The Allegheny Township supervisors have passed an ordinance to regulate construction of special event barn venues, often used to host weddings, graduation parties or other large events.
Supervisors Chairman Jamie Morabito said there aren’t any such venues in the township yet, but that there have been a few developers who have inquired about building them before.
So to ensure protections for venue operators and township residents, the board started crafting the ordinance about a year ago.
“(There’s) boundaries that each and every one has to follow — the particular person that’s putting in the event barn and the people that it affects in surrounding the areas,” Morabito said.
Events hosted at barn venues are capped at 300 visitors on weekends and 150 for weekdays, according to the ordinance.
It also states that no food can be cooked, grilled or prepared on-site, except for setting up food prepared elsewhere.
In addition, no food or beverages can be sold at barn venues.
Alcohol can be served, but the event space can’t be used as a satellite location for alcohol sales, the ordinance states.
Entertainment, including DJs or live bands, are limited to the interior of the barn and have to end their performance by 10 p.m, the ordinance states.
It also restricts pyrotechnics and open fires.
Morabito said now that the ordinance is in place, the township welcomes new development of special event barn venues and that it could draw new people to the area.
“There’s a lot of people that maybe don’t drive through Allegheny Township at all,” Morabito said, “but if there’s an event there … they can patronize other businesses in the township while they’re here.”