The Town Council shelves a plan to make short-term rentals receive a special-use permit from the town's zoning board before being allowed to open. That was one of several important items on the docket during a meeting Monday night. #MiddletownRI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
MIDDLETOWN MEETING MATTERS
MIDDLETOWN TOWN COUNCIL
When: Monday night.
Where: Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road.
Absent: None.
Of note, the council:
- Backed off a proposal to have all short-term rentals go to the Zoning Board of Review for a special-use permit, saying it was the wrong move at the wrong time. With more than 300 short-term rentals in town and the issue seemingly under control for now — minus isolated flare ups — council members agreed to collect data this summer to see if additional changes were needed. “If we get the data back at the end of the season and it’s atrocious, that’s the time to take action,” Councilman Christopher Logan said, who served on the town’s short-term rental study committee last summer.
- Accepted the resignation of Rick Lombardi from the town’s zoning board. Lombardi, the head of security at St. George’s School, is scheduled to become the town’s second zoning enforcement officer starting in July, joining Joe Emanuel in the building office.
- Named Tami Holden and Tom Kowalczyk to the town’s Outreach Subcommittee.
- Appointed Julian Peckham to the town’s Roads & Utilities Advisory Committee. Council Vice President Thomas P. Welch III noted that Peckham’s grandfather helped start the roads and utilities committee. “They have an incredible amount of knowledge about the infrastructure of this town,” Welch said.
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 5 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall.