Sen. Dean's 'barn' causing controversy

Monday, March 9, 2009

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This is a picture of the structure that Sen. Dean built along the Withlacoochee River.

CITRUS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A loophole in Florida law is drawing some attention after a state senator put up a controversial building on his property.

Some residents are upset because of a structure built by state Sen. Charlie Dean, (R)-Inverness, along the Withlacoochee River. Using the Florida Right to Farm Act, Dean didn't have to pay any impact fees or pull permits because he says the structure is a barn.

Resident Jeffrey Huff doesn't think Dean's building qualifies as a barn, which is why he filed a complaint with Citrus County code enforcement.

"You build a house, you need to pull permits, you need to pay impact fees," Huff said.

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People Bay News 9 showed pictures to of the barn believe it looks like a house.

"His animals are living better than I'm living," said resident Josh Wilson.

The county disagrees.

"He's built a barn," said Gary Maidhof, director of development service. "It is a very nice structure, but it's a barn. And till somebody gives me some documentation or some proof that it's otherwise, we're going to take him at his word."

During the course of the investigation, Dean was never contacted to allow access to the property to investigate further.