BY MIKE FUHRMAN
Cliff and Margie Whitley are adamant that they have nothing against law enforcement, and they support responsible gun ownership.
They just want a little peace and quiet.
Six months after the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge opened a shooting range on property near the organization’s new facility off Wing Drive in western Iredell County, the Whitleys and some of their neighbors have grown tired of the sound of incessant gunfire – and the county government’s unwillingness to step in and help.
“Sometimes it sounds like a war zone,” Margie said.
“It’s ridiculous,” Cliff added. “I don’t think it’s fair for the county to allow this to happen. It’s an unwanted burden on us.”
Rodney James, who serves as president of the FOP Lodge, said he is sympathetic to the residents’ concerns and he insists his organization wants to be a good neighbor. Most people, including folks who live near the range, realize the great work the FOP does in the community — including spending $10,000 to improve Wing Drive and spending $40,000 to help needy families during the holidays — and the importance of the shooting range, he added.
“One or two are stirring up everybody,” James said, adding that he doubts the sincerity of anyone who claims to be pro-law enforcement and then complains about the essential service the FOP provides with its range.
“You can’t have it both ways,” he said. “You can’t say you’re for the police and then not be for us shooting after dark. You can’t be lactose intolerant and eat ice cream too.”
The Whitleys and some of their neighbors have been complaining to Iredell County commissioners and the county’s administrative staff since mid-May, when the FOP opened the shooting range without securing a special-use permit, which is required because the property is zoned for residential and agricultural uses.
Nearby residents were never informed that the FOP was planning to open a range on the 70-plus acres it owns on the north side of Interstate 40. Two residents, who asked their names not be used because they did not want to be seen as anti-law enforcement, echoed the Whitleys’ hopes that the county will require the FOP to find a way to reduce the noise associated with the range and limit the hours of operation.
“It just sounds like fireworks all the time,” one resident complained.
“It sounded like World War III the other night at 8:30,” another added. “I don’t want to hear it every night when I’m trying to relax.”
Another neighbor on Mock Mill Road routinely wears noise-canceling headphones throughout the day to drown out the noise, and another neighbor’s dog has been so stressed by the sound of gunfire that it is now on anxiety medication, Margie Whitley said.
‘It’s going to be a fight’
James was advised by county staff in January of 2022, when the FOP obtained a special-use permit for the new lodge, that it would need to apply for a separate permit before it could open a shooting range.
However, the FOP never applied for the permit for the shooting range, which is now used regularly by seven law enforcement agencies.
Iredell County Planning Director Matthew Todd said his staff has been in communication with the FOP regularly over the past six months about the issue. Staff remained hopeful that the FOP would voluntarily comply with the county’s zoning requirements and apply for the special-use permit. That process involves submitting a three-page application, which includes a site plan and an analysis by a professional property appraiser.
The application is then considered by the Board of Adjustment, which has the final decision over whether to grant the special-use permit and include any conditions, such as hours of operation of the shooting range.
On October 10, the Iredell County Planning & Development Department issued the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge with a Zoning Violation for:
♦ Operating an outdoor shooting range;
♦ Violation of existing special use permit and site plan;
♦ Failure to obtain a special use permit for the operation of an outdoor shooting range; and
♦ Failure to obtain non-residential site plan approved for an outdoor shooting range
The Notice informed the FOP that if the violations were not corrected within 30 days, the Iredell County Planning & Development Department could issue a civil citation, revoke the lodge’s certificate of occupancy, seek a court injunction or issue a criminal summons.
When that 30-day window closed on November 9, the FOP still had not applied for a special-use permit and the range was still being used regularly, including after dark. The range continued to be in use over the weekend.
So, on Tuesday, the Planning Department staff issued an official citation for the underlying violations. The citation carries a fine of $100 per day, Todd said, adding that the county could take additional action if the range is not closed within seven days of the issuance of the citation.
James said Tuesday evening that he had not seen the citation, which was sent by mail. The threat of a fine, he said, would not force the FOP to shut down the range.
Too many agencies rely on the range, he said, and residents of Iredell County expect their law enforcement officers to be proficient with their firearms if the need to use them arises.
“If they want to fine me $100 a day for taking care of law enforcement, it’s going to be a fight,” James said.
Meanwhile, the FOP has been working on its application for the special-use permit with its attorneys and a property appraiser. James predicted the application would be completed within a few days, and he was hopeful that the Board of Adjustment could consider the application quickly.
County officials said it is unlikely that the Board of Adjustment would consider the application before its meeting on January 19.
We need to be supporting our local FOP and be thankful for all they do for our community and schools. If you are pro law enforcement and you want our officers trained as they should be…. You should be thankful too.
We are supportive and thankful, but at the same time we expect LEO’s to follow the same laws and regulations that the rest of us are expected to follow. Unpermitted shooting ranges cannot be allowed regardless of who sets them up. The FOP needs to get themselves on the right side of the law on this.
This should have been addressed by the homeowners adjacent to the FOP property before it was constructed.
I know it would be expensive but I believe we Iredell County Citizens would back a plan to build an indoor range which would be much quieter than an outdoor range.
Any thoughts?
Unfortunately, an indoor range would be limited in size. It would be adequate for handgun practice, but unsuitable for meaningful rifle practice, which requires ranges of up to 100 yards. There’s already an indoor range in the Mooresville area, and all of the lanes are only 25 yards.
According to the article, the surrounding residents were not informed that an outdoor shooting range would be constructed.
Shooting after dark……you do realize “after dark” is now 5:30pm, right?
It wasn’t in May when the issue started.
I guarantee that if an unpermitted outdoor shooting range was operating on property next to the homes of folks using this one, they would be the first in line to complain. There’s a countywide noise ordinance that should also apply here, regardless of permit. If LEOs need a place to shoot, the County/City should seek funding for an indoor range. They just raised our property taxes substantially, so there’s money available.
I still live across the creek from the old FOP. Listened to it for 15 years. We got used to it. It’s not that big of a deal.
I’ve been a member for quite a number of years. I’m sure the people in the area knew the FOP was building this facility for quite a number of years. I can’t believe they were not aware of what the FOP does.
This is why I live in a subdivision.
I’m sure there are ‘three sides to the story here’ but the bottom line is we need to back our local Law Enforcement 100% or we risk turning into one of those ‘other places’ we read about/see on the news every day. They said they are applying for the permit which is appropriate, why does the County have to wait until January 19? Seriously?
This FOP Lodge puts ALOT back into the community and has for many years. I feel for the neighbors but if they didn’t know this was coming they are not being truthful – this has been planned for years, even I knew about it and I am not Law Enforcement or a Politician/County employee. I get the neighbors concern, but you couldn’t ask for better neighbors IMO.
For the County to all of a sudden take a hard line on this is also very disingenuous; they knew full well I’m sure. I sincerely hope an amicable agreement can be reached that satisfies all and shows our local Law Enforcement that we have their backs.
Perhaps the FOP should explore other options, such as land in the Troutman or Mooresville area. An indoor range would be of limited size. It can’t accommodate rifle practice that requires ranges of 100 yards. There’s already an indoor range in the Mooresville area, and all of the lanes are only 25 yards.
I love guns, and police. But I can see where this would be a nuisance. I had a neighbor once who thought he was Chris Kyle. It drove me nuts. FOP seems a bit arrogant so maybe they should set up some guidelines with shooting days/hours, and be a little better neighbor. Saying you spent 10k on a road that only they use isn’t being a good neighbor.🤣