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Council approves golf‑driving range ordinance after neighbors voice concerns about lights and sound
Summary
The council approved an SUP for an outdoor commercial amusement (golf driving range) that allows structures up to 150 feet (with staff authority to approve up to 200 feet after engineering) despite council and resident concerns about light heights and noise; vote was 6–1 with Council member Lewis opposing.
Rockwall — The Rockwall City Council on June 1 approved a specific‑use permit to permit an outdoor commercial golf driving range, including a structure height provision that sets a permitted height of 150 feet and allows staff to consider up to 200 feet with engineering justification.
The applicant’s materials and staff packet described the project as an outdoor commercial amusement use on a roughly 39.5‑acre tract near I‑30 and Rockwall Hospital. Staff said the ordinance language had been updated to set the permitted height at 150 feet and permit up to 200 feet if engineering supports it.
Several council members and residents said they were not opposed to the facility in principle, but urged that the project address the impacts of tall lighting and sound on nearby homes. Council member Lewis said he had voted against the item previously because residents around the proposed site did not have clear information about how tall the poles would be and whether sound studies had been done: “They don't know how tall the lights are gonna be. There's been no kind of sound study of any kind,” he said. Councilwoman Campbell said she had been inundated with calls and asked that designers listen to neighborhood concerns and attempt to limit light spill and reflections into private yards.
Supporters — including Council member Henson, who moved approval — said the venue will bring entertainment options and economic activity to Rockwall. Staff read the ordinance for the record; the council called the vote, and the ordinance passed 6–1 with Council member Lewis casting the sole no vote.
After the vote staff noted the ordinance includes special conditions and a penalty provision, and that engineering and permitting will follow to document final heights and mitigation measures.
