Planning board OKs 2,442 sq. ft. garage at 985 Aquidneck Ave., grants setback variances and design waivers

The Town of Middletown Planning Board approved a combined preliminary and final plan for a proposed 2,442-square-foot commercial building at 985 Aquidneck Avenue on Feb. 12, granting two setback variances and waivers from commercial landscape-buffer rules after hearing technical testimony and objections from nearby residents.

The plan, filed by C Safe Holdings LLC, proposes a single-story garage/storage building and associated parking, landscaping and stormwater upgrades on a gravel lot currently used for contractor vehicle storage. The board voted to approve the application and attached two conditions from the town technical review: the applicant’s engineer must confirm that the bottom of the proposed closed sand filter will not intercept the groundwater table, and the sanitary sewer stub for the existing building that is to be abandoned must be capped and inspected per the Department of Public Works.

The approval followed a multi-hour public hearing that included sworn testimony from the applicant, technical witnesses and neighbors. The applicant’s representative, attorney Josh Parks, introduced the project and witnesses; property owner and applicant witness “Mr. Coe” described the building as intended to “put it all inside and clean the…