Hampton Planning Commission Meeting - February 20, 2020
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Hampton Planning Commission Meeting - February 20, 2020
The Hampton Planning Commission convened on February 20, 2020, to address routine approvals, public hearings for rezoning and zoning ordinance amendments, and other city business. The meeting included unanimous approvals on most items, with a split vote on one amendment. All actions are recommendations to the Hampton City Council.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting. (Motion by Dr. Coleman, seconded; all members voted aye.)
- Planning Commission Action 19-0001: Relocation of a natural gas regulator station by Virginia Natural Gas to a city-owned site at 2972 N. Armistead Avenue. Staff (Frank Glover) presented that the move places the station further from the runway center line, is within the Chesapeake Bay Preservation District, and includes native landscaping. The commission voted unanimously to approve the relocation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rezoning 19-00006: No public speakers signed up.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendments 19-12 & 19-13 (joint hearing): Two speakers expressed support:
- Raymond Tripp, Executive Director of Coliseum Central, spoke in favor, noting a multi-year process and the goal of reducing sign clutter while improving property aesthetics.
- John Mills, of Southeastern Development (owner/developer of Riverdale Shopping Center), spoke in favor, stating that the current sign ordinance burdens large shopping centers and praising the staff's work.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment 20-0001: No public speakers.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment 20-0002: No public speakers.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning 19-00006: The application by STM Properties Inc. sought to rezone 0.68 acres at 2135 W. Pembroke Avenue and 658 Vaughan Avenue from General Commercial (C3) and One-Family Residential (R9) to One-Family Residential (R9) with conditions, to allow construction of two single-family homes. Staff noted consistency with the low-density residential land use plan and a similar 2015 rezoning nearby. The motion to approve included seven conditions and passed unanimously.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendments 19-12 & 19-13: These related amendments addressed definitions for business park shopping centers and sign regulations within the Coliseum Central Overlay District. Staff (Donald) presented an incentive-based approach: larger centers (≥20 acres or ≥200,000 square feet, corrected from an initial misstatement of 200 square feet) could qualify for additional freestanding signs (up to four 16-foot, 125-sq-ft signs vs. the current two 12-foot, 90-sq-ft signs), combination signs (22 feet, 225 sq ft), and increased wall signage (up to three facades and 1.5 sq ft per linear foot). These incentives require meeting Coliseum Central design standards. Commissioner questions addressed sign sizes, comparisons to other jurisdictions, and the rationale for the original smaller sizes. Both amendments passed unanimously after separate motions.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment 20-0001: Proposed to create a parking credit for city-owned property used for governmental purposes. Hannah Sabo (Zoning Administrator) explained that the city can coordinate event schedules (e.g., Coliseum, Convention Center, future Aquatic Center) to reduce required parking, thereby reducing impervious surfaces and supporting resiliency goals. Staff recommended approval; the motion passed unanimously.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment 20-0002: Proposed to add "manufacturing, processing, and treatment one" as a by-right use in the Hampton Road Center North (HRC2) district. Staff argued this would make the park competitive with others and attract job-creating uses. Commissioner Southall expressed concerns about compatibility with existing businesses and competition with Langley Research Park, and also questioned whether a use permit would be more appropriate for control. The motion passed 3-2, with Commissioner Southall and Chairman Garrison dissenting.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes: Approved unanimously.
- PCA 19-0001: Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning 19-00006: Approved unanimously with seven conditions.
- ZOA 19-00012: Approved unanimously.
- ZOA 19-00013: Approved unanimously.
- ZOA 20-00001: Approved unanimously.
- ZOA 20-00002: Approved 3-2 (Commissioners Coleman, Carter, and Bond in favor; Commissioner Southall and Chairman Garrison opposed).
Other Announcements
- The student planner forum is scheduled for March 16, 2020, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hampton Convention Center, focusing on youth participation in city elections.
- The Parks and Recreation master plan public input session originally scheduled for tonight (February 20) has been postponed; a rescheduled date (likely March 31) should be confirmed on the city's website.
The meeting adjourned with a reminder to drive safely due to snow.
Meeting Transcript
Here, Mr. Southall. Here. Dr. Carter? Here. Mr. Brown. Mr. Bond. Here. Chairman Garrison? Here. Do we have any corrections to the minutes from the previous meeting? Okay, if not, can I get a motion on the minutes, please? Move approval of the minutes. Second. We have a motion and a second. Can we call for the role, please? Dr. Coleman. Ms. Callum. Aye. Mr. Southall. Aye. Dr. Carter. Aye. Mr. Brown. Mr. Bond. Aye. Chairman Garrison. Aye. Before we get into the public hearing items, Madam Chair, there is a Planning Commission Action No. 19-0001. This is not a public hearing item, but this is a requirement on our ordinance that the Planning Commission review new public utility locations or relocations for general compliance with the community plan. So you do have to take an action on this, but again, this is not a public hearing. So I'm going to ask Frank Glover to come up and give you a brief presentation. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Commissioners. My name is Frank Glover, and this is Planning Commission Action Application 19-00001. An application for the relocation of a natural gas regulator station to an adjacent site located at 2972 North Armistead Avenue. Virginia Natural Gas's current regulator station as well as the proposed site are both located in the northwestern part of the city in front of the west entrance to the Langley Air Force Base, just off North Armstead and Sweeney Boulevard. The current regulator station, try to write here, is on a site facing Sweeney Boulevard off North Armistead, and the proposed relocated station will be a regulator station would be moved to a city-owned plat of land here, just south of the current site across Sweeney Boulevard and Warehouse Road, also at the corner of North Armistead Road. Both are immediately west of Langley's Westgate entrance to the air base. The proposed move places the regulator station further away from the runway center line. The proposed site is currently zoned in the Langley Flight Approach District 1 or LFA 1.
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