Hinsdale country club seeks DuPage's OK for skeet shooting
A private social and golf club near Hinsdale wants to offer skeet shooting for its members during the wintertime.
But in order for Ruth Lake Country Club to provide that amenity to its members, it needs permission from DuPage County. The country club is seeking a conditional use permit for a gun club on a golf course, officials said.
County officials expect neighbors to oppose the skeet shooting idea.
"I would imagine the biggest issues that will come up - apart from shooting guns on the golf course - are going to be what the hours are going to be, what the decibel levels are going to be and what the lighting situation is going to be," said Paul Hoss, the county's zoning coordinator.
DuPage's zoning board of appeals this week will get its first look at the proposal. The panel has scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Thursday in Room 3500-B of the county's administration building, 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton.
Ruth Lake Country Club, which was founded in 1922, has a clubhouse, golf course and tennis and aquatics complexes, according to its website. It's located on 140 acres along South Madison Street.
Phil Luetkehans, the attorney representing the club, said the club simply wants the another amenity for its members. He added that several other country clubs in DuPage already offer skeet shooting.
"It's a pretty common amenity for a country club," he said.
Luetkehans said skeet shooting at Ruth Lake Country Club would occur between November and March during daytime on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The proposed skeet shooting area would be located west of the clubhouse and parking lot. "It's going to be in the middle of the country club (property)," Hoss said.
While the nearest homes are at least 1,000 feet from the proposed skeet shooting area, Luetkehans acknowledged that some neighbors are expected raise concerns about noise. He said he will address that and other issues during Thursday night's public hearing.
After the zoning board of appeals reviews the proposal, it will make a recommendation to the DuPage County Board, which has final say.