Harford Hill Farm owner seeks approval for 100‑person reception venue; neighbors warn of noise, traffic

Crysta Draayer, chief of development review at the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning, opened the committee review on April 15 as consultant Mitch Ensor of Bay State Land Services described plans to repurpose an existing 5,000‑square‑foot barn at 2501 Pocock Road as a private reception venue limited to 100 attendees.

The proposal covers a 246.75± acre agricultural parcel in a Harford County Agricultural Land Preservation easement. The owner’s submission flagged a 74,000‑square‑foot total event area on the plan to encompass driveway, parking and staging areas for fee calculation; Ensor said the actual indoor reception space is the 5,000‑square‑foot barn and the plan proposes 35 parking spaces and no additional impervious surface.

Planning and county reviewers flagged conditions and required changes that must be resolved before approval. Harford County Planning and Zoning noted the Agricultural Preservation Board recommended the use but required evidence the farm met County Special Development rules (including documentation of at least $15,000 in annual gross agricultural income for three years) and mapping of a 50‑foot Flood Protection Setback for non‑tidal waters. Department of Public Works engineering said site distance on Pocock Road must meet a 250‑foot standard for a 35 mph design speed and vegetation may need trimming to meet sight‑distance requirements. The Harford County Health Department told the applicant the proposal raises cumulative wastewater to 4,750 gallons per day and that ‘‘a property with an accumulative flow of 5,000 gallons per day or greater is considered a large Onsite Sewage Disposal System (OSDS)’’ that would trigger additional permitting and possible MDE discharge review.

The consultant emphasized measures intended to reduce impacts. ‘‘This plan is not a subdivision,’’ Ensor told the committee, and he repeated that ‘‘the proposal has a 100‑person limit’’ and that parking and access are sited on existing cleared areas. Ensor also said the applicant has been coordinating with Health Department staff, has drilled a replacement well to meet current standards, and submitted a Landscape and Lighting Plan; he said the plan proposes operating hours that are more restrictive than county minimums (the submitted plan lists 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).

Neighbors repeatedly raised concerns that the operation could grow beyond the limits presented at the meeting. ‘‘If Marriott resorts was the petitioner here, your attitude might be one way. If it was an owner‑operator farmer trying to do occasional events, your attitude might be another,’’ said James Constable, chairman of the Manor Conservancy, who told the committee he had seen the property advertised online with capacity and outdoor tents that exceed the applicant’s 100‑person limit. Multiple residents pointed to MD‑152 (Jarrettsville Pike) and Pocock Road as narrow, accident‑prone roads and urged enforceable conditions restricting attendee counts, the number of events per year, hours of operation, decibel limits and firm penalties for breaches that would terminate operating privileges.

County staff and departmental reviewers said the plan remains under review and several technical items must be resolved in writing. The Health Department asked the applicant to show new well connections and to submit septic repair plans for two dwellings on the property (Tenant B and the main house) with specific trench dimensions to match existing OSDS permit submissions. DPW Engineering demanded sight‑distance clearing on Pocock Road. Planning noted compliance requirements tied to the agricultural easement and Maryland Tier II watershed protections.

The Development Advisory Committee took no vote; members documented departmental comments and public testimony for further review. The applicant must submit revised plans addressing Health Department, DPW and Planning comments; further approvals, permits and, where applicable, Agricultural Preservation Board conditions will determine whether the venue can operate as proposed.

The Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning will publish the meeting minutes and the applicant must resolve the technical comments before any final approval is issued.