The Harford County Council agreed Tuesday to a change in the building code exempting from permit requirements some agricultural buildings used for public gatherings.
Though the change drew fire from some people who are trying to prevent a similar, but larger structure from being built in their Churchville neighborhood, the council bowed to the wishes of County Executive Barry Glassman and approved it, with a modification to address fire code safety.
About a dozen Glenville Road area residents, who have been fighting a proposed wedding venue in their community, attended the council meeting, but by time their leader spoke at the conclusion of the meeting, the change had been approved by the council, along with a periodic update to the building code.
Two code amendments introduced by Glassman the previous week apply to buildings of 1,500 square feet or smaller, located on agriculturally zoned property. The structure can have an occupancy of up to 100 people, but no commercial kitchen.
Those buildings would be exempt from the provision in the code that states: "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit."
Many agricultural structures, such as barns, silos, equipment sheds and animal enclosures already are exempt from structural, electrical and plumbing permit requirements in the Harford code.
Buildings covered by the change approved Tuesday could be used for events such as farmers markets, ice cream sales or private parties and receptions, Cindy Mumby, Glassman's spokesperson, said Thursday.
Mumby previously said the change was not proposed in response to any specific request, but would let farmers "add to their income so it was just simply a matter of that, to try to be more accommodating to folks who own these types of properties."
Councilman Joe Woods, a former fire chief in Fallston, originally objected to the change because he thought it posed fire safety concern. He said he wanted proof the Office of the State Fire Marshal was on board with the changes.
On Tuesday, however, the council withdrew the original amendments and introduced new ones to require that the buildings comply with the fire code.
Director of Administration Billy Boniface told the council the county has been working with the Fire Marshal's Office to address the council's concerns about fire safety.
Nevertheless, he said, "we feel the county executive still wants to push forward with this and asks the council to take this under consideration as further enhancement for ag."
Councilman Patrick Vincenti said most of the calls and emails he got on the issue referred to public safety concerns. "That should be our primary concern," he said.
Vincenti's district includes the Churchville neighborhood, where residents are fighting development of the Regent at Stone House, a combination equestrian center and wedding venue planned on an agricultural property. Some of them have said the timing of the code change looked suspicious.
Woods took a swipe at the administration, noting its representatives had only talked with a private engineer, while Woods had talked to a fire marshal, who Woods said found the proposal "confusing."
"He had the same concerns as I did with the original [amendments]," Woods said, even though he joined the other six council members in voting for the new amendments and the full code update.
Vincenti pointed out the buildings addressed in the change are "a very small space" and provide another way for members of the agricultural community to derive income from their properties.
"We were able to find some balance and common ground here," Councilman Chad Shrodes, who represents the rural northern tier of the county, said.
Shrodes said safety is "the most important thing," but people also should be able to make different use of their property.
"That's why people love Harford County," he said.
Fred Ford, speaking for the Regent at Stone House opponents, took issue with the change and the council members comments, when he was able to speak during the public comment part of the meeting.
Wearing a yellow "No Regent at Stone House" shirt, Ford said: "You know where I come from. The shirt speaks for itself. We are dealing with a much larger catering hall that is about to be thrown on us."
Ford said the council's action essentially means anyone with 10 acres of land can have a "party barn." The Regent building, however, would be approximately 4,000 square feet and thus would have to comply with all permit requirements.
"I just can't comprehend a bill that is put out for a few but can do so much damage to so many," Ford said, adding "commercial activities are commercial activities" and should be strictly regulated through zoning and other means.