The Middletown Planning Board had to postpone its Monday evening meeting after too many people showed up, exceeding the fire code capacity of the Town Council chamber.
The meeting was supposed to hold a second hearing on the proposed town center overlay, but the unexpected turnout forced officials to reschedule.
Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown explained in a letter to the Town Council, “We had to continue tonight’s Planning Board meeting because we had more people than the fire code allows in the chamber. There were also parking issues that could have made it hard for emergency vehicles to respond if needed.”
The Planning Board will set a new date for the hearing at its regular meeting on March 12. They’re working with the School Department to use either Gaudet or the High School as a bigger venue.
Brown added, “We’re aiming to reschedule the hearing for late March or early April. Once we nail down the new date and place, we’ll let everyone know.”
The postponed meeting was going to cover three items related to the Middletown Commons Town Center project. These included requests from Middletown Commons Town Center, LLC to change the Future Land Use Map and the Middletown Zoning Map, and to create a West Main/Coddington Overlay District.
The proposed changes would affect property along West Main Road and Coddington Highway, specifically lots 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on Assessor’s Plat 102. The request aims to change the land use designation from Institutional to General Business.
The original meeting was set for 6 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers on 350 East Main Road, with options for people to join by video or phone.
The Town of Middletown encourages those intersted in the project at 600-740 West Main Road, to visit Middletown Center.
