Middletown supervisors approve land plans, contracts and interim manager in unanimous votes

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors on May 12 approved multiple land-development plans, awarded municipal contracts and appointed an interim township manager in a series of unanimous votes.

The board voted 5–0 to approve a consent agenda that included payment of the bills list for May 12, 2025, in the amount of $1,905,929.02; minutes of the April public meeting; and two grant-application resolutions: Resolution No. 25‑10R (Department of Community and Economic Development Watershed Restoration and Protection Program) and Resolution No. 25‑11R (DCED Flood Mitigation grant). The consent agenda also included a financial-security release for Stone Farm Land Development (SLD 22‑7) for $354,725 and an amendment to a previously approved minor subdivision (SLD 22‑2750 Olive Street).

Following the consent items, the board separately approved preliminary/final land-development plans and other projects: - Rising Star Daycare, 1411 Highland Avenue (SLD 25‑1): preliminary/final land-development approval to expand the existing daycare and reconfigure the parking lot; conditions included full compliance with township subdivision and zoning ordinances and payment of a fee in lieu of parking‑lot trees. Vote: 5–0.

- 1411 Woodburn Road (SLD 24‑08): preliminary/final approval to construct a new 3,360‑square‑foot office building with associated improvements, subject to addressing remaining review comments and applicable ordinance requirements. Vote: 5–0.

- Chick‑fil‑A (SLD 24‑6), Lincoln Highway: preliminary/final major site‑plan approval for a new Chick‑fil‑A with dual drive‑thru lanes, bypass lane and order‑point canopies. Because a required stretch of sidewalk along South Buxton Road would have been on property owned by a third party (Simon Properties), the applicant agreed to pay a fee in lieu of constructing that off‑site sidewalk; the board directed the township engineer to determine the fee amount. Vote: 5–0.

The board also approved municipal contracts and equipment purchases: - Awarded the 2025 liquid‑fuels road program (base bid plus Alternate 2) to James D. Morrissey Inc. in the amount of $440,233.16. The board noted the larger program used highway‑aid (liquid fuels) funds and that an existing drainage contract for North Flowers Mill Road will be coordinated with the paving work. Vote: 5–0.

- Awarded the 2025 summer recreation bus contract to Durham School Services for $24,645.50; the cost is covered in the parks and recreation operating budget. Vote: 5–0.

- Authorized Department of Public Works purchases: one air‑operated coolant machine ($3,735), one TerrainCut front mower ($45,199.24) and one PortaCool Apex 4,000 ($4,500). Funding sources: mower from the road‑machinery fund; other equipment from capital/shop budgets. Vote: 5–0.

Finally, the board accepted the retirement of Township Manager Stephanie Tioli Kools and appointed Assistant Township Manager Nicholas Valla as interim township manager effective immediately. The motion to appoint Valla passed 5–0.

Why it matters: The land‑development approvals move smaller commercial and office projects and a major fast‑food redevelopment through local permitting. The Chick‑fil‑A approval included a negotiated fee in lieu of an off‑site sidewalk where the required alignment would fall on property a private landlord did not permit to be used. The interim manager appointment begins a transition in township leadership while elected supervisors continue work on longer‑range planning items discussed in the meeting.

What’s next: Several approvals included conditions that outstanding engineering and agency comments be addressed before final permits are issued. The board discussed but did not act on a proposed zoning amendment for the Farm’s Edge at Shady Brook (a separate presentation item); supervisors also directed staff to circulate the formal petition text before taking a zoning decision.