March 17 2023
Planning Department Budget Proposal

The City Council held a budget workshop session on Wednesday, March 15. As part of the workshop, Planning Director Donna Benton provided a presentation of the fiscal year 2024 budget proposal for the Department of Planning and Community Development. Director Benton reviewed highlights of the FY24 budget, which includes the award of the InvestNH Community Housing Navigator Grant. The grant will fund a new, two-year position that will serve as a coordinator within the community to examine current housing development activities and regulations and to identify any needed regulatory changes to address housing challenges.

Other highlights of the FY24 budget proposal included the upcoming update of the Open Space and Conservation Chapter of the Master Plan, professional development opportunities for staff, and overall customer service and outreach. Continuing priorities from the previous fiscal year were also discussed, as shown in the graphic below.
Director Benton also reviewed department trends per fiscal year surrounding the number of development projects, permit applications, building square footage of site plans, and the number of new units and lots permitted. Director Benton noted that the number of new units per lot was trending upwards, which could be attributed to the department's revising of the Transfer of Development Rights process nearly five years ago, which has since allowed for increased density per property lot.

The March 15 budget workshop session, and all other budget workshops of the City Council, can be viewed on the FY2024 Budget Revealed webpage by clicking here.

To view the accompanying slides from the FY2024 Budget Presentation for the Planning Department, click here.

The next budget session is Wednesday, March 22, when a public hearing on the city portion of the budget will be held during the City Council's regular meeting that evening which begins at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Distinctly Dover, the Master Plan's Vision Chapter update project, continues to hold "Vision on the Go" sessions throughout the community to encourage a wide range of participation in the update project.

Over 300 residents have provided input as to their vision for the future of Dover. There are only a few more Vision on the Go sessions scheduled for this initial round of public input. To arrange a visioning session at your upcoming event of community gathering, please email Erin Bassegio at e.bassegio@dover.nh.gov.

As part of the session, we will facilitate a visioning exercise that includes questions on what you feel are the challenges that Dover faces, the strengths of the city, and what you'd like to see in the future. This input is critical to guide the Vision Chapter update.

For more information, please visit the Distinctly Dover project webpage.
Dover Download podcast: Your guide to what's happening this week

In this episode of Dover Download, another in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses the role of the City's Finance Department with Finance Director Dan Lynch.

In This Week in Dover History, we take a trip back to Dover's dungeon.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at https://anchor.fm/cityofdovernh.
Planning Word/Phrase of the Week: Plat
A plat, as defined by the Dover Code, is a map or plan of a subdivision or a site plan and is prepared by a registered surveyor or engineer. A plat is drawn to scale and shows the size and location of the structure being proposed.

A plat is prepared in compliance with all applicable provisions of Chapter 170, Zoning, Chapter 153, Site Review Regulations, and Chapter 157, Land Subdivision Regulations of the Code of the City of Dover.
Upcoming Meetings
Planning Board, 3/28/2023

The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in City Hall's Council Chambers where it:

  • Consideration and possible vote on posting the proposed Amendments to Chapter 170 (Zoning). The full text of the amendments is available in Planning Department and at www.dover.nh.gov located under meeting materials and on the Planning Department page. *

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Lot Line Adjustment for Laurie S. Anderson and Andrew R. and Holly Welsh Smith, Assessor’s Map 17, Lots 132 and 131, zoned R-12, located at 13 & 11 Hawthorne Rd. *(LOTA-2023-0001)

  • Consideration and acceptance of an Amendment of Site Review for American Durafilm Co., Inc. (Owner: AD Dover, LLC), Assessor’s Map D, Lot 11-10, zoned IT, located at 9 Innovation Way. Proposal is to relocate a transformer pad and site landscaping, including a request for a waiver to not screen the transformer. *(WAIV-2023-0002)

  • Consideration and acceptance of an Amendment of Site Review for Macs Convenience Stores, LLC, Assessor’s Map K, Lot 19-C, zoned R-12, C & IT, located at 30 Dover Point Rd. Proposal is to relocate landscaping and an additional transformer for EV charging. *(WAIV-2023-0003)

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (d/b/a Eversource Energy, c/o Kurt Nelson), Assessor’s Map H, Lot 4, zoned IT, located near Cielo Drive. Proposal is to perform maintenance work on the 345kV 307 Transmission Line involving a single utility structure replacement and optical ground wire replacement creating 773 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands and 624 square feet of temporary impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0029)

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (d/b/a Eversource Energy, c/o Kurt Nelson), Assessor’s Map K, Lots 2 & 4-C, zoned R-12 & CWD, located in an existing M183 utility right of way (ROW), between Henry Law Avenue and the Cocheco River. Proposal is the replacement of 5 wooden utility poles with weathered steel structures creating 3,489 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands and 12,100 square feet of temporary impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0030)

