Happy Holidays from the Planning Department

From left, Donna Benton, Jim Maxfield, Jean Glidden, Rachel Blonigen, Ryan Pope, Jackson Kaspari, Paul Crouser, Erin Bassegio, and Dave Carpenter.

We wanted to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to the Dover community this holiday season! This year, the Department of Planning and Community Development continued to see exciting projects in the City of Dover, which included some changes in our own office. We were happy to welcome Inspection Services as a valued division of the department as we strive to meet the needs of Dover residents.

Here are just some of the highlights that Planning and Community Development saw in 2023:

• 31 acres of land, across three properties, authorized for conservation easements;

• Launched the Dover Community Power program;

• 16 community projects awarded through the Community Development Block Grant program;

• City Council adoption of the Citywide Resilience Plan;

• The creation of the Ad-hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs;

• Nine months of public engagement efforts resulting in the updated and adopted Vision Chapter of the Master Plan;

• Installation of multiple public art exhibits such as the Community Art Walls and "Snake Eyes" sculpture on the Dover Community Trail;

• Awarded, alongside John and Maggie Randolph, the 2023 Project of the Year by the NH Planner's Association for The Cottages at Back River Road;

• Unveiled two markers to honor the creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Dover;

• Supported the Dover Arts Commission in their successful efforts to take part in the Americans for the Arts economic impact study, Arts & Economic Prosperity 6;

• Celebrated the installation of the Voyage Mark II Solar System exhibition on the Dover Community Trail;

• Honored with the Visionary Leadership Award by the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast.

We also wanted to extend a special "thank you" to the citizen planners who volunteered their time and efforts this year on the City's Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Their dedication plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Dover and we are truly grateful for their positive impact and commitment to community service.

We are looking forward to 2024 and continuing our commitment to the community vision for Dover.

Council Adopts Capital Improvements Program

Following the endorsement of the Planning Board, the City Council approved three resolutions to adopt the FY2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at its meeting on Dec. 13.

The CIP is part of the City of Dover's community planning process. The six-year program links infrastructure spending to the goals and values outlined in the City’s Master Plan.

Click here to watch an overview of the adopted FY2025-2030 CIP presented by Planning Director Donna Benton.

The CIP document can be viewed online here. Copies are also available at City Hall and the Dover Public Library.

New Hampshire Planners Association

Annual Meeting

Members of the Dover Planning Department attended the NH Planner's Association (NHPA) Annual Meeting earlier this month to connect with colleagues from around the state and to learn from the professional development opportunities that were offered.

John Weaver, Chair of McLane Middleton's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Practice Group, provided a presentation to NHPA on several labor-saving functions of generative AI and how it can be applied in the workplace and reviewed the risks and ethical concerns of the application of generative AI.

From left, Jackson Kaspari, Ryan Pope, Donna Benton, Erin Bassegio, and Paul Crouser.

Staff members from NHDES were also present to discuss updates to their statewide initiatives such as the 2025-2029 Nonpoint Source Program Plan, Stormwater Manual, Cyanobacteria Program, and the Commercial and Municipal Green SnowPro Program. Information on this programming can be found on their website by clicking here.

Reminder: Dover Community Power now showing up on bills

Dover electricity customers enrolled in the Dover Community Power program will now see Dover Community Power as their electricity supplier beginning on their December Eversource bill. 

The December bill will be the first to show Dover Community Power as the power supplier since the program’s launch on Oct. 27, 2023. Most customers who were on Eversource’s default supply service were automatically enrolled in the Dover Community Power program. The program is voluntary and customers eligible to use Dover Community Power can opt in and out.

Example bill from Eversource showing Dover Community Power as the electricity supplier.

The default Dover Community Power product is the Granite Basic, which includes at least 23.4% renewable content. Customers may opt for higher renewable content, including 33%, 50% and 100%. Find more information by clicking here.

New rates expected next week

The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire will finalize its electricity rates for Feb. 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024 next week on Thursday, Dec. 28. Resilience Manager Jackson Kaspari, a member of CPCNH’s board of directors, said he expects a significant rate reduction for Dover Community Power customers and that the Granite Basic rate during this period is anticipated to be the lowest default rate offered in New Hampshire. Stay tuned for more information.

Planning Review Question

The Department of Planning and Community Development would like to hear your input! We'll be featuring a question for you to answer in each edition of the Planning Review, and we'll also share the results from the previous week.

This week's question: Do you know where to find information on the Dover Community Power program?

