Middletown council backs Portsmouth-led resolution challenging 2025 state housing changes
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Summary
After public testimony from Portsmouth officials and Middletown residents, the council adopted a resolution asking the General Assembly for greater collaboration and raising the prospect of joint legal review of 2025 state affordable housing laws; supporters cited loss of local control and infrastructure concerns while some residents warned the resolution could hinder affordable-housing efforts.
The Middletown Town Council voted to adopt a resolution modeled on a Portsmouth measure that urges state lawmakers to reconsider several 2025 changes to Rhode Island's affordable housing laws and to work collaboratively with municipalities on implementation.
The resolution was introduced by the council president (speaker 1) as an effort to protect local character while acknowledging the need for housing. Supporters from Portsmouth and local residents filled the public-comment period. Larry Fitzmaurice (speaker 15) and David Gleason, vice president of the Portsmouth Town Council (speaker 6), urged Middletown to join a joint municipal response, arguing that the recent state statutory changes limit local discretionary authority on zoning and planning and could impose higher-density development without adequate analysis of infrastructure impacts. Fitzmaurice said affected towns were considering two legal actions: seeking temporary injunctions and pursuing constitutional review on home-rule grounds.
Local residents who addressed the council echoed those concerns. Mike Flynn (speaker 17) and Alicia Reyes (speaker 19) said the state's one-size-fits-all approach risks overtaxing local sewer, water and public-safety systems, and could undermine property rights. Bill Welch (speaker 18) described the changes as an erosion of home rule and urged the council to speak for residents.
Not all public commenters supported the resolution. Lawrence Frank (speaker 20) told the council that singling out low- and moderate-income housing for special scrutiny while large market-rate pipelines continue may be inconsistent and could penalize housing for people with limited incomes; he criticized local practice on past projects as inconsistent with the resolution's premise.
Councilors discussed the legal and financial implications of joining the effort. Solicitor and councilors noted that some changes in state law were mandatory and already incorporated into local zoning; they asked whether the town would be committing to litigation or a budgetary contribution. Portsmouth representatives said they had begun exploratory contact with litigators and hoped participating towns would determine financial contributions later. Several councilors suggested the town could endorse parts of Portsmouth's resolution or draft a local version to reflect Middletown's priorities; others favored joining the joint statement as a show of regional support.
After debate the council moved, seconded and approved the resolution on voice vote.
The resolution directs the town to join Portsmouth in reviewing the 2025 housing laws and to pursue collaborative steps with neighboring municipalities and state delegates; further administrative and legal steps will be determined by the council and town solicitor as the multi-town effort evolves.
