City of Hampton Planning Commission Meeting - February 19, 2026

The City of Hampton Planning Commission met on February 19, 2026, to conduct regular business including officer elections, approval of minutes, a youth planner report, and two public hearings. The commission recommended approval of a rezoning and use permit for a workforce housing development and recommended denial of a use permit amendment for a restaurant and lounge seeking extended hours and modified security requirements.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes from December 18, 2025: The minutes were approved with one abstention (Commissioner Samuels) and six affirmative votes (Commissioners Griffith, Coleman, Vice Chair Mugler, Commissioner DeProfio, Chair Rogers; Commissioner Brooks absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 26-0037/26-0038 (Johnson Lofts):
  • Travis Adams (Hampton resident, representing Hampton Roads YIMBY) spoke in support of the Johnson Lofts project.
  • Sonia Crane (Payne Properties) expressed concerns about the private road (Build America Drive) maintenance, lack of sidewalks, traffic, and safety for future residents, and questioned whether the road agreement committee had been consulted.
  • Anthony Scarpelli (owner of adjacent units) argued the property is unsuitable due to high density (four stories compared to surrounding two- to three-story buildings), difficult ingress/egress from Build America Drive, tight parking spaces, and flooding issues.
• Item 26-0039 (Southern Comfort Restaurant and Lounge): No public speakers signed up.

Discussion Items

• Election of Chair and Vice Chair: Commissioner Rogers was nominated and elected Chair (7-0 vote). Commissioner Mugler was nominated and elected Vice Chair (7-0 vote).
• Youth Planner Report: Presented by Henry Godfrey. Key statistics: 12 grant applications received for the year, total requested $28,541.79, total approved $21,002; the majority went to youth-led organizations. The youth master plan surveys were being distributed to four high schools and via Instagram. Upcoming events include Teen Town Hall survey data synthesis and continued recruitment.
• Item 26-0037/26-0038 – Rezoning and Use Permit for Johnson Lofts (Wada Cooper Companies): The proposed 1.69-acre site at 2601 Cunningham Drive would be rezoned from General Commercial (C3) to Multifamily Residential (MD4) for a 44-unit workforce housing building (six one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom, 11 three-bedroom units; seven ADA accessible). Staff recommended approval with 20 proffered conditions and nine use permit conditions. The applicant (Bruce Watts and Eric Wright) presented their company, highlighted 13 Virginia developments including six in Hampton Roads, and emphasized the project's workforce housing component (affordable at or below 80% of market value). Discussion focused on parking (57 spaces, 1.3 per unit), the shared private road (Build America Drive), lack of sidewalks on that road, and security/bike connectivity. Commissioners encouraged early dialogue with other property owners and additional bike racks. The applicant committed to working with property owners on road improvements.
• Item 26-0039 – Use Permit Amendment for Southern Comfort Restaurant and Lounge: The applicant sought to extend operating hours from current (Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–2 a.m.) to 11 a.m.–2 a.m. seven days a week, and to modify security requirements by treating the event space and restaurant/lounge as separate areas for calculating security staffing (one guard per 100 patrons per area). Staff recommended denial, citing consistency with other approved restaurant uses and public safety concerns voiced by the Hampton Police Division (Officer Roush). The applicant (Eddie Gomez) noted that past calls for service were low (15 in eight months, no incidents of violence), argued that he had been operating until 2 a.m. prior to receiving the correct permit, and stated he would keep the event space locked unless used for events. The police division expressed concerns about enforcement and precedent. The commission discussed the December 2025 compromise (security ratio of one per 100 of total max occupancy starting at 10:30 p.m.) and the applicant's inability to profit under current conditions.

Key Outcomes

• Election of Officers: Commissioner Rogers elected Chair, Commissioner Mugler elected Vice Chair (both unanimous).
• Approval of Minutes: Minutes of December 18, 2025 approved as presented (6-0-1, Commissioner Samuels abstained).
• Item 26-0037 – Rezoning (Johnson Lofts): Motion to recommend approval with 20 proffered conditions passed 7-0.
• Item 26-0038 – Use Permit (Johnson Lofts): Motion to recommend approval with nine conditions passed 7-0.
• Item 26-0039 – Use Permit Amendment (Southern Comfort): Motion to recommend denial (which would uphold the existing use permit with 14 conditions) passed 5-2 (Commissioners Samuels and Coleman opposed). The applicant’s requested changes to hours and security modifications were not recommended for approval.