Distinctly Dover, the Master Plan's Vision Chapter update project, has been holding "Vision on the Go" sessions throughout the community to encourage a wide range of participation in the update project. The input received at these events will help us create Dover’s community vision for 2035.

There have been nine visioning sessions held so far where we've heard from a variety of Dover residents and stakeholders on their vision for Dover's future. We've also received input at two tabling events in the community and over 100 Dover residents responded to our online survey and gave their one wish for the future of Dover.

To ensure your input is included in the Vision Chapter update, please email Erin Bassegio at [email protected] to arrange a Vision on the Go session at your upcoming event or community gathering. 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.

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) is holding a public comment period until Tuesday, March 14, 2023 on its draft Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).

This project looks in-depth at the housing needs of the region across all income levels and provides a foundation for change by including tools, recommendations, and strategies for local decision makers to address these issue in their communities.

The draft can be reviewed at the Dover Public Library or by clicking here.

Please submit comments before March 14, 2023 to [email protected].

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Jeff Spires from Dover Main Street about the organization's ninth annual Run Before You Crawl 5K road race and restaurant crawl on Saturday, March 18. For more information about Dover Main Street's Run Before You Crawl, visit https://dovermainstreet.org/race/.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back at Dover's largest natural disaster, known as "Dover's Black Day."

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: Conditional Use Permit

You'll see on the agenda below for the upcoming Planning Board meeting on March 14, that there are a number of Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) being considered.

While a CUP can be issued in a variety of situations such as for a larger development plan, as called for in the Residential Mixed Use Overlay District, for shared parking, or relief in the Central Business District, the permits on the agenda below are environmental Conditional Use Permits.

An environmental CUP is required for any alteration of wetlands, wetland buffers or work within the City’s conservation district. Also, environmental CUPs are acted on by the Planning Board after the Conservation Commission has reviewed the applications.

You can read more about Conditional Use Permits, and their place in the planning process in Dover, by reading the Developer's Handbook, a resource to assist property owners and developers in developing and redeveloping their property.