The purpose of these regulations is to encourage the appropriate use of land for the development of motels and hotels and to provide well-designed and convenient tourist accommodations within the town.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   No building permit shall be granted for the construction of a motel or hotel until a land development project application is approved in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Middletown Rules and Regulations Regarding the Subdivision and Development of Land.

   The following standards of development shall apply to all motels and hotels.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   Minimum zoning lot size for a hotel or motel use shall be as set forth in § 603. In addition, no hotel or motel shall provide less than 1,000 square feet of land per room or unit.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   No individual motel unit or hotel room shall be erected or altered so as to have a floor area of less than 240 square feet, including bathroom and closet space.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   In all zoning districts where permitted, a minimum ten-foot wide landscaped or natural buffer zone shall be required along all property lines and no building, parking area or aboveground structure shall be permitted in any such buffer zone; provided, that wherever such buffer zone abuts a nonresidential zoning district or use, the Zoning Board of Review may allow such buffer zone to be used for these purposes. Along street lines, a minimum ten-foot buffer zone shall be required, except for necessary access driveways. Such buffer zones shall be planted with natural landscape materials, screen planting, fencing or trees so as to provide a natural buffer between hotel and motel uses and adjacent streets or property.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   Where public sewers or public water lines exist, any motel or hotel use shall be required, at its own expense, to connect to such utilities. Where such sewers or water lines are not available, but are planned or shall be extended to serve the development, the Zoning Board may prescribe, as a condition of approval, that such utilities be provided at the developer's expense. The applicant is required to obtain evidence that the public water lines have adequate capacity to service the motel or hotel and that the sewer system has adequate capacity to transmit and treat wastewater generated from the project. At the discretion of the Public Works Director, a holding tank, capable of storing the anticipated 24-hour sewer flow from the project may be required.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   Individual rooms or units in a hotel or motel are permitted to contain kitchen facilities, kitchenettes or kitchen/dining areas intended for the exclusive use of transient guests, subject to the following provisions:

   (A)   Kitchen facilities shall not be designed or used for the provision of housekeeping facilities capable of long-term residential use;

   (B)   Kitchen facilities shall be clearly subordinate to the principal use for transient sleeping and bath accommodations;

   (C)   No more than 50% of the rooms or units in a hotel or motel shall contain kitchen facilities;

   (D)   Extended stay hotels or motels may incorporate kitchen facilities in all rooms.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)

   Any use normally associated with, and subordinate to, the principal use of the premises for hotel and motel accommodations, including but not limited to necessary office, recreation, parking and maintenance areas, lunchroom, restaurant, cocktail lounge or gift shop shall be considered an accessory use. The total floor area of all interior accessory uses shall not exceed 20% of the floor area of the principal use.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06)