The legality of a special permit issued to former Red Bank Police Chief Ronnie Dodd which allowed him to open a shooting range on his property in Sale Creek is being disputed in Chancery Court at the request of Dodd’s neighbors.
Judge Jeff Atherton said he needed more time to make his decision after both sides presented their cases Nov. 28.
Neighbors including Tim and Renee Grace and Carl Lindquvist, who hired attorneys Eric Oliver and Jamie Hurst to take Dodd to court, said they were not given adequate notice prior to the hearing in which the special permit was granted in April 2008.
Oliver stated that the notice provided to residents was for a hearing of the county Board of Zoning Appeals on granting Dodd a special permit to use his property for “low intensity outdoor use.” He argued this is not an adequate description for a shooting range in which courses are held involving AK-47s and “Dirty Harry” 44 magnums for which students are asked to bring 300 rounds.
He also argued the BZA overstepped its legal boundaries in issuing the permit.