Hookah Lounge Special Exception Revoked By Middletown P&Z Commision

MIDDLETOWN, CT – The special exception approval of a recreational facility for a hookah lounge establishment has been revoked by Middletown’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

“The request to revoke are few and far between, and it is my first in my career as a planner,” Marek Kozikowski said, director of land use.

Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to revoke the special exception for the hookah lounge at 695 South Main St. during their meeting on Thursday, June 22.

In a letter to the planning and zoning commission, Song Chen, owner of 695 South Main St., said he did not object to the termination of the special exception, understanding that hookah lounges will no longer be permitted or legal use at the property after it is revoked.

The request to revoke the special exception at 695 South Main St. came from Middletown Police Department Chief Erik Costa.

Marek Kozikowski said that in 2021 the planning and zoning commission reviewed the application over two meetings and approved the facility under the code as a recreational facility but to accommodate a hookah lounge club at this location.

“Since the approval, there have been two hookah lounge operators out of that space, but it turns out there were problems that existed across both tenants of that establishment,” he said.

Kozikowski said there have been many complaints from neighboring business owners, property owners, and residents about late-night hours, loud noises, fights, littering and unfavorable behavior.

“Aside from complaints from the residence, there has been referenced over 100 calls to the police about things going on at this operation,” he said.

During the meeting, Costa provided a list of those calls to the planning and zoning commission, including shootings, fighting and loud noises.

On the list of calls Costa provided was the call they received around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 21, for a fatal shooting.

Costa said many businesses stay open late at night and serve liquor and food. He said they get called from time to time to those businesses, but he said those problems are less severe than the hookah lounge.

“I’m not saying in its intents and purpose can’t be successful in the city,” he said. “But the way they currently run it’s not, and it’s proven it’s not.”

Alternate Commissioner Tyler Eckstrom said the issue could be revisited later, or a different business could take up that location. Still, the commission needs to help to keep the area safe.

“It was quite enlightening how much goes on here,” he said. “I had no idea much was happening in this hookah lounge area.”

Kozikowski said a specific requirement they believe is being challenged is that the use will not adversely affect the area's health and residents and workers and will not be detrimental to the use or development of adjacent properties or the general neighborhood.

“Given the amount of public outcry and complaints that occurred at this establishment and given the number and frequency the police needed to visit the site and given the frequency of violence, it seems like the revoking of the special exception seems warranted,” he said.