2005.06.06 RESO 2005-0032 - Laserfiche WebLink

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two weeks after daylight savings time comes into effect. The lights are used to enhance shooting during the fall h*skeet leagues when there is either low light or no light. The lights are not otherwise used in after -dark conditions but they are used intermittently during daylight operating hours to enhance visibility of targets, such as when the sky becomes overcast. When used, the lights are used during the specified hours of operation. 5. The City council approved the installation of the lights upon staff recommendation. The two banks of lights which were to be installed, pursuant to the application, were later installed on 30 foot poles on the skeet/trap range. According to BESA the addition of the lights allowed the fall skeet and trap leagues to be rescheduled from August and September to their current arrangement -in late September and early October. 6. The City Council received discussion on the effect of the lights. The lights are not directly visible from, nor do they cast light upon, neighboring properties. Mr. Rhodes stated that it was possible to observe a glow from the lights. As indicated in the staff report, the lights are in the center of the property, over 600 feet from the nearest property line. The perimeter of the trap range is heavily wooded providing screening from adjacent properties. There has been no increase in membership as a result of the addition of lights on the skeet/trap range. There is no evidence that additional families or guest shooters use the facility as a result of the addition of the lights. There is no evidence that the level of noise emanating from BESA has changed or that the overall amount of shooting has or will be affected in any way. 7. Mr. Rhodes states that during the two to four weeks in which the lights are used after dark, an expansion of the use necessarily occurs since no trap/skeet shooting would otherwise take place during these hours. BESA states that it only uses the lights during the hours in which it is otherwise entitled to shoot anyway by the terms of its SUP, that it uses them only in connection with the four-week period in the fall and during daylight operating hours and that no increase in shooting or membership has occurred. 8. Mr. Rhode's appeal seeks a reversal of the "decision that no public hearing was required for the City Council to approve the installation of lighting at the Bald Eagle Sportsman's Association Gun Club." During the appeal, extensive public testimony was famished to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals and the City Council and notice of public hearings were sent to surrounding property owners. BASED UPON THE FOREGOING AND ALL THE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY ADDUCED AT THE HEARINGS ON THIS MATTER, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUGO, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA FINDS IN ANSWER TO THE APPEAL AS FOLLOWS: