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Planning board endorses capital-improvement plan consistency, advances zoning dimensional changes and reviews housing-related state bills
Summary
The Planning Board recommended the proposed capital-improvement program is consistent with the comprehensive plan, advanced recommended dimensional standards for multifamily zoning changes, and discussed state housing legislation and the comp-plan schedule.
The Middletown Planning Board reviewed multiple nonproject items and took several advisory and procedural actions, including recommending that the town council find the proposed fiscal-year capital improvement projects consistent with the comprehensive plan, moving forward a recommendation on zoning-dimension amendments, and discussing state-level housing bills and the town's comprehensive-plan schedule.
The board reviewed the proposed capital improvement program (CIP) sheets and voted to recommend to the town council that the CIP requests are consistent with the comprehensive plan. During discussion, some planning board members expressed concern about inconsistencies and unexplained differences between total project costs shown on project sheets and budget tables; board members asked staff to follow up with the finance office to reconcile figures. Members also objected to the inclusion, in the online packet, of a draft unsigned recommendation letter that assumed unanimous approval prior to the meeting; staff said the document was circulated as a draft for administrative convenience and agreed to mark future pre-drafts clearly.
On zoning, staff presented proposed amendments to Town Code Chapter 152, zoning ordinance section 6-0-3, to add dimensional requirements for two-family, multifamily dwelling structures, and multifamily projects in newly allowed districts. The board moved and seconded a recommendation that, if the town council approves expanded uses, the council also adopt the proposed dimensional standards; the board's recommendation passed on voice vote.
Board members also reviewed a memo summarizing recent state housing legislation under consideration and noted several bills moving through the General Assembly. Staff said many bills passed the House and were headed to the Senate; one bill discussed inclusionary zoning provisions but would apply only to towns that have already adopted inclusionary ordinances. The board discussed whether to revisit a previously drafted local inclusionary zoning ordinance and deferred further action for a later time.
Finally, the board received an update on the comprehensive-plan revision. Staff said a public workshop focused on plan policies and priorities is scheduled for June 12 and that the consultants will draft plan elements over the summer for review in September; the board was urged to participate.
