The #MiddletownRI Town Council holds its first public hearing Tuesday on proposed changes to help clear the way for Middletown Center at 600-740 West Main Road. No decisions were made and the next hearing is Sept. 30 at 6 pm in the high school cafetorium.
MIDDLETOWN CENTER HEARINGS UNDERWAY
MIDDLETOWN, RI (SEPTEMBER 16, 2025) – The Middletown Center project got its first public hearing Tuesday night before the Town Council.
In front of a full crowd in the Middletown High cafetorium, local leaders heard continued pushback on the mixed residential-commercial development at 600-740 West Main Road.
Opening the meeting, development attorney Girard Galvin said the project incorporated about 30 concessions requested by the Planning Board in late April as part of the latest proposal.
Galvin said the four areas where the developers couldn’t make concessions were not allowing a restaurant to serve alcohol by right, not allowing a drive thru for a bank, restrictions on signage and stormwater mitigation that exceeded state standards.
Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said the town planned on moving the open space and recreational portion of the project about 200 yards north on West Main Road to the area where the former Kennedy School is now. Currently, the West Main Road Recreational Complex is 3.8 acres and the new park around would be 4.8 acres. He said the new park was contemplated to include a memorial to Sgt. Christopher Potts, a playground, concert half shell, walking paths and other amenities. The Middletown Center Citizens Advisory Committee (MCCAC) was in the process of designing a plan, which would come before the council for review.
Town Solicitor Peter Regan said the town was working on securing approvals to relocate deed restrictions on the West Main Road Recreational Complex — including Pottsy Field — to the new park area and the remainder to the Hoogendoorn Nurseries site on Turner Road.
The council made no decisions before the audience of about 175 residents. The second reading of each of the proposed zoning and comprehensive plan amendments is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 6 pm in the high school at 130 Valley Road.
The public hearings remain open and additional public input will be accepted during that meeting.
Middletown’s desire to reuse the 15 acres has been well known since 2008.
That’s when the Navy first announced plans to excess a number of its properties across Aquidneck Island. This included the former Navy Lodge, the 3.25-acre site now owned by the town at the corner of Coddington Highway and West Main Road.
In addition to the former lodge land, the proposed development site incorporates the West Main Road Recreational Complex, the Middletown Public Library and former Kennedy School locations.
In response to a Request for Information from the town in September 2021, a trio of local developers — Chris Bicho, James Karam and Rocky Kempenaar — were selected to redo the parcel.
Town officials said of the submitted applications, their mixed commercial and residential concept would bring needed revenues as well as provide housing, jobs and important open spaces on the west side of Middletown.
In addition to 150 apartments and a public park, the project featured a 144-room hotel, retail space and related amenities. Based on town projections, Middletown Center was expected to generate more than $1.1 million in new revenues for the town.
More recently, the project has sparked concerns. Those include that another hotel and bank weren’t needed and would strain the existing infrastructure further. They have also said the project was desecrating the Potts’ memory.
In response, proponents have said the development was needed to provide people places to live, work and play. And the plan from the beginning was for the town to create a lasting memorial to Potts, work that’s being overseen by the MCCAC.
The proposal was not well received by the vast majority of those on hand for the four-hour hearing.
From the prospect of the town losing important open space to not getting enough from the deal, concerns about desecrating a memorial to fallen soldier to impacts on traffic, infrastructure and more, essentially every speaker was against the concept.
“No one wants more hotels, no one wants this,” resident Phil Roberson said. “No one wants more traffic on West Main Road.”
“I think what you need to do is say goodbye gentlemen, find another place,” resident Carol Cummings added.
Jerri K. Evans, sister of US Army Sgt. Christopher Potts, said her family was not in favor of the plans. Potts was killed in October 2004 serving in Taji, Iraq and the Pottsy Field complex was dedicated in his honor.
“I didn’t intend on speaking tonight, I just wanted to go on the record as Sgt. Christopher Potts sister and as the family, we do not support this…” Evans said to the standing applause of much in the audience. “I just want you all to know that I appreciate all of this community’s support…This land for the family is sacred. This is where I watched my brother play ball on the third base line. Anybody putting anything on it takes that away.”
“As Town Council members, you really don’t have a difficult decision to make…” resident Kim Blass said. “When you are no longer in these seats, your residents, your friends, your neighbors and your family will always remind you what a bad decision you made not the good things you’ve accomplished as Town Council members.”
“Why are you even considering changing these documents to favor developers against residents’ wishes?” resident Karen Biastre asked. “Does Middletown need another hotel and another bank? Or does Middletown need affordable housing for people earning under 80 percent of the area medium income? Our 15 acres should be preserved for open space and recreation on the west side and utilized responsibly for true affordable housing for all populations in need in our town.”
Former Town Councilwoman Karen Roarke thanked the council for their work, time and dedication to the entire community. But she said the project before the town wasn’t right for Middletown, now or in the future.
“I’m not saying development can’t happen,” Roarke said. “I am saying it should be what we want in the town. It should be according to our town regulations. We shouldn’t be doing an overlay that helps people skip over (the town’s process).”
Even if the current round of zoning amendments before the council were approved, town officials said construction of Middletown Center was not imminent.
That’s because there’s still a gauntlet of requirements for the town and developers to complete before the $103 million plus project gets to the building phase.
Town officials said should the council approve the zoning amendments, they will not take effect until use restrictions on the West Main Road Recreational Complex are removed. And a development application cannot be considered until the new zoning is in effect.
Specifically, the following steps are necessary for the Middletown Center project to proceed to construction:
- The Town Council considers and adopts zoning amendments (Subject to removal/relocation of land use restrictions on the recreational parcel).
- The town completes and submits application(s) to seek approval from the federal government and state Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to remove/relocate restrictions from the recreational parcel.
- The federal government/RIDEM review and approval of request to remove/relocate recreation restrictions (The zoning amendments take effect once approved).
- The town and developers enter into formal lease agreement (This could happen later, such as after Planning Board approval)
- The developers submit Master Plan application for a Major Land Development Project to Planning Board.
- The Planning Board holds a public hearing (advertised and abutters notified) and considers approval of the Master Plan.
- If the Master Plan is approved, the developers prepare and submit a Preliminary Plan application for Planning Board consideration. There is no public hearing for the Preliminary Plan application, but abutters will be notified of the date of the Planning Board meeting.
- If the Preliminary Plan is approved, the applicant addresses any conditions of that approval, secures state permits (Rhode Island Department of Transportation and RIDEM), and then submits a Final Plan application for approval. Final Plan approval is administrative — review by the Planning Board is not required.
- Once Final Plan approval is granted and the approved plans are recorded, the developers can seek building permits.
Document Link: https://mdl.town/MC-PH91625
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Peter Regan
Town Solicitor
401-849-3040
pregan@srt-law.com