Want to shoot a movie in Hampton? There are now more places in the city where it is legal to do so.

The Hampton City Council voted unanimously at its December 13 regular meeting to amend its code, which previously stated that “television, radio, or film production activity” was only allowed in two specific commercial zonings, but the amendment will also allow it in the Downtown Mixed Use district.

The owner of an entertainment company petitioned the city for permission to open an entertainment production studio on Barnett Street but was informed that it would not be allowed, after which he petitioned the city to amend the code to permit it. There was a public hearing regarding this request, and one spoke for or against the measure.

The fee schedule for various development-related and business-related city services was adjusted and approved unanimously by the council. City officials said that rapidly changing market demand and supply for materials necessary to provide electric service for residential, commercial, and new development had made the existing fees no longer feasible.

As an example, city staff cited the cost of a transformer rising from about $1,200 to more than $10,000 in the past six months. Now each job will be based on actual costs of materials and labor and will be passed on to the applicant, officials said.

Consideration of a resolution authorizing the local legislative delegation to seek provisions for exemptions from the city’s ad valorem taxation was postponed until a special called meeting sometime in January.

Several others items were approved by the council at the December meeting, including the annual renewal of alcohol licenses which is usually done for all city businesses at the end of the year. Also approved were council meeting dates and holidays for 2023, appointment of members for the Main Street Advisory Board, and an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Hampton Downtown Development Authority.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to receive and adopt a Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study regarding the revitalization of King, George and Daniel Streets. Also approved was the transfer of a contract to a new company for the scanning and organization of city documents.