Hearing on adding outdoor recreational facilities to M zone continued so staff can add noise standard

The Middletown Zoning Commission heard a petition from the city to amend the zoning code to allow outdoor recreational facilities as a special exception in the M zone and continued the public hearing to allow staff to add a specific noise standard.

Director Mary Kazakowski introduced petition Z‑26‑3, explaining the proposed amendment would add outdoor recreational facilities to the M zone's use table and rely on existing special exception standards for traffic mitigation, crowd management, lighting, buffers and other safeguards. "This use is an establishment, where a fee is paid for participating in activities, events, or programs related to sports, athletics, or leisure conducted primarily outdoors," Kazakowski said during her presentation.

Commissioner Elizabeth Emery said the record should include a clear noise standard to protect nearby residential areas and cited examples such as pickleball and concerts. "I would like to see at least something that references back to those provisions," Emery said, asking for an explicit standard or a cross‑reference to existing noise protections. Kazakowski agreed she would draft language adding a noise standard and recommended keeping the public hearing open to allow staff time to amend the petition.

The commission voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to the May 27 meeting to permit staff to add noise language and return with the amended proposal. Commissioners indicated they want to ensure the special exception criteria explicitly address off‑site impacts such as noise when outdoor recreational uses are proposed in or near residential areas.

Next steps: staff will draft proposed noise language or a cross‑reference to existing noise provisions and present the amended petition at the May 27 public hearing.