THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.

At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI in person, on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

Present:

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding

Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III

Councillor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.

Councillor Christopher M. Logan

Councillor Dennis B. Turano

Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present

Absent:

Councillor Charles R. Roberts

POSTED – April 23, 2025

SPECIAL MEETING – April 28, 2025

The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a special meeting to be held on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person, by telephone conference call/ webinar, members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 820 5494 4671 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82054944671

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Town Clerk

Town of Middletown

Town Hall – 350 East Main Road

Middletown, Rhode Island 02842

Dear Ms. Marshall:

Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

1. Presentation by the Development Team of Pennrose, Union Studio, and Horsley Witten on Improving the Town’s application to RI Housing for tax credits - Affordable Housing – Green End Avenue & Oliphant Lane.

2. Resolution of the Council, re: Authorizing Pennrose LLC to proceed with the revised plan, presented April 28, 2025 for 650 Green End Avenue and 26 Oliphant Lane, authorizing the Town Solicitor and Town Administrator to revise and execute all legal documents to reflect the details of the new plan proposed by Pennrose LLC, and Pennrose will resubmit the revised and improved plans to the Planning Board for Preliminary review and resubmit the town’s plan for affordable housing to RI Housing for financing in the spring of 2026.

3. Resolution of the Council, re: Enabling Legislation to increase Hotel Tax.

Said meeting will be held at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

____________________________________

Paul M. Rodrigues, President

Middletown Town Council

cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director

Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee

This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before this meeting.

Posted on April 23, 2025 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library and Secretary of State Web Site.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said presentation.

Frank Spinella, FJS Associates, was present to answer Council inquires.

Karmen Cheung, Pennrose, Head of the New England Team, Rebecca Schofield, Pennrose, Developer, addressed the Council presenting a power point presentation, which is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.

Discussion centered around parking at the Green End Avenue and Oliphant School locations, concern by the Council that the building height was too high and not enough parking at the Green End Avenue location, location of additional parking at Green End Avenue location, how Pennrose calculates parking for housing and eliminating the gym at the Green End Avenue location.

John Brereton, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with the traffic increasing on West Main Road and Oliphant Lane, due to the placement of Affordable Housing on Oliphant Lane. Mr. Brereton also noted that the traffic may increase due to the additional housing currently being built on West Main Road and the West Main Road Town Center project.

Kim Blass, Middletown, read the following into the record:

Enter here

Denise Lyons, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring if the Town is denied by Rhode Island Housing after this application, will the Town be considering making the project on Green End Avenue larger?

Frank Spinella, FJS Associates, noted that the current plan for Green End Avenue is competitive for the application.

Ruth Donahue, Middletown, addressed the Council speaking in favor of the proposed affordable housing projects, noting she has many friends with housing insecurity.

Lawrence Frank, Middletown, addressed the Council, reading the following into the record:

Enter here

Arlene Kaull, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with the parking at the Green End Avenue location. Ms. Kaull explained that currently the parking lot is insufficient for the Senior Center and the baseball leagues.

Charles Aboyoun, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with insufficient parking and the height of the building at the Green End Avenue location.

Ronald Augustus, Middletown, addressed the Council noting that the Berkeley Peckham gym should be used for programs at the Senior Center. Mr. Agustus explained that the Land Trust has taken away open space that could be used for housing and short-term rentals are taking away housing for families and increasing housing costs.

Vanessa Ellerman, Middletown, addressed the Council reading the following into the record:

Enter here

Frank Coyne, Middletown, inquired if there are zoning issues at the Green End Avenue location.

Frank Spinella, FJS Associates, noted that zoning relief will be required for height and density if the Council approves the proposed plan.

Scott Jestings, Middletown, addressed the Council noted concern with the traffic on West Main Road and Oliphant Lane explaining drivers cut the corner by the church at the intersection of West Main Road and Oliphant Lane. Mr. Jestings believes that this is a serious situation.

James Ingrim, Middletown, addressed the Council noted concern with the traffic on West Main Road and Oliphant Lane, especially after a driver hit the wall at the church.

Councillor Logan noted that he cannot support the projects. Mr. Logan explained that the state is not taking into consideration the Town’s needs, there is just not enough parking.

Vice President Welch noted agreement with Councillor Logan. Mr. Welch explained he cannot vote for this project, nothing is perfect in all locations, and it is not the job of the Town to be property managers.

Councillor Turano noted that he has been working on affordable housing for years, it is a problem that we need to fix, otherwise the state will tell us where to put the housing.

Councillor Connerton noted that he does not think he can support the project. Mr. Connerton agrees with Councillor Logan, that there is too much for the area and too little space.

Councillor VonVillas noted that many of the issues for the project can be addressed as the projects proceed. Ms. VonVillas noted support for the project.

Council President Rodrigues noted that he cannot support the projects. Mr. Rodrigues explained that the parking, traffic and size of the Green End Avenue building is an issue.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, to pass said resolution.

Discussion centered around that Pennrose did a nice job on the projects and if the Town can resubmit the original project plan (the two-story plan) to Rhode Island Housing and resubmitting the original plan is not practical and unlikely to be funded.

A vote was taken.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, to pass said resolution; Councillor Turano and Councillor VonVillas voted YES; Council President Rodrigues, Vice President Welch, Councillor Connerton and Councillor Logan voted NO to said motion; MOTION FAILED TO PASS.

Councillor VonVillas noted that parking is the most crucial and supports the issue, but is not in favor of what the projects look like. Ms. VonVillas explained the project should have been passed to help the people.

3. Resolution of the Council, re: Enabling Legislation to increase Hotel Tax.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, to pass said resolution.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown addressed the Council noting that at the last Town Council Meeting the Town Council voted to submit legislation to increase the Hotel Tax and authorize the Town Administrator and Town Solicitor to work with other communities that may be interested in the same. Mr. Brown explained this would add non-tax revenue, legislation is being drafted, and this resolution is the beginning of the process.

Mark Donahue, Middletown, addressed the Council speaking in favor of the proposed legislation and inquired if the short-term rentals are included in this proposed legislation.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown noted that the short-term rentals are responsible for this tax.

A vote was taken.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to pass said resolution.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 7:33 p.m.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Council Clerk

supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri