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4400 Pheasant Hill Dr. n 16 Deerfield WI 53531-9790 September 3, 1996 Mr. James Van Duerzen, Chair f Zoning&Natural Resources Committee ! D.C. PLANNING Dane County Planning&Development Zoning Division & DEVELOPMENT Room 116 City-County Building ZONING DIVISION Madison, WI 53709 Dear Mr. Van Duerzen: I live on Pheasant Hill Rd., in sight of the Deerfield Rod&Gun Club. When I work outside in my garden on the weekends, I can hear the shooting of firearms. When I sit on my deck or in the living room on Tuesday evenings,I can hear the shooting of firearms until 10 p.m. or later. I will thus be directly affected by any changes relevant to zoning petition 6710. I wish to express my strong opposition to a change in zoning of the Deerfield Rod&Gun Club,from A-1 to B-1 and RE-1, and urge the Zoning Board to reject the petition during their September 17, 1996, hearing. Work responsibilities preclude my attendance at the hearing itself, so I am writing to make sure that my views are known to Commission members. I am opposed to the application for rezoning for two reasons: 1) the potential for the increase in hours in which the stillness of the country air will be punctuated with the sounds of gunfire;and 2)the possibility of expanding the sale of alcohol in an area in which firearms are commonly used. When I moved into this house in spring of 1995, I was uncertain as to the impact the proximity of the Rod &Gun Club would have on the country-quiet environment I was seeking. Though I ani not pleased with the lateness of noise generated especially on Tuesday evenings, I have learned to live with it one night per week. With the proposed changes including,"lights" and"outdoor recreational activities," among other stated activities,this suggests to me that there may be the possibility of expanding hours of service and of non-Club members' having greater access to the facilities. I can only imagine the increased noise levels this would produce! Any zoning change that would"open the door"for such activities and times to expand at some future date would certainly be reason for me to oppose the petition. However, even if I were to have to get used to greater levels and frequency of loud noise, I still oppose the petition for the second reason: the potential for the expansion of the sale of alcohol. I do not understand why the Club finds it necessary to have the possibility to expand alcohol use,either now or in the future, in an area in which firearms are so obviously present. I have no problem with the safe, recreational use of firearms; I have no problem with adults' drinking of alcoholic beverages in moderation. I do, however, have strong objections to the use of guns and alcohol in combination. While the Club may produce assurances that alcohol sales will be strictly monitored, or that people who appear inebriated will not be allowed to use firearms, this creates an increasing level of risk that should be unacceptable not only to Club members but to the general public as well. Alcohol impairs judgment,and an incident would only have to occur once to have deadly consequences. As one who lives so close to the Club, I am especially concerned about this issue. Thus,for the reasons cited above,and particularly my concerns about the possibility of expanded use of alcohol, I urge the rejection of zoning petition 6710. Barbara S. Monfils