INVERNESS — Citrus County officials said Tuesday that state Sen. Charles Dean is sending them mixed signals on how, or if, he intends to deal with a legal opinion about his massive barn.
On Monday, an opinion from Attorney General Bill McCollum's office determined that structures built and used like Dean's barn were residential dwellings.
The Inverness Republican told the county administrator he would comply with codes and after-the-fact permits he needed for the two-story, riverfront structure, County Commissioner Gary Bartell said Tuesday.
On Tuesday, however, Dean's office sent a statement to the St. Petersburg Times saying that the legal opinion confirmed what Dean has said all along.
"Citrus County made its determination before I began construction on my barn as to what permits were required, and I did exactly what I was directed to do by county building officials," Dean said in his statement.
Dean did not get building permits or inspections on the 4,215-square-foot structure. He has claimed an exemption under a state provision that excludes nonresidential structures on agricultural properties.
Dean has said that friends and relatives stay there and that the structure has bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. A Citrus official determined the barn was not a residence, a position that the legal opinion contradicts.
David Ramba, Dean's attorney, said his client is willing to work on "some small portion of the building … but we're not capitulating that it is a residence."
The county did already make a determination and "they can't, after they built something, change their mind," Ramba said.
Dean avoided paying more than $10,000 in impact and building fees that would have been incurred for a residence.
If county officials find Dean needs permits and the senator does not comply, the issue may land before the county's special master for code enforcement.
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1434.
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