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Commissioners approve special exception to convert historic building at 33 Pleasant St. with strict parking and occupancy conditions
Summary
The planning & zoning commission granted a special exception to convert the former Masonic building at 33 Pleasant St. into mixed use — two 5‑bedroom residential units, ground‑floor retail and a large event space — subject to conditions including legal parking access, phased activation of the event space, occupancy limits and design‑review for façade changes.
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission approved a special exception allowing the conversion of a historic building at 33 Pleasant Street into mixed use, imposing conditions aimed at addressing parking and occupancy concerns. Applicant agent Soumya Mittal, representing Gritty Realty, described a phased plan that would add two five‑bedroom residential units on upper floors, first‑floor retail space and large multi‑purpose event space in the rear.
"I've been in love with this building since I saw it last year," Mittal said, describing plans to preserve historic elements while adding bathrooms and reusing the back hall as community event space. Staff and commissioners focused on legal access to roughly 15 rear parking spaces and on how event‑space demand would be managed. Director Kozlikowski told the commission the applicant had not demonstrated legal access to the rear parking and recommended conditioning approval on securing that access before occupancy, and on securing additional off‑site parking before the event space is activated.
Commissioner Elizabeth Emery made the motion to approve the special exception; Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano seconded and proposed conditions that the commission adopted, including: legal access secured to the rear parking prior to occupancy; off‑site parking obtained and returned to the commission before event‑space activation; occupancy limits of five persons per residential unit; historic facade changes subject to the Design Review & Preservation Board; outstanding departmental comments addressed; a wayfinding plan submitted; fire and building department approvals obtained; and recording a certificate of special exception with the town clerk. The motion and amendments carried by voice vote.
