A battle over hoop houses that previously pitted supervisors Peter Adam against Salud Carbajal brought the two political antagonists together this week at the county Board of Supervisors. In a 3-2 vote, the supervisors took steps to extend the height exemption on the books for hoop houses — large tent-like structures covering North County farmland — to a maximum of 20 feet from the current height of 12 feet.
The issue of permitting hoop houses emerged last year when County Planning staff discovered an estimated 4,500 acres of farmland is covered in unpermitted hoop houses. (It came up after Windset Farms sought an exemption to the permit required by the county’s building code.)
Adam — who owns Adam Brothers Family Farms with his two younger brothers — brought the item to the board last year. He argued hoop houses were essential tools for farmers to conserve water and minimize pesticide use and that they should not require a building permit. He first proposed hoop houses of any height to be exempt. The South County supervisors squawked; Carbajal likened such a move “carte blanche.” No decision was made.