A public hearing was convened immediately before the Hampton City Council’s December 14 regular meeting to address a proposed mini-warehouse self-storage facility, and the council voted later that evening to take the first step toward final approval.
The first readings of two separate ordinances related of the request were approved. The vote on both agenda items was 4-2.
One was regarding a request for a conditional use permit at the site, which is zoned neighborhood commercial, to allow for the development of the facility. The other was a request for a variance to reduce the minimum lot size for self-service storage in that zoning category from five acres to 4.1 acres, which is the size of the lot in question. Both of these items were first considered in June and the council voted then to postpone action.
In other business, alcohol license renewals for a dozen Hampton businesses received approval from the City Council by unanimous vote. The city customarily addresses all of the licensed establishments in the city for the coming year at the council’s last meeting of the current year. According to a city staff report, all of the businesses in question had paid the required fees and had background checks completed and cleared by the Hampton Police Department.
Another standard end-of-year agenda item, adoption of a resolution approving 2022 regular council meeting dates and city holidays, was postponed until the January meeting.
One of two agenda items related to employee compensation received approval. The council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance to allow the acceptance of $1,000 per full-time public safety official and first responder from an outside grant. A motion to approve a cost-of-living base pay increase for city employees who did not receive an annual increase failed by a 2-4 vote.
The council adopted a resolution accepting the terms of a contract for a state grant between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the city to build Phase II of East Hampton Community Park.
