What’s next for Hampton? Share your thoughts

City seeking residents’ input for community plan

Is the City of Hampton going in the right direction?

The city government and community volunteers have been working on a 2040 Community Plan to guide the city’s future. They have drafted general goals and seek input on whether they are heading in the right direction.

Citizens can share their thoughts on the city’s future by completing an online survey by 5 p.m. March 3.

During a public meeting Wednesday night at the Mary W. Jackson Neighborhood Center, Mayor Donnie Tuck stressed the need for people to be involved in developing strategie. He also noted that Hampton is 95-97% fully developed, meaning the city can’t do much to create new development.

“So what our process involves is redevelopment — taking what we have and trying to create something new out of it,” Tuck said. “Or taking something that once was that may be now barren land and trying to enhance that.”

Director of Community Development Terry O’Neill said the goal is to develop specific actions to benefit the city for the next 5-10 years and to develop a broader comprehensive plan that will guide the city for the next 20 years.

One of the top goals is economic growth. For example, the city wants to attract a diverse business community and create expanded career and educational access.

Hampton also hopes to take advantage of its surrounding waters with accessible and public waterfront opportunities. However, it also wants to address the causes of coastal flooding, storms, and sea level rise and become resilient and adaptive to their impacts.

The government and community volunteers also want an “educated citizenry.” This includes providing an array of learning opportunities that are equitable and innovative and increasing accessibility to lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Hampton also seeks ways to enhance safety and keep the community clean. So far this year, the city has seen a significant spike in gun violence and homicides.

Other priorities are increasing citizen engagement, sharing information, and improving government communication and trust with the local government.

O’Neil said many of the city’s goals were based around the themes of diversity, equity and inclusion, innovation, being connected, being resilient and celebrating the city’s unique history and culture.

For more information on the 2040 Community Plan, visit: https://hampton.gov/ Hampton2040. To take the survey and provide input on the plan, visit: https:// bit.ly/410Hf3a.