Bedroom community along the Kennebecasis River going through growth spurt

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HAMPTON Hampton is in the throes of a residential surge like never before and its outgoing mayor believes managing that growth will be a top priority for the new council.

"The next council will have to probably look at trying to expand our boundaries somewhat," Jim Hovey said. "But it's got to be planned and controlled expansion."

Between 2005 and 2007 the value of building permits issued in Hampton more than tripled. The biggest jump was noted in the number of single family dwellings (SFD).

In 2005, Hampton approved building permits for nine terrace homes, six SFD and two semi-detached units. Two years later, another 16 terrace home permits were handed out, along with 15 SFD and six semi-detached. And in that time the value of the permits, which are consistently undervalued to foster growth, went from $2.2 million to $6.7 million.

Hampton's building inspector and long-time resident Richard King says anyone looking for a building lot in town should be prepared for a lengthy search.

"Right now if you come into my office and say ‘Where can I get a lot to build in Hampton?' I could tell you where you probably will be able to once we get these developments," he said.

Those developments are residential projects or phases of projects that have been tentatively approved for development. A subdivision at Dineen Crescent is the furthest along. Currently in its fourth phase, the Dineen development will consist of semi-detached dwellings and King said it has been very popular to date. Four lots to house four semi-detached units are planned. Two of the buildings have already received final approval.

The terrace dwellings at Pleasant View Estates, meanwhile, are entering their second phase.

"Will it all be terrace dwellings?" said King. "It very well could be if the demand keeps the way it is because they're selling them as fast or faster than they're building them."

Executive Estates is planned for a mostly wooded area between Donlea Drive and Riverdale. King said he believes it will be entirely SFD with larger lots and high-end homes.

"There's a call for it," he said.

Nearby, the Sanford subdivision will look to continue what has already been completed on Keilty Street with 10 lots tentatively approved for SFD.

The Links at Hampton, meanwhile, looks to provide all the comforts of home with an 18-hole golf course in the backyard. King said his knowledge of the Links leads him to believe that construction could begin as early as this summer.

And in other cases, previously empty and somewhat undesirable lots are suddenly hot commodities. King said those "rogue" lots that were perhaps the last of an old subdivision are being upgraded with the help of engineering firms to make them buildable.

"That's just because the availability of lots hasn't been there," King said.

Hampton, like Sussex, is feeling the economic aftershock of mega projects planned near Sussex and in Saint John.

"With the new potash mine and all the things that are going to happen in Saint John the LNG, the second refinery if it goes, the refurbishment of the nuclear plant people are going to automatically come to Hampton," said Hovey.

King said he had a couple from Sussex looking for a building permit recently for Hampton because it was strategically located between where the wife works in the Port City and the potash mine in Penobsquis where the husband works.

And the addition of a very popular and very affordable bus service to Saint John has only sweetened Hampton's appeal.