Over a dozen residents of the Oak Grove Mobile Home Park in Lady Lake voiced their concerns over a proposed change to a new gun range’s siteplan that would allow for construction of RV and boat storage facilities.
The company looking to move into the property, Basics: Range & Gun, LLC, originally approached the Town of Lady Lake to construct a gun range facility and retail shop on the site.
The property, located at 315 S Highway 27/441, is currently zoned for heavy commercial use.
During Monday’s commission meeting, the developer requested a “special exception use” to allow for construction of motor vehicle parking and boat storage.
Although the site plan is not yet complete, commissioners and residents voiced concerns about the proposed change, citing additional noise, lights, and disturbances that may accompany the RV and boat storage.
“The hours of operation are until 9:30 PM…pretty late to be working on vehicles,” commented Commissioner Paul Hannan.
“I think 9:30 at night is too late to be bringing vehicles into the area. The headlights will be shining on nearby residents…will [other light fixtures] be permanently placed there?” added Commissioner Tony Holden.
Lady Lake Growth Management Director Thad Carroll explained that no lighting plan will be available until the site plan is complete.
“The photometric plan will be submitted at the time of the site plan. Our code does require that the photometric plan says that the light shall be projected on the subject parcel, so the lights can’t be turned toward a neighborhood or a house,” explained Carroll.
Many residents suggested that a 6-foot wall high, despite meeting city requirements, would not be high enough to block light from shining on surrounding areas.
“In my opinion, a 6-foot fence is a fence to nothing because you can see over it,” said David Hodgkins.
Hodgkins, who lives at 314 Ivanhoe Circle in Oak Grove, says he objected when the gun range originally came up for approval and alleged that the range was only approved because the “gun club of The Villages couldn’t get their range located [in The Villages].
Many of the residents were confused as to what would and wouldn’t be allowed on the property.
“This is a 55-plus community that’s been there for 30 to 40 years. The people in that community would like to reside there in peace and quiet as they have for years…my concern is that no one be in there working at certain hours that are going to disturb the residents that are there,” said Al Day of 332 Ivanhoe Circle.
“As far as the boat storage and RV’s, my concern there is, we have one up on 441 now. If you go in there and look, there are vehicles that are 30, 40 years of age. Sitting there, rusting, rotting away. Probably dripping oil, anti-freeze, who knows what,” said Day, alluding to the potential ecological impact of the additional storage.
Franklin Dickinson, a representative of Basics: Range & Gun, LLC, suggested that much of the confusion can be attributed to the project being in its infancy.
“The reason we haven’t brought [the residents] anything yet is because it isn’t done. Once the work is done and we have something to show the city, we’re going to call [the owners]” explained Dickinson. The company plans on presenting and explaining the site plan to local residents to address any concerns about potential impact of the new facilities.
“They haven’t actually filed the site plan. Once that is done, that will come before us,” explained Mayor Jim Richards.
After further discussion, and one commissioner suggesting the company withdraw their request, the company agreed to complete a site plan and table the matter.
Commissioners voted to table a the next reading until sometime in early 2017 after the company has met with residents.
