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Hampton council roundup: zoning amendments, noise‑contour update and a gas‑franchise approved
Summary
At its April 8 meeting the Hampton City Council adopted zoning amendments to implement Chesapeake Bay preservation updates, approved revised aircraft noise contour maps tied to Langley AFB, accepted a Virginia Natural Gas franchise bid, and passed consent items amending the FY26 budget for police vehicles and minor allocations.
The Hampton City Council took a series of votes April 8 on zoning, utilities and consent items.
Key outcomes: - Chesapeake Bay Preservation overlay (ZOA‑26‑0047): Council adopted amendments to Chapter 9, Article 2, aligning local code with state Bay Act requirements and DEQ guidance. Changes add tree‑preservation language, require landscape plans for development within preservation subdistricts (RPA, IDA, RMA), and require resiliency assessments (30‑year planning horizon) using state‑endorsed tools. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval.
- Aircraft noise contours and accident‑potential zones (ZOA‑26‑0071): Zoning administrator Melvin Fulgin presented updated contours based on a 2020 study and coordination with the base; the new map reduces impacted parcels from 4,952 to 3,242 and adjusts acreage to support compatible land‑use planning near Joint Base Langley. Council voted to adopt the mapping updates.
- Virginia Natural Gas franchise (Item 26‑1126): After a public hearing with a VNG representative present, the council accepted VNG’s bid for a nonexclusive franchise to occupy public rights‑of‑way for natural gas service and adopted the ordinance following the required public‑bid process under Virginia code.
- Consent agenda and budget technicals: Council approved consent items that included amending the FY26 council‑approved budget to appropriate approximately $1,800,000 from equipment replacement fund unrestricted net position to the equipment replacement operating budget for Hampton Police Division vehicles; an appropriation of $7,000 from wetlands encroachment restricted funds to community development operating account for participation in the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program; authorization to participate in opioid‑related settlements; and approval of minutes from four council meetings.
Votes were taken by roll call; each measure passed with council majority support. These items were presented by planning and city staff and carried with little public opposition on the record except where noted for the camping ordinance (covered in a separate article).
