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Zoning board approves owner-occupied short-term rental at 342 Boulevard; neighbors voice traffic and parking concerns
Summary
The Town of Middletown Zoning Board granted Georgina McDonald a special use permit to operate an owner-occupied short-term rental at 342 Boulevard. Multiple neighbors raised concerns about traffic, parking, and neighborhood character; the board approved the permit 5-0 under the new owner-occupied ordinance.
The Town of Middletown Zoning Board on May 20 approved a special use permit allowing Georgina McDonald to operate an owner-occupied short-term rental at 342 Boulevard, after public comment raised traffic, parking and neighborhood quality concerns.
McDonald testified she purchased the large two-family property in April and plans to reside on the first floor when renovations are complete; she asked to rent the second-floor unit on a short-term basis. McDonald said the second-floor unit will be two bedrooms and she plans to follow all short-term rental regulations. "I will be living on the First Floor," she told the board.
Several neighbors spoke during the public hearing. Susan Schenk, who lives across the street, asked how many apartments and how many guests would be allowed, noting the property’s size and nearby traffic on Boulevard. Terry Merkel said he was "worried that this is a boarding house" and expressed concern about neighborhood deterioration. Another neighbor described continuing traffic and turning problems on a 100-foot private driveway that provides access to nearby properties and said visitors sometimes use adjacent driveways to turn around.
McDonald and other speakers clarified parking and access: McDonald said she will widen the horseshoe driveway, provide two parking spaces at the front and four to five spaces at the rear for tenants, and that the driveway runs to the north side of the house. A neighbor and meeting participants noted that the new ordinance limits short-term rentals to no more than six guests per rental period and requires the owner to reside on the property when the unit is rented. The board reiterated those ordinance limits and that the owner-residence requirement provides a safeguard.
Board members recognized neighbors' traffic and safety concerns and advised they can pursue traffic studies and street-weight or traffic restrictions through the town council and police department. The board emphasized its limited scope under the zoning ordinance and urged neighbors to raise traffic issues with the council and to report any ordinance violations to zoning enforcement.
After discussion, a board member moved to approve the petition; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0. The board's motion grants the owner-occupied short-term rental at 342 Boulevard subject to compliance with the town's short-term rental ordinance and the living-on-premises requirement.
