Middletown Takes Action On Future Hookah Lounges, Nightclubs

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Future hookah lounges and night clubs have been banned by the Planning and Zoning Commission in Middletown.

On Wednesday, May 24, Middletown’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the zoning text amendment that banned future hookah lounges and nightclubs.

During the meeting, city planner and director of land use Marek Kozikowski presented the application. He said the amendment would address special exception uses for recreation businesses that don’t have standards, such as hookah lounges and nightclubs.

The zoning text amendment comes after Jonathan Semidey Jr., 20, of New Britain, died after a shooting at the Hidden Hookah Lounge parking lot on May 21.

However, Kozikowski said the text amendment wasn’t a response to the fatal shooting, but the language had been proposed at the end of April.

Several people spoke in favor of the text amendment during the May 24 P&Z meeting, including business owners, residents and city officials.

Chad Spooner, the owner of the two brick buildings next door to Hidden Hookah Lounge, said the hookah lounge on South Main Street had been “extremely disruptive to my business.”

Bobbye Knoll-Peterson, acting director of Economic Community Development and Chief of Staff, spoke about prior night clubs that were in Middletown and the troubles they’ve caused. She supported the amendment and believed it would contribute to the success of Middletown.

Chief of Police Eric Costa said he also supported the amendment.