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Board approves 9.5-foot driveway variance at 192 South Main Street amid owner safety concerns
Summary
Middletown's land-use board approved a variance to permit a 9.5-foot driveway at 192 South Main Street after hearing from the property owner and a tenant who opposed the narrower drive as a safety hazard.
The land-use board approved a variance to allow a 9.5-foot driveway at 192 South Main Street (file V-2024-9). The motion passed on a roll-call vote; recorded members voting in favor included Nicholas Figaro, Linda Garrino, Kelly Grippo and Christine Ripstock.
Mark Aronson, owner of 192 South Main Street, described part A and part B of the applicants' agreement and said the application includes an alternative plan. "If we make two 9.5-foot driveways, I assure you, you will not make the problem go away," Aronson said, warning that narrow driveways that abut buildings risk collisions and could impede larger emergency vehicles. He told the board he and others were exhausted by the long-running dispute and asked the board to approve either option to resolve litigation and allow the properties to move on.
Staff reviewed zoning sections governing driveway widths and told the board that entrance and exit driveways are governed by Section 4.19.0.5. Staff also noted the town accepted one parcel's impervious coverage at 100 percent and the other slightly lower. After deliberation the board voted to approve the variance as proposed in the application.
