Campbell County board approves plan for Liberty U's shooting range

CAMPBELL COUNTY (WSLS 10) - The Campbell County Board of Supervisors approved Liberty University's request to build a shooting range on Tuesday night.

The board voted 6-0 with one member abstaining to Liberty's plan for a $3 million state-of-the-art shooting facility on about 500 acres of land.

It would be built on Liberty-owned property on Camp Hydaway Road and able to accommodate any Olympic shooting sport.

The facility will not only be used by students, but also the community and law enforcement.

"Liberty University has done an amazing job of trying to be a great neighbor. They've built things into this plan that will keep the noise down. They've built things into this plan to keep people safe. So they've done their part," said Eric Zeher, a Campbell County supervisor.

A neighbor told the board there are more than 100 houses near the site, but only four neighbors voiced concerns about noise and traffic at the meeting.

The Virginia Department of Transportation reviewed the plans and had no objections. Architects plan to use the natural landscape and vegetation to reduce noise.

Liberty said it has a verbal agreement with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office to allow deputies to train on the range. Some supervisors said they would have liked to have had that in writing prior to the meeting.

Now that it's been approved, Liberty hopes open the facility on Labor Day.