.
County staff and counsel noted statutory limits. An internal review cited the Nebraska Shooting Range Protection Act and related legal opinions indicating the county has limited authority to impose operational conditions (such as hours or noise limits) on an existing shooting range. Staff said that while the special‑use permit brings existing uses into conformity, any future expansions or changes in operations (for example, adding a boat ramp or expanding shooting facilities) would require the owner to return to the commission for an amendment. Staff recommended conditions requiring an updated operations and emergency plan that clarifies evacuation procedures, ownership and maintenance of common amenities and the exact number of home sites.
Commissioners voted to recommend the special‑use permit with conditions directing the applicant to revise the emergency‑action and operations plans and to address agency redlines. The motion carried 6–0 with four absent.
