Residents of Manor Lane in Ellicott City are expressing concern about neighboring Manor Hill Brewing after the business opened its doors to customers on weekends, a move they say increased traffic and heightened their worries over pedestrian safety.

Some residents have complained about delivery trucks and visitor traffic. But brewery owner Randy Marriner says he's adhering to permit regulations as a commercial brewery.

Sitting on 52 acres, Manor Hill Farm is designated as an active working farm in the Howard County Land Preservation Program. Randy and Mary Marriner, owners of Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, purchased the farm in 2011.

The Marriners received a Class A farm brewery license the following year after the license was created by changes in county legislation and existing zoning laws in 2013.

Through the county's Economic Development Authority's Catalyst Loan Program, the brewery received a $200,000 loan in 2014 to help launch the new business.

Randy Marriner said operations at Manor Hill Brewing began under their Farm Brewery Class 1A license in January 2015 after the launch of a pilot system inside a 7,200-square-foot barn; the brewery will eventually be able to produce 3,000 barrels a year.

“We're a manufacturer, a wholesaler and a retailer, all in accordance with Article 2B of the liquor laws of the state of Maryland and with my zoning regulations,” Marriner said. “In January, after tremendous request from our customers, we started to open the brewery up for people to come see it and taste beers.”

While the county's Department of Planning and Zoning permits the brewery to be open to the public 69 hours a week, Marriner said he chose to open 20 hours total on Fridays through Sundays.

No more than 50 visitors are allowed at one time, he said, and a reservation system gives visitors a maximum of two hours on the premises.

But many residents are concerned about increased traffic flow and safety in an area they said was once calm and serene. Residents have posted additional speeding signs, asking drivers to slow down and “drive like your kids live here.”

Sam Ellis, 40, said his family has lived on Manor Lane since 1951, when his grandparents first moved into the neighborhood. Years later, Ellis' mother and father took over the property.

“When I was a kid, I had a go-cart and I could ride up and down the street like I owned the place,” Ellis said. “Back in those days, if three cars went by in the afternoon, you were wondering, ‘Who's having a party? What's going on?' Now, it's literally hundreds of cars a day, and it's just nonstop.”

When the brewery isn't open to the public, Ellis said, commercial trucks are driving to and from the brewery located at the end of the lane. Although the speed limit is designated as 30 miles per hour, he said some visitors and commercial trucks go over that limit.

His wife is “not comfortable to walk our dog anymore because of traffic increases,” Ellis said. “She will not take the stroller out and push the baby up the street. That's the kind of thing we've been looking forward to with spring coming and decent weather.”

Resident John Sindler, a commercial real estate professional, called the brewery an “abomination of our otherwise pleasant residential street.”

While he doesn't want to prevent the Marriners from making a living, Sindler said, Manor Lane was not built for such commercialization.

“I spend at least 30 minutes a week, if not more, just standing there, telling people to slow down. People are just totally discourteous or inconsiderate,” he said.

Marriner said he has received numerous complaints from neighbors via social media as well as recent visits from a zoning officer and Howard police a few weeks ago.

Police Department spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said police made checks on a recent weekend and did not see any speeding or other violations.

Amy Gowan, the county Department of Planning and Zoning's deputy director, said the farm brewery permit does not address specific traffic studies or traffic regulation issues, but requires that the area has frontage on arterial or collector roads or certain local roads.

“Clearly, the permit anticipates that there would be that volume of traffic,” Gowan said. If there are concerns about speeding, she said, they might have to bring in some traffic engineers to take a look.

Gowan said since Manor Lane is a public road, a study would incorporate road conditions and accident history. The brewery has a sign at the end of its driveway reminding drivers of the 30-mph limit.

“I've spent many millions of dollars creating beauty here,” Randy Marriner said. “I have raised the property value of every house on this road. We're trying to be responsible.”

As for a resolution, Marriner said he simply doesn't know if one will be reached.

“Do I want to be a good neighbor? Of course. But I also have a business to run and the state created the opportunity for me to run this business,” he said.

Residents say they are asking the county to take action.

“The purpose of the street, I feel, has changed,” Ellis said. “It feels like an entrance to the brewery; it's not our neighborhood anymore.”