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Zoning board approves two‑family on substandard Dexter Street lot despite neighbor objections
Summary
After testimony from an expert witness and multiple neighbors, the board approved a two‑family dwelling at 0 Dexter Street on a preexisting substandard lot by a 5–0 vote.
The Town of Middletown Zoning Board approved a petition to construct a two‑family dwelling at 0 Dexter Street on a substandard lot after hearing testimony from the applicant’s attorney and a real‑estate expert and receiving multiple neighbor objections about drainage, parking and potential soil contamination.
Attorney Jay Lynch told the board the proposal meets setbacks, height, lot coverage and parking requirements; the only relief sought relates to the lot area and frontage required to allow two‑family use in the code. Real‑estate witness James Houle — whom the board recognized as an expert — testified the lot is a preexisting substandard lot of record; Houle said the immediate area is transitional, with commercial buildings nearby and existing multifamily structures on adjoining streets, and concluded the proposal would not alter neighborhood character.
Neighbors who opposed the petition cited possible adverse impacts. Amber Crockett said the planned structure "would significantly compromise the privacy of the neighboring homes, while also casting long shadows that would block the morning sun and limit natural sunlight for much of the day." Chris Peterson raised concerns about historical commercial use of the parcel and asked whether the soil had been tested for gasoline and other contaminants; Jenny Laundon, owner of an abutting commercial building, asked about landscaping buffers and parking capacity.
Board members discussed that a single‑family house of comparable dimensions could be built by right on the lot and that site‑specific stormwater and construction controls would be addressed during building‑permit review. After deliberation a motion to approve the requested variances was made and passed 5–0.
The board’s approval allows the owner to seek building permits, subject to the town’s standard erosion, stormwater and building‑permit requirements. The record shows neighbors requested soil testing and mitigation be considered during the building permit process; the board noted such measures fall under building‑permit and environmental review rather than the zoning variance decision.
