Planning Board Refers 20 Preston St. Office Conversion to Zoning Board; Hearing Held Open

The Middletown Planning Board referred Sobo & Sobo’s application for 20 Preston Street to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 5, 2025, and kept the planning-board public hearing open pending the ZBA’s decision and submission of additional materials.

The applicant, Gary Sobo, told the board he plans to move mail-sorting operations and building-maintenance staff into the former car body shop and estimated a total of six people would work at the site. Planning Board attorney Mr. Krogan told the applicant that the board’s role was to refer the matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance because the existing building does not meet required setbacks.

Building inspector Mr. Martinez said a building-permit application is in place and he is awaiting approvals; fire inspector Mr. Witkowski reported no current objections. With no members of the public stepping forward to speak against the proposal, the board voted to keep the public hearing open for future consideration and to refer the application to the ZBA so the zoning questions could be resolved before any final planning approval.

The action is procedural: the planning board did not approve site changes or issue any variance itself but transmitted the application to the ZBA and retained jurisdiction over planning approval once the ZBA has acted. The applicant or the board may return the matter to a future planning-board meeting after the ZBA issues a determination.