Planning commission reviews 2024 year‑end report, zoning updates and Hampton Hall park plans
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Summary
Staff presented the planning commission’s 2024 year‑end report covering zoning‑ordinance changes, solar setbacks, boathouse permits, construction totals and a proposal to develop Hampton Hall Landing as a waterfront park.
Northumberland County planning staff reviewed the commission’s 2024 year‑end report and briefed members on recent zoning ordinance changes, permit trends and a county plan to create a waterfront park at Hampton Hall Landing.
The report summarized work done in 2024, including revisions to the county zoning ordinance, a boathouse conditional‑use approval, a review of permitted uses in residential zoning districts and updated standards for utility‑scale solar facilities. Staff told commissioners that changes included moving certain office uses from by‑right to conditional use in R‑1 and R‑2 districts and increasing solar‑facility setbacks from 25 to 50 feet to allow vegetative filter strips and strengthen decommissioning surety requirements.
Construction and permitting figures in the report: staff said the estimated value of new construction in 2024 was $65,691,585.24, up from $59,793,853.45 in 2023 (an increase staff described as about 9.5 percent). The report listed 72 single‑family permits in 2024 compared with 54 in 2023; total new construction permits across categories amounted to 105 for the year. Staff noted a sizable drop in reported commercial investment compared with 2023 largely because the prior year included one‑time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding used for a sewer treatment plant upgrade.
On shoreline and wetlands work, staff reported six boathouse approvals in 2024 and about equal private‑pier activity in the Potomac River (35) and the Chesapeake Bay (33). Wetland‑related applications (shoreline protection, oyster floats, riprap) totaled roughly 48 combined across both tidal systems.
Hampton Hall Landing: staff said the county now holds approximately 3.69 acres (about 5.3 acres was referenced in discussion, with roughly 1 acre in wetlands) near the bridge and is pursuing design work for access, parking and a small waterfront park that could support pedestrian access, kayak launches and picnic facilities. Staff said clearing and a gate are in place and that an official opening is planned once access and roadway work are designed and built.
Why it mattered: The report documents the county’s land‑use work and shows where development activity is concentrated. The ordinance amendments and solar setback changes reflect planning staff and commission efforts to align uses and environmental safeguards with community expectations.
Next steps: Staff said the commission will continue work on the comprehensive plan revision and requested an update on the Hampton Hall project be added to the next meeting agenda. The draft year‑end report will be finalized for inclusion in the commission’s records and forwarded to the Board of Supervisors.
Provenance: Staff presentation of the draft 2024 year‑end report and subsequent commission discussion, including a request to add Hampton Hall Landing to the next meeting’s agenda.
