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Commission approves Vail Sports Club special exception allowing membership‑oriented brewery at 49 Randolph Road
Summary
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission granted a special exception for Vail Sports Club to add multiple uses, including a membership‑focused brewery at 49 Randolph Road, with a condition that brewery activities cease by 10:30 p.m.; the vote was unanimous.
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to grant a special exception for Vail Sports Club, allowing a brewery with covered outdoor seating plus offices, retail, fitness and physical‑therapy uses at 49 Randolph Road.
Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano moved to approve SE2024‑10 and included a condition limiting brewery activity. As Giuliano said during the motion, "to include the the condition that, all activities pertaining to the brewery will will cease by 10:30PM." The motion carried with no recorded opposition.
Attorney Sylvia Rutkowski and owner Zach Edinger presented an amended narrative and supporting materials, saying the project repurposes an existing 26,000‑square‑foot former CL&P building. Edinger described the brewery as "geared for the membership and their families and friends," not a late‑night bar, and said the club provided community benefits including scholarships. "I believe last year we did about $80,000 in scholarships for the All Children Play initiative," he told the commission.
Operator Rocco LaMonica said the brewery would primarily serve attendees of sports events and local members. "We have no desire to be there past 11:00," LaMonica said when commissioners pressed for clarity on closing times; the commission ultimately recorded a 10:30 p.m. cut‑off as a condition of approval.
The application included traffic and parking analysis that, according to the applicant, found existing road capacity and three site entrances would accommodate the proposed uses. The applicant also submitted letters of support: the packet included 10 letters and the applicant said seven additional letters arrived the day of the meeting, including endorsements from Middlesex Health and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners framed approval around neighborhood outreach and the applicant's willingness to incorporate staff conditions during permitting. The action was limited to approval of the special exception; site plan details and construction timelines remain subject to the city's review and permit process.
The commission closed the public hearing before voting and recorded the condition on hours as part of the approval. No appeal or enforcement details were discussed at the vote.
