Proposed Zoning Changes May Allow Seasonal, Special Events Signs

Ronald Wolanski, Director of Planning and Economic Development, has presented a proposed amendment that would allow temporary, off-site signs.

Middletown small businesses and special events might be allowed to use temporary or seasonal signs in the future, according to Ronald Wolanski, director of planning and economic development. In the first public hearing to the Town Council on Monday evening, he explained that although events such as those hosted by the Norman Bird Sanctuary, have used such signs to direct people to parking in the past, they technically violated zoning codes.   The Planning Board has recommended that the council approve an amendment to the existing ordinance that would permit such signage.   “They apply for the special events license, so this would be like an extension of that,” said Wolanksi after the meeting. An application would be submitted for …

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5 Things To Know Today

Wednesday: Planning Board Meeting and Nature's Still Life

A look at what's happening in and around Middletown today.

The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will host Nature’s Still Life, an opportunity for artists to come together to paint or draw a still life scene offered by the refuge. No instruction is provided and all levels are welcome. The program begins at 10 a.m. and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Participation is free. The Middletown Planning Board will hold its monthly meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. The Middletown Recreation Department’s Men’s Pick-up Basketball League will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. at Gaudet Middle School. Participants must be 18 years or older and the cost is $5 per session or $20 for a season pass. St. Michael’s Country Day School is holding an Open House …

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5 Things To Know Today

Wednesday: Men's Pick-up Basketball and Planning Board Meeting

A look at what's happening in and around Middletown today.

The Middletown Planning Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. The Middletown Parks & Recreation Department’s Men’s Pick-Up Basketball will take place tonight and regularly on Wednesday and Friday (see full schedule for exceptions) at the Gaudet Middle School from 6 to 9 p.m. Pay as you play for $5 per session or buy a season pass for $20. Participants must be 18 years or older. Panera Bread will be offering a special Dine for Donations to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center from 5 to 8 p.m. today. Print out the flyer from our events calendar and bring it to Panera during these hours and they will donate 10 percent of your sale to the center. Afterwards, head over to …

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5 Things To Know Today

Today: Teens and Tweens Build Collages, Planning Board Talks Boat Ramp

Here's a look at 5 happenings in and around Middletown today.

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Letter to the Editor

Middletown Planning Board Member Defends Roundabouts Vote

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Middletown Planning Board member Richard Adams.

At the July 18 Middletown Town Council workshop, the Council was briefed by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) on options for improving the intersections of East and West Main Streets (2 Mile Corner) and West Main and Coddington Highway.  Two options were presented: 1) install additional traffic lanes and signals, and 2) install traffic roundabouts at both intersections. Previously, the Middletown Planning Board had voted unanimously to recommend the installation of modern roundabouts.  As a member of the Planning Board, it may be useful to explain how I arrived at my decision, especially since at least one member of the Town Council suggested that the Planning Board decision was reached in “10 - 15 minutes.”  I do not …

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Michael K Murphy

7:11 am on Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Jasper I recently sat pondering that intersection, and that would be high on my list of possible roundabout locations, you could actually take out the lights at Wyatt rd, and Aquidneck put in one turn for the Bank & DD, etc. and that may work musch better. Putting Back to Back Roundabouts at the junctions of the main traffic arteries on this Island is putting a lot of faith in "blanket" DOT …   more ›

Middletown Planning Board Recommends Roundabouts for West Main Road

The Middletown Planning Board issued the advisory opinion Wednesday night after hearing from residents for and against the Rhode Island Department of Transportation proposal.

Proposed roundabout traffic circles for West Main Road picked up key support Wednesday night before heading to the Town Council for a final vote. In an advisory opinion, the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend that the town replace signalized lights at the corners of Coddington Highway and East Main Road at Two-Mile Corner with roundabout traffic circles, instead of installing new lights with realigned intersections. The opinion was handed down after discussing data and statistics on safety, traffic fatalities and traffic flow models, as well as overall community satisfaction in communities across the United States where roundabouts have been installed. The Planning Board also heard from four residents who equally favored and …

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West Main Roundabout Proposal Gets Public Hearing Tonight [VIDEO]

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation proposal goes before the Middletown Planning Board tonight for a recommendation on whether the town should proceed with the project.

Few people in town would disagree that West Main Road's Coddington Highway and Two-Mile Corner junctions can get a little hairy. As Middletown considers two very different options for improving those intersections, now is the time for the public to weigh in on proposed roundabout traffic circles. Tonight, the Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing at Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. to gather input on the proposal from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). Despite some concerns over authority, procedures, effectiveness and lack of public input to date, the Middletown Town Council last month voted to allow the proposal for traffic circle roundabouts at Two-Mile Corner and Coddington Highway to proceed for public review at tonight'…

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