Biking Ordinance Moves Forward

The Economic Development  Commission voted to send a proposed ordinance to create a Middletown Bicycle and Complete Streets Advisory Committee which will help develop "consistent City transportation policies relating to modes of transportation other than the automobile."

Several biking advocates were present at the meeting and three of them made persuasive arguments that the city needs to develop a cohesive and comprehensive approach to biking and pedestrian traffic.

"It's a no-brainer to develop multi-modal ways to get around," said resident John Elmore.  "We don't have to reinvent the wheel, or the shoe.  We can look at other communities which have developed the bike economy."

Elmore also read a letter from Middletown resident Jennifer Saines who expressed a concern that Middletown's development appears to have favored the convenience and speed of auto drivers while ignoring walkers and bikers.

Biking enthusiast Tim Roaix, who noted that he commutes by bike to Hartford on a regular basis, encouraged the EDC to make sure that any comprehensive biking plan includes cooperation with neighboring communities.  Bike advocate Beth Emery also advocated a comprehensive biking plan with a goal of making Middletown an official Bike Friendly community.

The plan, as presented by Planning, Conservation and Development staffer Erin Wilson, stated goals of establishing a Bike Committee of nine members (two Common Council members, one representative form Middletown Area Transit, one member of the Chamber of Commerce and five members from the community at large) and creating a bike plan.  The bike plan would establish a bikeway network, adopt bicycle friendly streets, promote a positive bike/transit relationship, and encourage safe bike commuting to schools.

The plan would be paid for with $5 million in federal transit money which was originally earmarked for a planned trolley on Main Steet, of which plan agency member David Bauer noted, appears to be "drip, drip, dripping away."

The agency voted unanimously and enthusiastically to move the proposed ordinance to the ordinance study commission before it's passed by the Common Council.

After some uncomfortable debate about a property on Portland Street which the city owns through foreclosure, the EDC voted to query the Public Works department about the property and suggest demolition.  The property is a set of buildings, one behind the other on a small parcel which has a street frontage of only 30 feet.

Commissioners expressed disbelief that four tenants could live comfortably and safely in the four units on the tiny parcel (though, no commissioner suggested that such a living condition is exactly the kind of density many cities seek in downtown development.)  Several commissioners expressed concern about the type of landlord who might purchase the building, and the dire condition of the neighborhood in general.

Commissioners couldn't imagine selling the property at deep-discount to a landlord who would find tenants and keep the property on the tax roles.  The property, like several others on Portland Street, is in poor condition, and is covered with asphalt shingles, and having been built in 1900, is likely a lead-paint risk.

Planning, Conservation and Development director Bill Warner also noted two potential new tenants for the Remington Rand building, Oak Ridge landscaping who would lease 1200 square feet at $4 per square foot and Gid Widman Painters, who would lease 2000 sq. ft and $4 per square foot.  The city would expend $2000 on new doors for the businesses, and another $3,000 to $4,000 for sewer and water connections.