HAMPTON — The city is considering allowing residents to have a second dwelling on their property as part of a broader effort to diversify housing options. Before voting on the matter, however, the city will seek input from residents.
This month, the City Council discussed how to go about allowing what’s known as accessory dwelling units. Accessory dwelling units — often abbreviated as ADUs — are smaller secondary housing units with their own kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Some common examples of ADUs include carriage houses or garages turned into rental apartments or used as in-law suites.
Hampton Community Engagement Manager Monica Meharg said the city wants to increase its housing stock. She said the lack of available housing and the cost of housing were why many are migrating out of the city, pointing to a recent survey conducted by Fahrenheit Advisors. She said accessory dwelling units can be a tool to address this problem.
Hampton only allows accessory dwelling units in a small area of the city that falls in some of the special zoning districts of Buckroe Bayfront. Online city zoning maps show this area to be to the west and south of Buckroe Beach Park. Outside those limited zoning districts, scattered properties have accessory dwelling units that were built before Hampton established its zoning ordinance.