Happy Holidays from the Planning Department

We’d like to take a moment to send our warmest wishes to the Dover community this holiday season!

A heartfelt “thank you” also goes out to the citizen planners who generously volunteered their time and efforts this year on the City’s Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Your dedication plays a pivotal role in shaping Dover’s future, and we deeply appreciate your positive impact and commitment to community service.

We are looking forward to 2026 and continuing our commitment to the community vision for Dover.

ADU Certificate of Use Renewals

If you have an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property, this is a friendly reminder that the City of Dover requires the Certificate of Use for ADUs to be renewed each January, in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance (§170-24.H.).

Renewals are easy and can be completed online through the City’s permitting portal.

If you’ve used the portal before, your existing username and password should still work. New users can register directly on the site. Have questions or need help with the process? We’re happy to assist — just give us a call at 603-516-6008.

If a renewal application is not received, the City will follow up with a notice indicating that the certificate is no longer valid and the ADU use must cease. If your ADU is no longer in use, please let us know so we can update our records.

Thank you for helping keep Dover’s housing records up to date!

City receives preservation grant to study 1888 Dover Water Works Pumping Station

From Left to Right: Mayor-Elect Dennis Shannahan, Mayor Robert Carrier, LCHIP's Executive Director Paula Bellemore, LCHIP's Board Chair Richard Lewis, Governor Kelly Ayotte, and Assistant City Planner Makayla Edgecomb.

The City of Dover was awarded a $12,500 preservation grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Program (LCHIP) to support a building assessment of the historic Dover Water Works Pumping Station on Lowell Avenue.

Constructed in 1888, the Pumping Station was the city’s first municipal drinking water pumphouse. The Pumping Station was erected on Page’s Field, a site with a natural spring that had belonged to the Dover Landing Aqueduct Company, one of three private water utility companies purchased by the city, authorized by voters in 1887.

The building received water from Willand Pond, filtered it through a sand filter, and pumped it to an open reservoir at the top of Garrison Hill via a steam pump powered by coal-fired boilers. Pumping water to the top of Garrison Hill immediately improved Dover’s quality of life by providing water pressure around the city for drinking and fighting fires. The site was deemed eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places based on a 2011 review, which stated the building “is a true and exceptional example of the Queen Anne style, combining a variety of pronounced architectural features representing several styles.”

The LCHIP grant sought by Dover’s Planning and Community Development Department will fund a comprehensive building assessment and structural review to better understand the structure’s condition and the potential feasibility of preserving and readapting the pumping station.

Dover’s Heritage Commission has supported efforts to explore preservation options for this historic building.

"This grant is a step in the right direction," said Heritage Commission Chair Jeff Spires. "We're looking forward to seeing what comes from this assessment."

The Dover Water Works preservation award, which requires a match from the city, was among the more than $3.5 million in matching grants to support 31 land conservation and historic preservation projects across the state announced during a ceremony in the statehouse with Gov. Kelly Ayotte. These LCHIP awards aim to help communities restore historic landmarks, conserve working forests, and protect natural and cultural resources.

About New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage

Investment Program

The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire’s municipalities and non-profits, helping to preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their contribution to the economy, environment, and quality of life in New Hampshire. LCHIP grants are funded by a $25 fee assessed when deeds, mortgages, and plans are recorded at the state’s ten registries of deeds. Since 2001, LCHIP has awarded 646 grants, totaling over $68 million. As of July 2025, the program’s investment has helped to conserve 247,000 acres of land and rehabilitate 192 historic structures across 206 communities in the state. Learn more about LCHIP at LCHIP.org, on Instagram, or Facebook.

Recent Meetings

Below are summaries of recent land use meetings in the City of Dover. These meetings cover topics such as residential and development proposals, updates to the city's Master Plan, and energy and conservation initiatives.

For more information on all public meetings in Dover, including agendas, minutes, and recordings, please click here.

Conservation Commission, 12/8/25

The Conservation Commission met on Monday, Dec. 8, where it:

• Endorsed the application for a Conditional Use Permit for 914 Central Avenue, LLC, located at 914 Central Ave. Proposal is to redevelop the site and construct a childcare facility, resulting in an approximate 1% increase in impervious surface area from existing conditions, for a total of about 45% impervious coverage within the Secondary Groundwater Protection District.

• Endorsed the application for a Conditional Use Permit for 16 Industrial Park, LLC, located at 14 Industrial Park Road. Proposal is to construct a new warehouse building, and an addition to the existing building with extended paved areas resulting in a total impact of approximately 6,073 square feet of wetland buffer impacts.

The Committee also discussed:

• Correspondence Received from NH Department of Environmental Services
• Update from Forest Management Subcommittee
• Handbook and By Laws
• Elections Next Month

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

Planning Board, 12/9/2025

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, Dec. 9, where it:

• Approved a Minor Subdivision for Ryan A. Hardin & Melissa L. Wheeler, located at 143 Long Hill Road. Proposal is for a minor subdivision creating one (1) new lot.

