Northampton County Eyes Higher Density Housing to Address Growing Demand

EASTVILLE, Va. — Northampton County officials are preparing for higher population growth and housing demand, and they say the only way to meet it is by allowing more homes on smaller lots.

The Shore Daily News reported comments from the ESVA Chamber’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast in Wachapreague  this week: “We intended to invite developers to build houses to sell in the $250,000 to $350,000 range by offering incentives allowed by the Commonwealth, including higher density,” said County Administrator Charles Coker. “Right now, you can’t build a house in Northampton County on a lot smaller than a half acre, unless it’s already subdivided and platted… so we are talking about maybe changing that to allow building on a quarter acre, which makes a lot more sense for a house in the $250,000 to $350,000 range.”

According to a recent study by the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, Northampton County is short at least 1,000 low- and middle-income housing units.

“Even if that estimate is only half right, there’s still a need for 500 units,” he said.

Coker noted that while high-end homes in and around Cape Charles may boost county tax revenue, they do little to address the housing needs of working families and younger residents.

To avoid sprawling development and preserve open space, county officials are eyeing already existing—but mostly undeveloped—subdivisions as prime areas for growth. Coker said the county has around 100 such subdivisions, many of them created 20 to 30 years ago under older zoning rules.

“These are areas where infrastructure already exists or can be added more efficiently,” Coker said. “We want to focus our development around towns, not out in the middle of nowhere.”

County officials have not set a formal timeline for any zoning changes but say public input will be part of the process.