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Hampton residents raise code-enforcement, redistricting and property-development concerns during public comment
Summary
Three public commenters urged attention to neighborhood code enforcement and alleged intimidation, urged the council to oppose partisan redistricting maps, and asked for updates on vacant city properties and Fort Monroe master planning funding.
Three citizens used the public comment period to press the council on separate local concerns.
Joan Weaver said her neighborhood felt "targeted" by city code enforcement and accused officials of intimidation and baseless misdemeanor actions; she told the council she would pursue remedies in the courts and declared, "We are good trouble." The city manager said he would follow up directly with Weaver to clarify the matter.
Craig Knott told the council he was concerned about a recent redistricting amendment that he described as favoring one party and urged the council to talk to delegates or the attorney general. "I want us to fight," he said, calling for the city to use its influence to oppose a one-sided map.
Chris Bowman identified several vacant or underused city properties and asked for updates, naming Lincoln Park, the old Quality Insight site, Buckroe Junior High, Pembroke High School site, Buckroe Beach Mini Golf, the Slaughter Lumber Company site and Macy Carmel. He also commended the Fort Monroe Authority and the commonwealth for supporting a $1,000,000 update to the Fort Monroe master plan; the city manager clarified the funding comes from the Fort Monroe Authority and not Hampton taxpayers, and noted a $250,000 infrastructure assessment appropriation previously made by council.
The council did not take formal action on the comments but the city manager committed to follow up with Weaver and to report on property issues as appropriate.
