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Planning commission approves conversion at 170 Pearl, surplus property sale and two Eversource easements (all unanimous)
Summary
At its July 3 meeting the Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved (1) a change from commercial to two residential units at 170 Pearl Street, (2) an affirmative CGS 8-24 report for sale of surplus city property at 210 Dripps Road (historic house with deed restrictions), and (3–4) two electrical-distribution easements to Eversource needed for local development and a solar array; all motions passed unanimously.
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission on July 3 approved four additional new-business items in unanimous votes.
170 Pearl Street (item 8.2): William Goodman, the applicant, requested a change in nonconforming use to convert a vacant 1,500-square-foot commercial storefront into two residential units at 170 Pearl St. Staff described the property as in the RPZ (primarily single-family) zone and noted converting the space would reduce nonconformity because residential demand yields fewer parking requirements than retail. Commissioners required appropriate legal access for the rear unit (easement or other instrument) as a condition; the motion to approve (SPR2024-140) passed unanimously.
210 Dripps Road (item 8.3): Brian Gartner presented an affirmative CGS 8-24 report request for the sale of city surplus property at 210 Dripps Road, a house constructed in the 1700s that will remain subject to deed restrictions requiring its historic character be maintained in perpetuity. The commission voted unanimously to issue an affirmative report (GS8-24-2024-15).
Eversource easements (items 8.4 and 8.5): Commissioners approved two affirmative GS 8-24 reports for electrical distribution easements to Eversource — a 2,654-square-foot easement on city property at 180 Johnson Street to serve a planned solar array on the landfill (GS8-24-2024-16), and a 2,590-square-foot easement adjacent to Main Street to provide additional distribution capacity for a redevelopment at 545 Main Street (GS8-24-2024-17). Staff explained the easements were necessary to accommodate planned site utilities; both motions passed unanimously.
Public-record next steps: applicants and staff will complete routine technical and legal items (easement documents, an access easement or license for 170 Pearl's rear unit if required, and any final engineering conditions) before permits or conveyances are finalized.
Votes at a glance: 8.1 — site plan approval for 95,000 sq ft Shellco Filters facility (approved, SPR2024-134); 8.2 — 170 Pearl Street conversion (approved, SPR2024-140); 8.3 — affirmative CGS 8-24 sale report for 210 Dripps Road (approved); 8.4 — Eversource 2,654 sq ft easement at 180 Johnson Street (approved); 8.5 — Eversource 2,590 sq ft easement near Main Street (approved).
