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Committee declines to advance Orange Terrace subdivision after aldermen criticize variance
Summary
At an evening meeting, Middletown aldermen criticized a variance granted for the proposed four‑lot Orange Terrace subdivision and a motion to send the item to the full council for a public hearing failed for lack of a second.
At its evening meeting, the Middletown Economic and Community Development and Planning Committee did not advance a proposal for a four‑lot subdivision on Orange Terrace after several aldermen raised concerns about a variance that reduced a 75‑foot requirement.
Alderman Johnson told the committee the variance was the proposal's "linchpin," cited site drainage and retaining‑wall work, and urged the applicant to reconsider the plan. "If you really wanna be a good neighbor and show good faith to the city of Middletown that you're trying to make money in a grab and go, if you really wanna be a good neighbor, rescind your variance and build 3 lots," Johnson said.
Alderman Ray said neighbors have repeatedly attended planning and zoning hearings to express frustration and emphasized that the code sets precise measurements: "It says 75, and we have held so many people to that rule," Ray said, arguing that making exceptions threatens consistency. Ray also said the committee lacked authority to rescind the prior variance but urged the applicant to resubmit for three lots.
After discussion, the chair moved to refer the item to the full city council for authorization of a public hearing. The motion received no second and therefore did not move forward to tonight's council agenda. The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.
The discussion focused on enforcement of numeric standards in Middletown's code and on neighborhood character; drainage and retaining‑wall specifications at the site were cited as technical concerns. The committee did not vote on the subdivision itself, and no formal resubmission was filed during the meeting.
