Hampton Electoral Board approves new voting equipment for 2027; EDA to weigh $80,000 grant
The Hampton Electoral Board approved the purchase of new voting equipment from E S & S for implementation in 2027, appointed new officers of election for each precinct, and set early voting hours for upcoming elections, according to official minutes from its July 9 meeting. All motions were seconded and approved.
Electoral Board: equipment, appointments, early voting
The board approved a motion to purchase additional scanners, tabulators, and Express Vote machines from E S & S during the current fiscal year, with implementation planned for 2027. It appointed new officers of election: Unaffiliated — Jeanie Belgrade; Republican — John Chapman, Nancy Reynolds, Brian Pittman; Democrat — Carmen Stupice, Shante Batten. The board authorized a closed session to discuss voting security and officer appointments, then certified that the closed session covered only exempted public business. It also changed a community event date to August 9, set Sunday early voting for July 19 and July 26 (12:00–5:00 p.m.), set Saturday early voting for July 25 and August 1 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), and adopted a FOIA change requiring agenda posting for all city meetings.
Board of Zoning Appeals: variance requests in Resource Protection Area
The Board of Zoning Appeals scheduled six public hearings for July 6, all agenda items with minutes not yet published. The hearings cover Chesapeake Bay Exception EX26-00001 for new impervious area; variances VA26-00006 and VA26-00008 to reduce side Special Green Area to 0 feet; variances VA26-00007 and VA26-00009 to reduce rear Special Green Area to 0 feet; and variance VA26-00010 to reduce a front yard setback from 36.6 feet to 23 feet. The requests relate to new single-family dwellings in the Resource Protection Area.
Planning Commission: rezoning and use permits
The Planning Commission set public hearings for July 16 on several land-use applications, with minutes not yet published. Rezoning Application No. 26-0222 covers approximately 1.94 acres at 1772 Old Buckroe Road, proposing a change from R-11 to R-8 to allow one single-family home and four duplexes (9 units total). Rezoning Application No. 26-0218 covers approximately 5.5 acres at 1534, 1538, and 1540 West Queen Street, proposing a change from MD-4/R-13 to MD-4 with conditions for a multifamily development. Use Permit Application No. 26-0219 would permit 68 multifamily dwelling units at the Queen Street parcels in the MD-4 district. Use Permit Application No. 26-0221 would permit multifamily dwellings at 1044 Von Schilling Drive. Use Permit Application No. 26-0226 would permit a used-car sales operation at 690 Bell Street. The commission also planned to approve minutes from its June 18 meeting and hear staff reports.
Senior Citizens Advisory Committee
The committee's July 6 agenda included approval of May meeting minutes, a presentation by Jessika Carney of the Virginia Department of Health (Hampton & Peninsula Health District), subcommittee reports, lead agency reports, and a public comment period. The Hospitality Subcommittee met the same day, but the provided document listed no specific agenda items. Minutes for both are not yet published.
Neighborhood Commission
The Hampton Neighborhood Commission's July 13 agenda included a hurricane preparedness briefing from Joe Walsh of Emergency Management, a public comments session, a "Real Challenges & Lessons Learned" presentation by Don Butcher for District 5, and committee updates covering Neighborhood Resource Review, Development & Training, Nominating, and Youth Commission. No voting items were listed. Minutes are not yet published.
Cancelled meetings
The War Memorial Stadium Advisory Board meeting scheduled for July 6 at 12:00 p.m. was cancelled. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting scheduled for July 7 at 5:30 p.m. was also cancelled; the cancellation notice was issued July 1. Both cancellations reference the city's FOIA compliance policy for public meeting notices.
Coming up
The Hampton Economic Development Authority meets July 21. The agenda includes review of Towne Trust and Local Government Investment Pool statements and loan/grant fund balances as of June 30, 2026, an Economic Development Department status report, a closed session to consult legal counsel on an existing sublease agreement, certification of that closed meeting per Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(8), and a motion to approve an $80,000 grant to Victory Lane Motorsports, LLC for the Hampton Community Cultural Athletic and Visitor Attraction program.