Discover Dover's Natural Resources

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission, in association with the City of Dover, is conducting an inventory of natural resources in Dover. They invite interested parties to join them to plan for the future of Dover’s natural resources on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium for a fun night of activities.

Join members of the Conservation Commission, Planning Department, and partners at Strafford Regional Planning Commission and Resilience Planning and Designs to help build a vision together.

For questions about the event, please email Outreach Coordinator Erin Bassegio at e.bassegio@dover.nh.gov.

To RSVP for the event, click here.

Master Plan Overview

City Council held a workshop last week on Wednesday, Feb. 6, to discuss the city’s master and strategic plans. Planning Director Donna Benton and Outreach Coordinator Erin Bassegio provided an overview of the city's master planning process and discussed current and recent chapter updates.

Unlike other communities, the City of Dover updates the chapters of the Master Plan on a rotating basis every 5-10 years which offers the city a strategic and adaptable approach to long-term planning with continuous improvement and ongoing public engagement.

Director Benton also presented on the 2024 annual review by the Planning Department of the Master Plan recommendations. This review examines the nearly 600 goals and action items outlined across the eight chapters of the Master Plan and provides a status update on implementation. To view the 2024 Master Plan review summary, click here.

The presentation also highlighted the recently updated Vision Chapter and the work currently underway to update the Open Space and Conservation Chapter, last updated in 2012.

To watch the City Council workshop presentation, click here.

Planning Review Question

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

This week, we want to know:

What amendments or changes would you like to see made to the City of Dover's Zoning Ordinance?

Submit your answer here: https://polco.us/fhwbz3

Thank you to those who responded to last week's poll, which asked, "How many acres of protected land are there in the City of Dover?"

The correct answer is... a little over 3500 acres and counting!

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

In the latest episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Eric Chinburg, owner of Chinburg Properties, which has owned and redeveloped the mills in downtown Dover for the past 15 years.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Maria Ricker, a prominent women's rights activist who lived in Dover in the late 19th/early 20th century. 

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

Results of Recent Meetings

Arts Commission, 2/5/2024

The Arts Commission met on Monday, Feb. 5, where it:

• Reviewed the Commission's budget;

• Reviewed the presentation by the Commission at the Library on the Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 impact study;

• Reviewed the Winter Arts Gathering at SHE Studios;

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

• Reviewed and reported on 2024 Commission Goals and planned projects.

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

Community Trail Advisory Committee, 2/6/2024

The Community Trail Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, Feb. 6, where it:

• Reviewed ongoing projects such as the Trail expansion, public art on the Trail, and outreach efforts;

• Discussed visioning and goals for the Community Trail.

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

Conservation Commission, 2/12/2024

The Conservation Commission met on Monday, Feb. 12, where it:

• Endorsed five Conditional Use Permits for Public Service of New Hampshire. The proposals are for a R169 utility transmission line structure replacement project creating temporary wetland and Conservation District impact. The project will also create permanent impact to wetland buffer;

• 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, 2/13/2024

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, Feb. 13, where it:

• Approved a Site Plan for City of Dover, Assessor’s Map H, Lot 58, zoned IT, located at 271 Mast Rd. Proposal is to build an approximately 5,791 square foot building with parking and basement storage for Inspections Services in Phase I and Community Services in Phase II. RSA 674:54 applies. *(SITE-2024-0001)

• Approved an Amendment for Q, LLC, Assessor’s Map D, Lot 11-4, zoned IT, located at 110 Venture Dr. Proposal is an amendment that removes/deletes notes numbered 28, 30, 31, 32, and 33 from the section entitled “Utility Notes” on Sheet 4 of the Site Plan P21-77. *(WAIV-2024-0001)

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Andrew & Holly Smith and Laurie Anderson, Assessor’s Map 17, Lots 131 & 132, zoned R-12, located at 11 & 13 Hawthorn Rd. *(LOTA-2024-0001)

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for DRVP, LLC, Assessor’s Map 14, Lots 10- G-0, G-5, G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, zoned R-12, located at Porch Light Drive, 16, 17, 15, 11, & 9 Porch Light Dr. *(LOTA-2024-0002) 

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.

Zoning Board of Adjustment, 2/15/2024

The Zoning Board of Adjustment met on Thursday, Feb. 15, where it:

• Approved a Variance for applicant, Eddins Investments, LLC, at 6 Milk St, Tax Map 30, Lot 108 located in the Urban Density Multi Residential (RM-U). The applicant requested a Variance from Section 170-11.D of the Zoning Ordinance, to allow for change in use from a warehouse and office space to a musical collaboration space and office space. *(ZONE-2024-0002)

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.