Planning Commission backs rezoning and use permit for 44-unit affordable housing at 2601 Cunningham Drive

The Hampton Planning Commission on Feb. 19 recommended City Council approve Rezoning Application No. 26-0037 and Use Permit No. 26-0038 to allow a 44-unit multifamily building at 2601 Cunningham Drive.

City Planner Quinn Heinrich presented staff's recommendation for approval, noting the Coliseum Central Master Plan and the Hampton Community Plan support denser residential development and improved pedestrian connections in the district. Woda Cooper Companies representatives said every unit will be rented at or below 80% of market rate. The proposal calls for 57 parking spaces (including seven ADA-accessible spaces), 12 bicycle parking spaces and two Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations; the applicant said it will provide a community room, playground and other amenities and a first-floor support-services office for resident programming.

Commissioners asked about parking, site access and sidewalks. Applicant representative Eric Wright said sidewalks would link buildings, bicycle storage and the playground to Cunningham Drive but that sidewalks are not proposed along the adjacent private road, Build America Drive. Wright said the 44 residential units "would not represent a significant increase in traffic and would likely generate less traffic than other commercial uses that could be developed on the site."

Public commenters offered mixed views. Travis Adams said he supports the application. Sonia Crane of Payne Properties and nearby property owner Anthony Scarpelli raised concerns that the private road maintenance committee was not notified and said the additional residential use could increase maintenance costs and raise pedestrian-safety issues where sidewalks are absent. Wright responded that, if Woda Cooper purchases the site, the company would join the private-road committee and share in maintenance decisions and costs; he also said major road improvements were not in the current site plan and would be addressed during site-plan engineering review.

The Commission adopted 20 proffered conditions addressing site plan conformance, materials and design, setbacks and green-area alternatives, landscaping and screening, HVAC and lighting, community amenities and resiliency measures. On a motion by Commissioner Joe Griffith, seconded by Vice-Chair Martha Mugler, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning. A companion motion to recommend approval of the use permit, with nine staff conditions covering management, dumpster screening, security, certificate of occupancy and revocation language, passed on a motion by Commissioner Trina Coleman and seconded by Commissioner Joe Griffith.

Next steps: The Planning Commission's recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for a final decision.