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Middletown council approves licenses, event permits and several zoning ordinances; adopts committee‑nomination rule change
Summary
The council granted a new restaurant liquor license, several event permits and adopted multiple zoning ordinance amendments on second reading. Members also approved a new rule for committee nomination and voting procedures and advanced a draft tax classification amendment to a first reading.
At its meeting the Town of Middletown Town Council approved a package of licenses and event permits, adopted multiple zoning code amendments on second reading and approved a procedural change to how the council nominates and votes on committee appointments.
Licenses and event permits: The council voted to grant a Class B‑V alcoholic beverage license to East Main Road Restaurant 88 Inc., doing business as Mindy’s Galley, at 72 East Main Road. The council also approved the related victualler/“eviction house” license for the same premises, subject to building, fire marshal and health approvals. Other approvals included a bingo license renewal for Middletown Senior Center with a fee waiver and special‑event permits for the Newport County YMCA (Charlie Holder Senior Memorial 5K on May 17, 2025; the 40th annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Run on Nov. 27, 2025) and for the Amica Newport Marathon (Oct. 12, 2025).
Ordinances: Several zoning code amendments received their second reading and were adopted. The ordinances cover changes including accessory family dwelling unit provisions, motel/hotel and multifamily development procedures and standards, shopping centers, residential care and senior independent living requirements, mobile home and transient trailer park development plans, wireless telecommunication facility requirements, special use permits and mixed‑use building provisions. Planning board recommendations were on file for these items; the council closed public hearings and adopted the ordinances on second reading.
Tax classification: Councilors received a proposed ordinance that would amend the town’s two‑tier residential tax classification to incentivize long‑term rentals by allowing certain rental units to qualify for the owner‑occupied tax rate. The council voted to receive the ordinance on its first reading. Under the draft, owners of residential property with no more than five units could qualify for the owner‑occupied rate if units are rented under written leases of at least one year; mixed‑use and short‑term rental rules were specified. Councilors discussed outreach, possible registration deadlines, and whether to refer the draft to the Tax Exploration Committee; administration staff recommended extending the registration period to May 1 to allow implementation for the coming tax year.
Rules of council change: Councilors voted to add a new procedure governing nominations and voting for committee appointments. The adopted passage requires that nominations remain open until every member has had an opportunity to nominate or a motion to close nominations passes; once nominations close, the council will vote (by roll call or ballot) with members allowed one vote per vacancy and rounds of elimination until nominees secure a majority. Councilors said the change is intended to make appointments fairer and more transparent.
Why it matters: The zoning ordinance adoptions change review procedures and development standards that will be applied to future projects. The tax classification draft could affect landlords and housing availability if enacted. The rules change alters how the council fills board and committee vacancies.
Council action: The meeting record shows motions, seconds and votes for the items above. Vote tallies for some voice/hand votes were not read into the transcript; items were recorded as approved or adopted in the meeting minutes.
