A planning board public hearing on a major development proposal at Sweet Berry Farm that was scheduled for May 13 has been postponed because the town anticipates more people than Town Hall can accommodate, according to a notice issued Wednesday morning by the Town of Middletown.
“Due to an anticipated overflow crowd that cannot be accommodated in Town Hall, the May 13 Planning Board public hearing on a proposal for Sweet Berry Farm has been postponed,” the town said in the notice. “We apologize for any inconvenience and the new date will be widely posted once it’s been finalized.”
No new date, time or location has been announced.
The hearing concerns an application from SB Farm LLC — doing business as Sweet Berry Farm — for master plan approval of a Major Land Development Project at 913 Mitchell’s Lane. The proposal calls for a new 13,862-square-foot complex including a relocated farmstand, café and a two-story bank barn for agricultural and events use, along with parking, stormwater management and landscaping.
The application has already been continued once. It was first heard — without public comment — at the March 11 Planning Board meeting, when the applicant requested and was granted a continuance to April 8. It has since been carried to the May 13 date, which has now been postponed.
Under state law, the Planning Board must approve, approve with conditions or deny the application within 90 days of its Feb. 11 certification as complete — a deadline of May 12. It was not immediately clear Wednesday how the postponement affects that statutory timeline.
What’sUpNewp sought comment from Sweet Berry Farm. On April 24, a representative of the farm contacted this publication indicating she wanted to release a statement about the town application and asked to speak by phone before deciding, in her words, “what outlet we would work with.” What’sUpNewp declined to audition for the story and asked that any questions or statements be submitted in writing. A follow-up message was sent May 4. No statement or comment had been received as of publication.
The full planning board packet, including all application documents, remains available at middletownri.gov/504/Planning-Board-Meeting-Packets. The town said the new hearing date will be widely posted once finalized.
