The Hampton City Council voted unanimously to approve a use permit allowing Virginia Electric and Power Company to replace an existing communications tower with a new, 170-foot self-supporting tower at 902 G Street.

Chief Planner Donald Whipple told the council that the application, filed as use permit 24-0456 by Harold Timmons, would replace an outmoded tower and locate the new structure within an industrial site near West Pembroke Avenue and Interstate 664. Whipple said staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval subject to nine conditions covering site design, compliance with the concept elevations, tower accessibility for potential co-location, removal parameters if the tower later becomes obsolete, public safety, and legal compliance.

The council’s discussion focused on whether the old tower would be removed; Whipple said the applicant had outlined a schedule to erect the new tower and then dismantle the existing one. Whipple also described landscaping measures to screen the base of the tower along the West Pembroke Avenue corridor because surrounding paved surfaces limit planting at the tower base.

The presentation noted limits on local review imposed by state and federal law: the council may address height, bulk, location and co-location availability, but may not base decisions on perceived health or environmental impacts or on preference for one service provider over another. Whipple said Dominion Energy is expected to be the initial carrier and that the new tower could accommodate future co-location.

On a motion to approve use permit 24-0456 with nine conditions, the council recorded ayes from Councilman Randy Bowman, Vice Mayor Steven Brown, Councilwoman Carolyn Campbell, Councilwoman Michelle Taylor Farrabee, Councilwoman Hope Harper, Councilwoman Mugler and Mayor Jimmy Gray.

The approved conditions require adherence to the submitted site design and elevations, landscaping to provide screening where feasible, documentation to facilitate future co-location, removal procedures if the tower is decommissioned, and compliance with applicable safety and legal requirements. The applicant will be required to follow any additional conditions specified in the final permit package.

The council also closed the public hearing on the item after no members of the public signed up to speak.

The action implements use permit 24-0456 and will be subject to the standard administrative steps for building and site permits before construction begins.