Zoning Board Blocks Last-Ditch Effort to Save Historic Middletown Land

Neighborhood activist Ed McKeon implored the city planning and zoning commission Wednesday to " in an impassioned plea to change the zoning code in two areas of Middletown from commercial to residential.

Their response was to promptly reject the motion after more than a dozen residents spoke for two hours in support of the plan.

McKeon's proposal was a last-ditch effort to block developer Centerplan Company's drive-through retail-residential complex approved two weeks ago by the board. It would prevent most properties immediately adjacent to Wesleyan University and Middlesex and Connecticut Valley hospitals from being used for anything except residential in the future.

If passed, McKeon's amendment would have protected a block of Washington Street (from High Street to Pearl Street) from being developed by Robert Landino and Centerplan Companies.

In attendance were Chair Richard Pelletier, Vice Chair Nicholas Fazzino, Secretary Joyce Rossitter, members Les Adams, Michael Johnson, Daniel Russo and Molly Salafia, and alternates Elizabeth R. Emery and Ken McClellan.

Six residents spoke in opposition to the zoning proposal, including Diana Roberts-Paschall, who has power of attorney over her 103-year-old aunt's home at 80 Crescent Street, part of the institutional development zone.

She reluctantly spoke this evening, saying she had supported the opposition to Centerplan's zoning proposal but was compelled to speak on behalf of her family. Her aunt, a Saraceno, Roberts-Paschall said, like other family members "always lived near their businesses."

However, Roberts-Paschall has had the home appraised for sale and told the commission, "there is a $100,000 difference in residential versus commercial value." 

Deputy Director Department of Planning, Conservation and Development Michiel Wackers read a letter from the Indian Hill Cemetery Association and Wesleyan University urging the commission to reject the proposed amendment.

Public session was closed at 9:18 p.m. and then reopened a minute later to allow PZC alternate Ken McClellan to speak as a resident. He reminded the commission he would not be voting, then said he would have voted against McKeon's proposal "because it does restrict the rights of property owners."

The public session was closed again at 9:21 p.m. and Fazzino entertained a motion to deny the zoning code text amendment, which resulted in confusion among commissioners.

Commissioner Salafia spoke up, reading the full proposed change then asking for members to vote yes. None spoke. Then, a unanimous "no" was recorded all around.

Outside in the lobby of city hall, McKeon was matter-of-fact about the vote.

"What happened is what I expected to happen. I was shocked there was no discussion. I was shocked it was a unanimous vote. I was shocked at their disregard for public opinion," he said.

"I don't know that they have a great sense of public duty. I suspect their minds were made up before the hearing — without any debate, without any discussion, they miraculously came to the same conclusion."