The Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals approved lot-area and lot-coverage variances for the parcel at 4–8 Franklin Street, allowing the purchaser to proceed toward Planning Board site-plan review while requiring the current owner to resolve an existing property violation.

San Wong, the purchaser, said he intends to build a multi-story structure and described constraints from prior zoning (UR3 to DMU). He told the board he is purchasing the property and that existing zoning requirements (a one-acre minimum) present difficulties for redevelopment. Staff told the board it had issued a violation to the current owner and asked for an engineering statement about a building that appears to be leaning on the adjacent property.

Board members applied the five-factor test and found the variances were not substantial in the record’s numeric terms (the lot-area shortfall on the record was 0.115 acres; lot coverage was 3% over requirement) and concluded the board could grant relief. The motion to approve, made by Tracy and seconded by Wendy, passed with affirmative votes from all members present. Counsel instructed that the owner address the violation and then proceed with Planning Board site-plan review.

The purchaser emphasized he is not yet the owner and that the current owner must address the cited violation; the Planning Board will consider site-plan details after code-violation issues are resolved.