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Paula J. Revocable Trust & Charles N. Panasis Revocable Trust, located at 280A Dover Point Road & Dover Point Road.

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Emily Mae Corey & Eddie Ernest Fernandez and Brian S. & Sarah Gennaco, located at 126 Dover Point Road and 19 Tuttle Lane.

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Lori Flex & William David Goldenthal located at Saddle Trail Drive. Proposal is for the construction of a single-family home within the Conservation District due to the amount of impacts, approximately 10,997 square feet, within an area containing slopes greater than 20%.

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Summit Land Development, LLC located at 14 Industrial Park Road. Proposal is to construct a warehouse and addition with a total impact of approx. 6,073 s.f. to wetland buffers in the Wetland Protection District.

• Approved a Site Plan for Summit Land Development, LLC located at 14 Industrial Park Road. Proposal is to construct an approx. 14,560 s.f. warehouse and an approx. 6,200 s.f. addition to the existing structure.

• Approved a Site Plan Amendment for Jones & Beach Engineering located at 851- 888 & 829-833 Central Avenue. Proposal is to convert former department store to a fitness facility consisting of 10 pickleball courts and fitness areas with a 24’ wide driveway connection between the two parcels.

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for 914 Central Avenue, LLC, located at 914 Central Avenue. Proposal is to redevelop the site and construct a childcare facility, resulting in an approximate 1% increase in impervious surface area from existing conditions, for a total of about 45% impervious coverage within the Secondary Groundwater Protection District.

• Approved a Site Plan Amendment for Jones & Beach Engineering, located at 851- 888 & 829-833 Central Avenue. Proposal is to convert former department store to a fitness facility consisting of 10 pickleball courts and fitness areas with a 24’ wide driveway connection between the two parcels.

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for 914 Central Avenue, LLC, located at 914 Central Avenue. Proposal is to redevelop the site and construct a childcare facility, resulting in an approximate 1% increase in impervious surface area from existing conditions, for a total of about 45% impervious coverage within the Secondary Groundwater Protection District.

• Approved a Site Plan for Civilworks New England, c/o InSite Development Services, LLC located at 914 Central Avenue. Proposal is to construct a 10,075 s.f. childcare facility.

Several Items on the Agenda were continued to the next Planning Board Meeting. The following items will be heard on January 27, 2025:

• Consideration and acceptance of a Minor Subdivision for Diversified Building and Maintenance, LLC, Assessor’s Map 25, Lot 46, zoned R-12 & G, located at 6 Granite Street. Proposal is for a minor subdivision creating one (1) new lot.

• Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Hawkins Family Revocable Trust, located at 33 Sixth Street. Proposal is to remodel the interior of the existing structure and utilize it as a two-unit residential building, where residential units are not allowed by right due to the lot size.

• Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Hawkins Family Revocable Trust, located at 33 Sixth Street. Proposal is to remodel the interior of the existing structure and utilize it solely for residential use, where a commercial use on the ground floor is required.

• Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for James Farrell Construction, LLC located at 13 Monroe Street. Proposal is to allow for increased density to four (4) units, where three (3) are allowed by right in the Gateway District.

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

Zoning Board of Adjustment, 12/18/25

The Zoning Board of Adjustments met on Thursday, Dec. 18, where it:

• Approved the request for a Variance from Dev Atma Khalsa (Owner: The Gurubhai Khalsa Trust) at Page Avenue. The request is to construct a single-family dwelling with an attached garage 15’ from the rear lot line where 30’ is allowed.

• Approved the request for Variance at 28 Dover Point from 25 Dover Point, LLC to allow for the construction of a commercial building within a residential zoning district.

• Approved the request for a Variance at 28 Dover Point from 25 Dover Point, LLC to permit a front setback of 78.1’ where the front build-to line requires a max of 25’.

• Approved the request for Variance at 28 Dover Point from 25 Dover Point, LLC to allow for a commercial property closer than 150’ from a residential structure within a residential zone.

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

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.

As we wrap up the year, what would you like the City of Dover to prioritize in the year ahead?



Let us know here: https://polco.us/n/res/vote/dover-nh/plan-review-poll

Responses from Last Week's Question:



Which Dover spot — whether a hidden gem or a favorite park — helps you feel most connected to the community?

Volunteer Opportunities

With the new year coming, it is a great time to consider joining one the City's Boards or Commissions. Dover is a vibrant community due in large part to the energy and talent of citizen participation on the City's many boards and commissions. Current vacancies include Conservation Commission, Open Lands Committee, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. For a full list of openings, please visit the City's website. Please click here to download a public body member application (PDF) to apply for membership.