Title
Ordinance to Amend and Re-Enact the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Hampton, Virginia by Amending Section 2-2 Entitled, “Definitions” Pertaining to Residential Use Definitions
Purpose
Background Statement:
This amendment is accompanied by a separate, related amendment to Chapter 3, which includes the permitted uses table and additional standards.
City Council directed staff to review how and where multifamily development occurs within the City of Hampton, and how zoning regulations could better align with City priorities and policies for multifamily housing. Staff reviewed the existing regulations and identified areas where the City envisions greater density and to improve development standards for those areas where multifamily development would be permitted by-right. For areas without those standards, the regulations would require a use permit application for consideration of the merits of the project on an individual basis.
This amendment would add several definitions to accommodate the changes proposed under the accompanying amendment and provide better clarity within the ordinance for existing terms used. ‘Open space amenity’ is a new term proposed which defines specific areas provided to residents for their enjoyment of the outdoors, and includes things such as patios, balconies, or rooftop decks.
Staff is recommending the removal of the definition of ‘live/work unit’, and incorporating it into the definition of the existing use ‘upper-floor dwelling units’. The definition for ‘upper-floor dwelling unit’ also includes a limit of up to four dwelling units above a nonresidential use on the first floor, which distinguishes the use from larger mixed-use development.
A term frequently used but undefined within the zoning ordinance is in reference to building stories. There are existing standards regarding number of stories allowed in various base districts or overlay districts. Staff is recommending the addition of the term ‘story’ to clarify those...
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