Council approves Pinewood Apartments expansion and amenities plan; applicant to add 51-unit building and site upgrades

Hampton City Council approved use permit 24-0530 to allow a new four‑story building at Pinewood Apartments, expanding the complex by up to 51 units and adding site amenities and a secondary access to Power Plant Parkway.

Chief Planner Donald Whipple summarized the application: the proposal adds a 51-unit building to an existing 64-unit complex for a potential total of 115 apartments on site and provides about 207 parking spaces. Proposed on-site amenities include a fitness center, community room, dog park and pavilion, and pedestrian connections to Power Plant Parkway. Whipple said a new right-in/right-out access onto Power Plant Parkway is proposed with a right-turn lane; no median break was requested. Staff also noted two EV charging stations among the resilience elements and that the applicant held a community meeting in March 2025. Planning staff recommended approval subject to 12 conditions.

Applicant Robert Lang described interior renovations already underway for existing units, the new fitness center (24/7 resident access), dog park, community room and improvements to parking aisles to improve emergency access. Lang said market rents for the new units are anticipated in a range between about $1,600 and $2,200, depending on unit size and market conditions.

Council members asked about accessibility and elevators. Whipple said the new building would include elevators and that some ground-floor units would be accessible; Whipple suggested applicants could clarify the number of fully accessible units. Lang said the new building was designed so all units can be adapted for accessibility and that at least two units would include fully accessible features (zero‑clearance showers, grab bars) with blocking in place for future adaptations. Council also discussed resiliency and EV charging; Whipple said EV charging is encouraged as part of resilient design and the proposal includes two chargers.

After public hearing (no additional public speakers) Councilman Bowman moved approval and the council voted unanimously to approve the use permit with 12 conditions (Councilman Bowman, Vice Mayor Steve Brown, Councilwoman Carolyn Campbell, Councilwoman Ferebee, Councilwoman Hope Harper, Councilwoman Martha Mugler and Mayor Jimmy Gray recorded “Aye”). The approved conditions include the concept plan, landscaping, elevations and building materials, and management and screening requirements for dumpsters and other site elements. Building permits and site-plan reviews remain required before construction.