City of Hampton Planning Commission Meeting - October 17, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
City of Hampton Planning Commission Meeting - October 17, 2024
This meeting of the City of Hampton's Planning Commission covered four public hearing items: a Planning Commission action for a sewer pump station, a rezoning, two use permits, and a comprehensive plan amendment. All items were approved, with one commissioner dissenting on the rezoning. A youth planner report was also presented.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 19, 2024 meeting were approved unanimously by roll call vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
-
PCA 24-0436 – Sanitary Sewer Pump Station: Planning Manager Mike Hayes presented a request by Trilogy Developers LLC to construct a new, upgraded sanitary sewer pump station on an unaddressed parcel on LaSalle Avenue. The existing station is undersized and needs replacement; the new station will increase capacity to support existing and planned multifamily development. Staff found the project consistent with the community plan. The applicant, Ross Fierra, was present but had no additional remarks. There were no questions from commissioners.
-
Rezoning 24-0430 – 1721 North King Street: Mike Hayes presented a request by Armia Real Estate LC to rezone a 0.88-acre parcel from split RM (multiple residential) and C1 (neighborhood commercial) to entirely C1 with seven proffered conditions. The property currently houses a commercial building with limited uses due to the split zoning. The rezoning would allow broader commercial uses (excluding auto-oriented uses) and require landscape upgrades. Commissioners asked about neighborhood notification (city mailed notices within a tenth of a mile, no feedback received), access to rear properties (via a public right-of-way), and water rights. The applicant was not present. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.
-
Use Permit 24-0435 – Virginia Peninsula Food Bank Community Center: Mike Hayes presented a request by the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank for a use permit to include a community center (meeting room, offices, small shopping area) within a new warehouse/distribution facility on 4.5 acres at 112 Research Drive. The food bank will double its frozen/chilled storage and offer wraparound services. The applicant, CEO Bob Lapis, clarified that the term "community center" is misleading—it is primarily a warehouse with a small space for partner services and classes. He noted that no large food distributions would occur at this site. Commissioners asked about culinary classes (they remain at the current location) and future expansion of the wooded lot (none planned). The public hearing had no speakers.
-
Use Permit 24-0437 – Hampton University Amendment: Mike Hayes presented a request by Hampton University to amend conditions of a previously approved use permit for the 14th floor of 2 Eaton Street (Harvard Center). The amendment removes references to a specific floor plan and expands kitchen capacity (upgrading to a full commercial kitchen) to support the university’s culinary program and events. Staff recommended retaining noise and security conditions. Applicant architect Nicole Wells spoke briefly, noting students will receive certifications. No public speakers. The existing permit would remain if this amendment were denied.
-
Comprehensive Plan Amendment 24-0414 – 2024 Natural Infrastructure Resilience Plan: Mike Hayes presented a proposal to adopt the 2024 Natural Infrastructure Resilience Plan (NIRP) by reference into the Hampton Community Plan. The plan, funded by FEMA grants, outlines strategies for natural and constructed infrastructure (e.g., tree preservation, living shorelines) to improve flood resilience and climate adaptation. It will inform future code updates, capital projects, and development review. The plan was developed with community input and partners such as NASA, the James River Association, and Wetlands Watch. No public speakers.
Key Outcomes
- PCA 24-0436: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Rezoning 24-0430: Approved with seven proffered conditions by a vote of 6-1 (Commissioner Coleman dissenting). One commissioner (Vice Chair Rogers) was present but not recorded in the roll call; the vote tally as read showed 5 ayes and 1 nay, but the chair also voted aye, making 6-1.
- Use Permit 24-0435: Approved with six conditions unanimously (7-0).
- Use Permit 24-0437 (amended): Approved with 13 conditions unanimously (7-0).
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment 24-0414: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Youth Planner Report: Senior Youth Planner Helena Folkerts reported on the October 14 candidate forum (prom-themed), held at the Virginia Air & Space Center. Commissioners commended the youth for their engagement.
- Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Coleman thanked Mike Hayes for his presentations.
The meeting adjourned after the above items. (The transcript included extraneous content—a “Round Robin” small business interview and a workout video—which were not part of the formal proceedings and are excluded from this summary.)
Meeting Transcript
The October seventeenth, twenty twenty-four meeting of the City of Hampton's Planning Commission is now called to order. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Vice Chair Rogers. Present. Commissioner Brooks. Present. Commissioner Coleman Present. Commissioner Callum. Present. Commissioner Harper. Present. Commissioner Deprofio. Here. Chair Harris. Thank you. Our first order of business is approval of the minutes from the September nineteenth, twenty twenty-four meeting. Is there a motion? Approval of minutes from September twenty twenty-four meeting. Second. Is there any discussion or corrections? Hearing none, will you call the roll? Vice Chair Rogers. Commissioner Brooks. I. Commissioner Coleman. I Commissioner Callum. I Commissioner Harper. I. Commissioner De Profio. I Chair Harris. And the motion carries. First, I will read the public hearing protocol. The planning commission of the City of Hampton takes pride in being fair and courteous to all parties in attendance. It is important that all involved understand how the commission conducts its hearings and how all persons before the commission should conduct themselves. Individuals other than the applicant or their representative who have signed up to comment on the case will have three minutes to present their comments. Speakers must remain at the podium or microphone while addressing the commission. The final decision to approve or disapprove an application will be made by the city council at a future date. The first public hearing item we have tonight is 24-0436. It's a planning commission action by Trilogy Developers LLC for a new sanitary sewer pump station on a portion of an unaddressed parcel on LaSalle Avenue, LRSN 2000401. This planning commission action is going to be approved or denied by planning commission and will not be sent in the form of a recommendation to city council. Here to present on behalf of the staff is planning manager Mike Hayes. Good afternoon, Planning Commission. So this is a Planning Commission action item. And as such, our focus is purely on conformance with the community plan. The request is to construct and an upgrade replacement Sanitary Sewer Pump Station. Here off of LaSalle Avenue. If you uh turn off a LaSalle on a Michigan Drive, the proposed site there is outlined in yellow. There is an existing station on a very small uh parcel there outlined in blue. Uh that blue does represent the entirety of the of that site. And uh one of the points here is to display the fact that this pump station could not go uh directly adjacent to the existing one, and also there's uh a need to keep the existing one up and running while the new one uh is completed.
openpublica.com