Let us know here: https://polco.us/my5fqa

Here are the results from last week's poll, which asked, "Do you find the Planning Department's resources, guidelines, and documentation easily accessible and understandable?"

Dover Download podcast: Your guide to what's happening this week

In this week's episode, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Dover City Councilor John O'Connor about his time serving on the council from 2014-2017 and 2020-2021. This episode is the fifth and final in a series with Dover policymakers over the decades.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn that the city's oldest hook and ladder firefighting company was formed on Dec. 21, 1831. Originally the Volunteer Hook and Ladder Company, it later became known as the Invincible and Lincoln hook and ladder companies over its decades of service.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and by clicking here.

Results of Recent Meetings

Conservation Commission, 12/11/2023

The Conservation Commission met on Monday, Dec. 11, where it:

• Endorsed the City of Dover Conditional Use Permits and NHDES Wetlands Permit for David Lemieux, (Agent: Gove Environmental Services, Inc.), Assessor’s Map 8, Lot 19, zoned R-20, located at 14 Leighton Rd. Proposal is to demolish an existing single-family house and cottage and construct a new single-family house and cottage further inland creating 1,908 square feet of temporary impact and 2,067 square feet of permanent impact to the 50-foot wetlands buffer as well as 2,887 square feet of temporary impact and 8,362 square feet of permanent impact to the Conservation District. 

• Discussed updates on the Natural Resource Inventory project and Conservation and Open Space Master Plan chapter;

• Reviewed Correspondence received from NHDES;

• Heard an update from the Forest Management Subcommittee.

Click here to find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available.

Planning Board, 12/12/2023

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, Dec. 12, where it:

• Approved an Extension Request for a conditionally approved Site Plan and Lot Line Adjustment for JSR, LLC, Assessor’s Map D, Lots 11-5 & 11-5SND, zoned IT, located at Quality Way and Venture Drive. Proposal is for the Planning Board to extend the period of time for conditions to be met prior to plan signing. *(WAIV-2023-0011)

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Oak Point Associates (Owner: Portsmouth Christian Academy), Assessor’s Map J, Lot 1-C, zoned R-40, located at 20 Seaborne Dr. Proposal is to expand the existing playground area creating 607 square feet of temporary impact and 3,852 square feet of permanent impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0058)

• Approved a Minor Subdivision for The Hawkins Family Revocable Trust, Assessor’s Map 2, Lot 20, zoned CBD-G, located at 297 Central Ave. Proposal is seeking a subdivision for title purposes. *(SUBM-2023-0007)

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Nathan and Amy Perkins and Brian S. and Sarah Hennaco, Assessor’s Map M, Lots 67 & 68-B, zoned R-20, located at 128 Dover Point Rd. and 19 Tuttle Ln. *(LOTA-2023-0013)

• Continued to the Board's Jan. 9 meeting, Transfer of Development Rights for Brian Slovenski, Assessor’s Map L, Lot 111, zoned R-20, located at 306 Dover Point Rd. Proposal is to purchase two additional living units, for a total of six living units, within three buildings. *(TRAN-2023-0005)

• Held a public hearing and recommended for adoption the City’s proposed Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) FY 2025-2030. The CIP can be found on the City website and in the Library, City Clerk’s office, and the Planning Department. *

Note: * denotes public hearing; (20XX-XXXX) denotes the application number.

Click here to watch the meeting or click here to find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available.

Energy Commission, 12/20/2023

The Energy Commission met on Wednesday, Dec. 20, where it:

• Heard a presentation from Siemens and ReVision Energy;

• Discussed reports on Community Power, Municipal Energy Generation, Transportation, and Net Zero;

• Heard staff updates on the NH Small Business Development Center Resiliency Day, Solar Ordinance Workshop, and Community Solar.

Click here to find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available.

Zoning Board of Adjustment, 12/21/2023

The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) met on Thursday, Dec. 21, where it:

• Continued to the Board's Jan. 18 meeting, the consideration of a request for a Variance by applicant Cleveland, Waters, and Bass, (Owner: Paul J. Seaver), at 105 Durham Rd., Tax Map H, Lot 6-4 located in the Low Density Residential District (R-20). The request is for a Variance from Section 170-12.A of the Zoning Ordinance, to allow for multi-family use for a group home for adults. *(ZONE-2023-0050)

Note: * denotes public hearing; (20XX-XXXX) denotes the application number.

Click here to watch the meeting or click here to find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available.