City officials discuss urban planning at retreat

Sept. 24, 2025 - The City Council met with other Hampton agencies on Wednesday for a retreat to discuss urban planning, placemaking and their shared vision for the city moving forward.

The retreat, at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, included Mayor Jimmy Gray and City Manager Mary Bunting, the City Council, the School Board, the Economic Development Authority, the Planning Commission and the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority. It was facilitated by Mitchell Silver of Raleigh, N.C., who began with presentations on how a city can effectively implement strategies that are beneficial to all demographic groups, as well as long-time residents and newcomers.

Mayor Gray, began the retreat by explaining that a strong working relationship among these groups was important to efficiently run a city the size of Hampton.

"We all have our separate and specific jobs to do, but in the big picture we have the same goal," he said. "Putting it simply, we are all committed and invested in moving the city forward. What do we want to see for Hampton? We want safe neighborhoods, exceptional schools, a thriving business community, a strong economy, and a city where every resident, every family, feels like part of the Hampton community. Those are big goals, and achieving them doesn't come easily."

Dr. Richard Mason, chair of the Hampton School Board, said it is important for Hampton City Schools to share a vision with the other agencies. He said those relationships have been critical in the successful implementation of the Academies of Hampton.

"We want to make sure we're all reading from the same sheet of music," Dr. Mason said. "People tend to move to a place where schools make a difference. The relationship we build with the council, and with the business community, helps us develop graduates who are ready to move right into the workforce."

Planning Commission chair Michael Harris said the goal of the retreat was "to get a worldview of not only what we have done and what we plan to do, but how to do it efficiently and creatively, and to develop a concrete approach to implementing these ideas."

The retreat took the place of the council's regular work session. At the evening legislative session the council voted to approve a temporary easement to allow the city to do road work in the 1400 block of North Armistead Avenue as part of the Raising Resilience Project. The council deferred a vote on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit camping and storage on public property.

Before the legislative session, the council held a ceremony to recognize people whose expertise played a role in Hampton earning its fifth All-America City designation, but who were not part of the delegation that gave the presentation before the National Civic League in Denver.

Full video of the retreat and the evening sessions will be posted here.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Economic Development Authority director Leonard Sledge talks with Planning Commission chair Michael Harris at Wednesday's retreat at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.