Hampton Planning Commission and City Council Meeting - February 15, 2018

The meeting began with the Hampton Planning Commission addressing routine approvals, zoning amendments for bed and breakfasts, and a use permit for a commercial communication tower. The City Council later convened to handle consent agenda items, public hearings on condemnation authority for road and drainage projects, and public comments on public safety and animal control. Key decisions included approval of three zoning ordinance amendments and deferral of the cell tower permit to March 15, 2018.

Consent Calendar

• Planning Commission: Approved the minutes of the November 16, 2017 and December 21, 2017 Planning Commission meetings unanimously.
• City Council: Approved a consent agenda consisting of items 1-8 and 10-12, which included appropriations for housing crisis grants, law enforcement equipment, VDOT road maintenance funds, budget adjustments, encroachments, utility easements, code amendments, and approval of six council meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Planning Commission: No public speakers signed up for the zoning ordinance amendments (ZOA 17-00009, 17-00010, 17-00016) or the use permit application (UP 17-00013).
• City Council – Public Hearings:
  • Item 15 (Pembroke Streetscape Phase 3): One speaker, Mr. Pickens, expressed concerns about the proposed design limiting tractor-trailer access to his business. He stated he was working with staff to find a solution.
  • Item 16 (Northampton Area Drainage): No public speakers.
• City Council – Public Comment Period:
  • Hugh Bassett voiced concern over the frequency of shootings in Hampton (18 shootings in 81 days since November 25, 2017) and urged the council to address the issue. He noted that the problem is not isolated to one area and affects senior citizens' sense of safety.
  • Misty Collins requested more funding and staffing for animal control, citing a delayed response to a cat hit by a car. She stated that the city has only four officers for a population of 137,000 and that they lack weekend and holiday coverage.

Discussion Items

• Planning Commission – Zoning Ordinance Amendments (ZOA 17-00009, 17-00010, 17-00016):
  • Staff presented a proposal to create two bed-and-breakfast use categories: Bed and Breakfast One (unchanged from current definition) and Bed and Breakfast Two (allows events). The definition of "event" was added. Signage restrictions were proposed for bed-and-breakfasts in residential districts, including height limits (6 feet maximum), a maximum of two signs, no internal illumination, and no electronic messages. Staff recommended approval of all three amendments. Commissioners discussed the difference between monument and pylon signs, and whether existing bed-and-breakfasts would comply. Staff confirmed that the two existing B&Bs likely meet the new requirements and would be grandfathered if not. All three amendments were approved unanimously.
• Planning Commission – Use Permit 17-00013 (Commercial Communication Tower):
  • The applicant, PI Tower Development LLC, requested a use permit for a 150-foot monopole tower at 1821 Cemetery Lane (on Jewish cemetery property) to improve T-Mobile coverage. The site is in an R-11 residential district. Staff presented that the site is low on the preferred hierarchy due to limited alternatives in the highly residential Kecoughtan area. The tower would accommodate at least three users and would be semi-flush-mounted to reduce visual impact. The applicant presented coverage maps showing significant improvement in a coverage gap. Commissioners questioned the need for future towers, the optimal height for coverage, and whether a taller tower could reduce the number of towers needed. A motion to approve with conditions failed 4-3 (Commissioners Coleman, Garrison, Gray, and South Hall opposed; Callum, Peterson, and Carter in favor). A subsequent motion to defer the item to March 15, 2018 to obtain information on tower height optimization and alternative locations passed 4-3 (Coleman, Garrison, Gray, and Carter in favor; Callum, Peterson, and South Hall opposed).
• City Council – Item 13 & 14 (Peninsula Town Center CDA Refunding):
  • City Manager Mary Bunting explained that these items were deferred indefinitely because required consent documents from CDA property owners had not been obtained. The council voted unanimously to defer indefinitely.
• City Council – Item 15 (Pembroke Streetscape Phase 3 Condemnation Authority):
  • Staff requested authorization to acquire easements by negotiation or condemnation for the Pembroke Avenue streetscape project from Old Buckroe Avenue to Skyland Drive. The project will reduce the road from four lanes to three lanes with bike lanes and a turn lane. One property owner (Mr. Pickens) expressed concerns about tractor-trailer access. The council approved the resolution unanimously (Mayor Tuck recused himself).
• City Council – Item 16 (Northampton Area Drainage Condemnation Authority):
  • Staff requested condemnation authority for one remaining property at 37 Northampton Drive, where a 10-foot easement is needed for a 48-inch drainage pipe. Six of eight required easements have been acquired. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
• City Council – City Attorney Retirement:
  • City Attorney Vanessa Valldejuli announced her retirement effective June 30, 2018, citing health issues and family care needs. She noted that her office saved the city over $4 million in outside legal fees in the last fiscal year. The council expressed appreciation.

Key Outcomes

• Planning Commission:
  • Approved ZOA 17-00009 (amending definitions), ZOA 17-00010 (amending use table), and ZOA 17-00016 (amending sign regulations) – all unanimously.
  • Deferred UP 17-00013 (cell tower) to March 15, 2018 for additional information on tower height optimization and alternative site analysis.
• City Council:
  • Approved the consent agenda (items 1-8, 10-12) unanimously.
  • Deferred items 13 and 14 (Peninsula Town Center CDA refunding) indefinitely.
  • Approved resolutions authorizing condemnation authority for the Pembroke Streetscape Phase 3 project (item 15) and the Northampton Area Drainage Improvements project (item 16) – both unanimously.
  • Appointed members to the Peninsula Stadium Authority, Wetlands Board, and Peninsula Airport Commission as listed.
  • Councilman Moffatt announced he will not seek re-election.
  • City Manager announced the 2018 Budget Week schedule: February 20 at Hampton High School (6:30-8:30 p.m.), February 22 online chat (6:30 p.m.), and February 24 at Kecoughtan High School (9:00 a.m.).