Hampton has a new police chief.

James Turner’s appointment to that post was approved by the City Council at its August 17 meeting. The vote was 4-2 in favor.

Turner succeeds Derrick Austin, who stepped down in April to accept the same position in Locust Grove. According to a city official, Turner grew up in Hampton and has been with the department more than 11 years, having previously served as an officer, sergeant and lieutenant.

In other business, about 21 acres on Bear Creek Boulevard was rezoned from commercial and residential to mixed use. According to officials, the request was to allow a development that includes both commercial parcels and townhomes.
The adjacent properties currently vary in zoning to include general commercial, heavy commercial, single-family residential and light industrial. The council instructed the applicant to perform a market analysis to determine the viability for townhomes to be age-restricted.

The council voted to align two city polling places with county voting precincts. The new resolution calls for Calvary Baptist Church on Oak Street and Berea Christian Church on Woolsey Road to serve as polling places, since both are inside the city limits and also consistent with county precincts.

Hampton voters in the November 2 election will decide on the mayor and certain council positions as well as the countywide transportation SPLOST. The council also approved the early voting schedule, during which city voters can cast ballots on all of these issues at the Fortson Library among other locations.

Three separate ordinances regarding the use of recreational vehicles in Hampton received final approval from the council. It is now permissible to use an RV as temporary living quarters in case of a catastrophic event or during construction of a single-family residence on a lot at least five acres in size. This can also be done within RA and R-1 zoning districts according to certain provisions of the city code. Temporary use of such a vehicle in an RV park is not to exceed 30 cumulative days within the same calendar year.

The council approved the first reading of two ordinances addressing self-storage facilities. After a rezoning application was withdrawn some time ago, city staff was tasked with reviewing current codes concerning this particular use. After looking at codes in various surrounding jurisdictions, changes were recommended that would allow it as a conditional use in the C-1 (neighborhood commercial) district, as it is currently allowed only in MU (mixed use), M-1 and M-2 (industrial) zoning districts. Passage of a second reading of each ordinance would designate final approval.

Two proposals were intended to address changes in the powers and duties of the city manager as well as the structure and requirements of his biweekly report to the council. Both of those motions failed 2-4.

A resolution was presented that would have authorized the mayor and council to appoint up to two additional members to the city’s development authority; a motion to add one member failed 2-4 and a separate motion to add two members failed 3-4 with the mayor breaking a tie. A proposed intergovernmental agreement with the DDA also failed 2-4, and a joint meeting was suggested to help reach an agreement.

The council approved the first reading of an ordinance addressing medical office, hospital, dentist, or clinic uses allowed in commercial zoning districts. Also approved were two measures related to the Youth Council, addressing the body’s handbook and application paperwork as well as meeting dates, as well as an ordinance prohibiting various items from being left in city streets and rights-of-way.