Council Backs Old Route 66 Rezoning for Belvedere Redevelopment

Litchfield City Council Meeting | May 21, 2026

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, May 21, 2026, unanimously rezoned two Old Historic Route 66 properties to commercial use, clearing the way for a developer to rehabilitate the former Belvedere motel and restaurant site.

Old Route 66 Rezoning Key Points:

• The council voted 7-0 to rezone 817 and 825 Old Historic Route 66 from S-2 single-family residential to C-2 community business district.
• The planning and zoning board recommended approval, unlike a separate Tyler Street request the council rejected the same night.
• The applicant, identified as Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing, plans to rehabilitate the former motel into short-term rentals and find an operator for the restaurant building.

LITCHFIELD — The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, May 21, 2026, voted 7-0 to rezone 817 and 825 Old Historic Route 66 (PINs 15-05-255-005, 15-05-255-007 and 15-05-255-008) from S-2 single-family residential to C-2 community business district. Alderperson Sara Zumwalt made the motion, and the planning and zoning board had recommended approval.

Vazquez said the proposal involves the old Belvedere site. Building Inspector Gary Baker described the redevelopment plan: a mechanic garage on the corner would remain — kept as a garage or, if it cannot be rented, used for interior storage — while the former motel would be rehabilitated into short-term rentals with larger units replacing the existing one-room layout. Baker said the applicant also hopes to rehabilitate the restaurant building and find someone to open and operate it as a restaurant. Vazquez identified the applicant as Blake Middleton, owner of Elite Roofing, who she said spoke to his experience flipping properties.

The vote came shortly after the council rejected a separate residential-to-commercial rezoning on Tyler Street, where the planning and zoning board had recommended denial.