Middletown meetings packed with land-use votes, school projects, and budget actions
Middletown's boards and councils had a busy two weeks, with agendas covering road grants, library renovations, school construction budgets, and major zoning changes along West Main Road. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so the items below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or votes — not confirmed outcomes.
Town Council: Grants, library subcontracts, and West Main Road zoning
The July 6 regular meeting agenda included a resolution to award $65,660.00 to TAPCO of Wisconsin for school zone flashing lights and pedestrian warning equipment, and acceptance of a $250,000.00 Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant for raising Third Beach Road. The council was also scheduled to take up subcontracts for the Middletown Town Library renovation at 110 Enterprise Center, a second reading of an ordinance amending beach parking fees in the Fee Schedule, and an application for a Victualling House License for Crossroads Café at 1364A West Main Road. An executive session was listed for land acquisition at West Main Road and collective bargaining with TEAMSTERS.
A July 14 special meeting focused on three ordinances at second reading that would change land use on West Main Road. The proposals would amend the Comprehensive Community Plan to reclassify lots 4–7 on Tax Assessor Plate 102 from "Institutional" to "Limited & Office Business," amend the Official Zoning Map to change those lots from "Public" to "LBA – Limited Business, traffic sensitive," and add Article 31 creating a West Main-Coddington Overlay District covering lots 3–7 on TAP 102.
Planning Board: Subdivisions, withdrawals, and stormwater talks
The July 8 regular meeting agenda included a withdrawal request from SB Farm, LLC for its major land development application at 913 Mitchell's Lane (Tax Assessors Plat 125, Lot 1). Public hearings were scheduled for three subdivision proposals: Kathryn Thomson's 2-lot minor subdivision at 534 Aquidneck Avenue (TAP 114, Lot 116) seeking zoning variances; The Collection on Honeyman, LLC's 4-lot minor subdivision on Honeyman Avenue (TAP 114, Lot 139) requesting a street width waiver; and The Collection on Valley Road, LLC's major land development at 345 Valley Road (TAP 114, Lot 1C) to add approximately 6,796 sq ft of floor area. The board was also set to consider recommending Steven Huttler as a nonvoting liaison to the Middletown Economic Development Advisory Committee.
A July 15 subcommittee meeting was scheduled to discuss a possible ordinance creating a stormwater utility and a wastewater management plan and district.
School projects: Forest Avenue design package and FY26 budget
The Building Committee met July 15 to vote on approving Colliers' submission of the Forest Avenue Schematic Design RIDE Stage III Package to the RIDE SBA Portal, along with minutes from June 10, 2026.
The School Committee's July 18 amended regular meeting agenda included votes on FY26 budget amendments, an updated budget for Forest Avenue Elementary School renovations, and schematic drawings for the Forest Avenue project. Staffing items on the agenda included increasing substitute nurse pay and a new CTE Teacher – Computer Science & Engineering (Grades 9–12) job description.
Coming up
The Zoning Board of Review meets July 28 to consider several petitions, including a special use for a brewery with retail sales and tasting room at 300 Coddington Highway (ZBR-26-33), two owner-occupied short-term rental requests at 19 Crescent Road (ZBR-26-30) and 214 Morrison Avenue (ZBR-26-31), a 132-square-foot sign at 23 feet high at 1400 West Main Road (ZBR-26-32), and a variance for an 8-by-8-foot front deck at 11 Philips Avenue (ZBR-26-34).
Note: All recent meetings listed above are "agenda only" — minutes have not yet been published. Readers should consult official town records for confirmed outcomes and vote tallies.