Middletown project may finally begin

MIDDLETOWN — A housing development approved four years ago by the Town Council could break ground soon.

The Middletown group unanimously approved minor changes to the developer’s long-dormant plan at its Tuesday night meeting at the Town Hall.

A plan to develop 29 single-family homes on 10-plus acres southeast of Church and East 3rd streets would be largest housing development in the town since 1999, council member Mark Davis said.

Davis, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, wasn’t sure of a timeline for the work but said that Winchester-based Patton Harris Rust & Associates has indicated that it plans to move forward in the coming months.

Patton Harris Rust could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Davis said the increased revenue coming to the town once the homes are occupied would be helpful — especially the water and sewer fees to help with upgrades to the sewage treatment plant.

The council also unanimously approved a maximum $25,000 expenditure to replace pump equipment at the town’s sewage treatment plant.

Council member John Copeland said an engineering report from last year described the need for upgrades, and that the time has come to make the investment.

“The pumping units are very high maintenance, and a lot of time is spent manually dislodging materials,” he said.

Attending the meeting at Town Hall were interim Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV, council members Mark Davis and Donna Gray, and interim members Thomas Simon, Carole Snyder, John Copeland and Clarence “Trip” Chewning.

— Contact Conor Gallagher at cgallagher@winchesterstar.com