Council approves Fishers Landing Eats use permit for outdoor dining at Kecoughtan Road site

Hampton City Council approved Use Permit application 25‑0196 permitting Fishers Landing Eats to operate a restaurant with outdoor dining at 4330 Kecoughtan Road in the Light Manufacturing (M‑2) district, subject to the planning‑staff recommended conditions.

City planner Han Vu presented the application, explaining that outdoor dining is prohibited in M‑2 and therefore requires council approval, whereas the same outdoor dining would be administratively permitted in other districts. Vu said the site sits along Sunset Creek and is included in the Kecoughtan Corridor Master Plan, which envisions mixed‑use and waterfront‑oriented commercial uses. Staff’s analysis noted that a prior restaurant (Barking Dog) had outdoor seating at that location and that neighborhood calls received to staff were generally positive.

Vu summarized recommended conditions, including permit issuance, hours of operation, capacity and sound and ABC (alcohol) licensing requirements, revocation and nullification language, and noted staff encouraged but did not receive a community meeting from the applicant. The applicant originally requested hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; staff recommended hours consistent with comparable Restaurant‑2 permits (5 a.m. to 12 a.m.). Vice Mayor Brown asked whether the applicant would need to return to extend hours; staff said the broader hours would allow administrative consistency and would not require the applicant to return for an extension.

After opening and closing the public hearing with no speakers, council moved to approve the use permit with nine conditions; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.