Dover Housing Survey

The City of Dover, in partnership with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) and University of New Hampshire, is currently conducting a regulatory audit to find out what barriers and opportunities are present in the housing choices available in Dover.

As part of this project, the team has created a survey to collect information about your housing journey in Dover. Whether you are a renter, homeowner, business owner, student, or have any other type of connection to Dover, you are likely aware of the competitive housing market that is creating challenges across the region. This 10-15 minute survey is a great way for your experience to inform our solutions. There is also an option at the end of the survey to leave your contact information if you would like updates on the project.

For questions about the project, please contact Housing Navigator Ryan Pope at R.Pope@dover.nh.gov or Outreach Coordinator Erin Bassegio at E.Bassegio@dover.nh.gov.

To access the Dover Housing Survey, click here.

Learn About Transfer of Development Rights

On Thursday, March 7, Planning Director Donna Benton and Housing Navigator Ryan Pope presented on the City of Dover's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Ordinance as part of the NH Municipal Association's (NHMA) presentation series, "Local Solutions to the State’s Housing Crisis Webinar Series."

The presentation provided an overview on the City's TDR Ordinance, including examples of developments in Dover that have applied TDR, and how it can be adapted to other communities to allow development to grow organically while also preserving green spaces.

To view the NHMA presentation, click here.

Community Development Block Grant

Fiscal Year 2025 Action Plan

The City of Dover has adopted the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY25 Action Plan. The Action Plan identifies how the City plans to use federal CDBG funds during the next fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 to meet the goals and objectives that were approved as part of Dover’s CDBG Consolidated Plan.

City Council held a public hearing and voted to approve the FY25 Action Plan on February 28, 2024. The Action Plan is now available for public review and comment. The final day for this comment period will be April 15, 2024, after which time, all comments received during the comment period will be forwarded along with the FY25 Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for their 45-day review.

Anyone wishing to submit comment on the FY25 Action Plan should do so in writing by April 15, 2024. This can be done by mail to the Planning and Community Development Department, Attn. Dave Carpenter, 288 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820 or by email to d.carpenter@dover.nh.gov.

Copies of the FY25 Action Plan are available for review in the Dover Planning Office, Dover Public Library, or by clicking here.

Housing Navigator Discusses City's Encouragement of Accessory Dwelling Units

Housing Navigator Ryan Pope was featured on WMUR-TV on March 13 discussing the city's efforts to encourage homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property as a way to provide more affordable housing within the city. Pope is working with banks and credit unions, such as Northeast Credit Union, to provide home renovation loans to homeowners to assist with the building of ADUs. Click here to watch the segment.

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 encourage you to take the Dover Housing Survey!

Submit your responses here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZSPQRHG

Thank you to those who responded to last week's poll, which asked, "What types of community events would you like to see organized along the Dover Community Trail in the future?"

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 Michael Scala, the Economic Development Director for the city of Rochester and discusses the city's focus on revitalizing downtown Rochester and highlights successful projects and Rochester's collaboration with neighboring communities.

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

Upcoming Meetings

Technical Review Committee, 3/21/2024

The Planning Board's Technical Review Committee (TRC) will meet on Thursday, March 21, at 10:30 a.m. On the agenda:

• Site Review for Future Automation, LLC (Owners: DIBIDA), Assessor’s Map D, Lot 11-8, zoned IT, located at Quality Way. Proposal is to construct a light manufacturing facility consisting of two buildings, 24,000 square feet and 10,000 square feet, each with office space and associated infrastructure. (SITE-2024-0002) This item was previous heard by the Planning Board Technical Review Committee on February 15, 2024. 

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

Results of Recent Meetings

Arts Commission, 3/4/2024

The Arts Commission met on Monday, March 4, where it:

• Reviewed the Commission's budget;

• Discussed the 2024 Community Arts Champion Nomination; 

• 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, 3/5/2024

The Community Trail Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, March 5, where it:

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

• Discussed visioning and goals for the Community Trail.

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

Conservation Commission, 3/11/2024

The Conservation Commission met on Monday, March 11, where it:

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

• Approved $20,000 Conservation Fund request for 2024 Urban Street Tree Project;

• Discussed milfoil treatment for Willand Pond;

• 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, 3/14/2024

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, March 14, where it:

• Approved an Extension Request for a conditionally approved Subdivision for 59 Tolend Rd, LLC, Assessor’s Map E, Lot 65-1, zoned R-20, located at Tolend Road. Proposal is for the Planning Board to extend the period of time for conditions to be met prior to plan signing. *(WAIV-2024-0002)

• Approved five Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) for Eversource Energy for a proposed R169 utility transmission line structure replacement project. In total, the proposed project will create 21,249 square feet of temporary impact to the Conservation District, 56,885 square feet of temporary wetland impact, and 29,941 square feet of permanent impact to the wetland buffer. *(COND-2023-0063, COND-2023-0064, COND-2023-0065, COND-2023-0066, COND-2023-0067)

• Approved posting proposed Amendments regarding the making of the Technical Review Committee, Chapter 153-6 (Site Plan Regulations). The full text of the amendments is available in the Planning Department and on the City of Dover website located under meeting materials and on the Planning Department page.*

• Approved posting the proposed Amendments regarding the Technical Review Committee definition, Chapter 157-60 (Subdivision Regulations). The full text of the amendments is available in the Planning Department and on the City of Dover website located under meeting materials and on the Planning Department page.*

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.