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (d/b/a Eversource Energy, c/o Kurt Nelson), Assessor’s Map K, Lot 6 & Map M, Lot 4-OPN, zoned R-40 & IT, located at existing M183 ROW between Pointe Place and Middle Road. Proposal is the replacement of 3 wooden utility poles with weathered steel structures creating 2,494 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands and 6,915 square feet of temporary impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0031)

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (d/b/a Eversource Energy, c/o Kurt Nelson), Assessor’s Map M, Lots 47,49, 138, 142, 143 and 163, zoned R-12, G and R-20, located at existing M183 ROW between Polly Ann Trailer Park, Dover Point Road and Toftree Lane. Proposal is the replacement of 3 wooden utility poles with weathered steel structures creating 9,416 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands and 9,835 square feet of temporary impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0032)

  • Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (d/b/a Eversource Energy, c/o Kurt Nelson), Assessor’s Map M, Lots 83-5, 10, 9, 6, 11,12 and 13, zoned R-40, located at 38, 39, 47 and 48 Overlook Dr., 8 Canney Ln., 34 and 44 Quaker Ln. Proposal is the maintenance work on the 345KV 307 Transmission Line involving a single utility structure replacement and optical ground wire replacement creating 2,023 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands and 12,847 square feet of temporary impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0033)

  • Consideration and acceptance of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) request for Diamond Capital, LLC, Assessor’s  Map D, Lot 10, zoned R-12, located at 42 Long Hill Rd. Requesting to purchase six TDR units for a project of up to 34 residential lots including the existing single-family home. *(TRAN-2023-0001)

  • Public hearing to consider amendments to Chapter 170, entitled “Zoning” of the code of the City of Dover. Amendments include re-titling, formatting, construction signs, ground-mounted solar, rooftop solar, window sign definitions, CWD green roof requirements, clarifying Gateway lot coverage and screening requirements, dark sky compliance for general site lighting, moving and amending non-environmental conditional use permit criteria, wetland protection district purpose and intent, wetland Conditional Use Permit criteria, TDR waiver criteria, TDR criteria, window and development signs, amendment notice requirements, removing Educational Institution from CM table of uses, and reducing RCM threshold area to 20 acres. 

  • Public hearing to consider amendments to Chapter 153-A, entitled “Site Review Regulations” of the code of the City of Dover. Amendments include amount of copies, site plan applicability, application requirements, and removing the 90-day extension for Planning Board action. 

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

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Technical Review Committee, 3/23/2023

The Planning Board's Technical Review Committee (TRC) will meet on Thursday, March 23, at 10:30 a.m. in City Hall's Council Conference Room, where it will review:

  • Site Plan for VC Dover Investment, LLC, Assessor’s Map H, Lot 4-3-1, zoned Commercial, located at 30 Grapevine Dr. Proposal is to build a new 15,040 square foot, four story mixed use building next to the Hannaford Supermarket on Grapevine Drive. (P22-72/SITE-2022-0017). [This item was previously heard on Nov. 17, 2022, Jan. 5, 2023, and Feb. 16, 2023]

Note: (PXX-XX or 20XX-XXXX) denotes application number.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Open Lands Committee, 3/23/2023

The Open Lands Committee will meet on Thursday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall's First Floor Conference Room, where it will review:

  • Public Land Conservation Projects and updates on other ongoing projects and events.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Results of Recent Meetings
Arts Commission, 3/6/2023

The Arts Commission met on Monday, March 6, where it:

  • Discussed updates for ongoing projects, including the Commission's work with other public bodies like the Graffiti Committee and Waterfront Committee;

  • Overviewed the progress of the Americans for the Arts Survey.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Conservation Commission, 3/13/2023

The Conservation Commission met on Monday, March 13, where it:

  • Voted to endorse the NHDES Standard Dredge and Fill Wetlands Permit Application for Xiao Hui Ye Revocable Trust (Agent: Cardin Environmental Consulting and Permitting), Assessor’s Map L Lot 89-H, zoned R-20, located at 196 A Dover Point Rd. Proposal is to maintain and expand the existing 100’ pier, gangway and float of a tidal docking structure creating 712 square feet of new permanent impact to tidal wetlands within the previously developed Tidal Buffer Zone.

  • Moved to support the letter written by the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions, which is in opposition to the proposed Boards and Licenses reform which would eliminate license requirements for professions including wetland scientists, soil scientists and foresters. 

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Energy Commission, 3/15/2023

The Energy Commission met on Wednesday, March 15, where it:

  • Discussed updates on the Community Power program, new energy sources, and transportation and net zero goals.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
Technical Review Committee, 3/16/2023

The Planning Board's Technical Review Committee (TRC) met on Thursday, March 16, where it:

  • Reviewed and provided feedback on an Open Space Subdivision for Chinburg Development, LLC, Assessor’s Map N, Lot 13-1, zoned R-40, located at Oak Street & Gulf Road. (11 new lots.) (SUBD-2023-0001).

Note: (PXX-XX or 20XX-XXXX) denotes application number.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes will be posted when available, here:
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF DOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE
City Hall, 288 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 516-6008
Monday - Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.