Over the past several years, I have raised concerns during Planning Board discussions about the rising cost of building housing in Middletown, particularly single-family homes. Unfortunately, those concerns have not gained much traction, even as the Town continues to emphasize housing affordability and supply.
Recently, I compiled a table comparing development impact fees and other non-permit municipal charges across Rhode Island for a typical single-family home. When viewed side by side, Middletown stands out as having significantly higher fees than most other municipalities in the state.
These costs are not abstract. They are real dollars that get added directly to the price of a home. When development impact fees and other municipal charges stack up, fewer projects make financial sense, fewer homes get built, and prices rise. This is one of the main reasons why building new housing in Middletown has become increasingly cost prohibitive, especially for modest single family homes.
I have brought this issue to the Planning Board multiple times, but there does not appear to be much urgency to address it. If the Town believes housing is truly a priority, especially the construction of single family housing, then this issue deserves serious attention. Fee structures are something the Town can directly control They can either support responsible growth or quietly work against it.
I am asking our Town Council to prioritize a discussion around development fees and take a close look at how Middletown compares statewide. If necessary, the Council should direct the Planning Board or the Town Planner to review these fees and determine whether they align with the Town’s stated goals around housing availability, affordability, and long term planning.
Housing policy is not just about zoning maps and planning documents. It is also about the real world costs that determine whether homes ever get built. If Middletown wants to encourage more housing options for families who want to live, work and plant roots here, we need to start by addressing the fees that make building here more expensive than it is in nearly every other town in Rhode Island.
Leon Amarant
Planning Board
Middletown RI