PBN — Middletown zoning board approves special permit for beachside hotel

MIDDLETOWN ZONING officials approved a new 23-room hotel development on the border of Newport and Middletown. / COURTESY CORDTSEN DESIGN ARCHITECTURE

Oct 5, 2022

By Christopher Allen — The Middletown Zoning Board of Review on Tuesday unanimously approved a special use permit for Atlantic Beach Suites II LLC to construct a 23-unit four-story hotel on Wave Avenue, located on the border between Newport and Middletown, paving the way for a project first proposed in 2018.

The development required a special permit for its location in the Limited Business Zone and proximity to Zone 1 of the Watershed Protection District.

ABS principals Harry and Peter Kyriakides are commercial developers and the owners of the Atlantic Beach Hotel and Suites, which neighbors the development property, Ticket’s sports bar and the former KJ’s pub on Aquidneck Avenue.

The board held the special hearing to vet and vote on the proposal due to the significant public interest and requests from an organized opposition to the plan. A group of surrounding residents had expressed concern that another hotel in the area would increase traffic and stormwater runoff at the site, which sits adjacent to Easton’s Pond reservoir, part of Aquidneck Island’s water supply.

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