Community Development Block Grant Applications Now Available

The Department of Planning and Community Development is now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Application materials are available online and at the Dover Planning and Community Development Department located at City Hall, 288 Central Ave. Eligible public service agencies, individuals, and organizations can apply for funding for projects from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, and must be emailed to Community Development Planner Dave Carpenter at d.carpenter@dover.nh.gov.

Eligible activities include property acquisition, public facility improvements, public services, and economic development, with the focus on benefiting low- and moderate-income people, addressing slums and blight, or meeting urgent community needs.

The CDBG program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), supports projects that revitalize neighborhoods, expands economic opportunities, and provides improved community facilities and services.

For more information or assistance, contact Dave Carpenter at d.carpenter@dover.nh.gov or 603-516-6008, or visit the Community Development webpage.

Knotweed Knockout

Thank you to everyone who joined our Knotweed Knockout event on the Community Trail.

A special thank you to Wendy Scribner, County Forester with the UNH Cooperative Extension, for sharing her expertise on Japanese knotweed, answering questions, and providing guidance on appropriate removal and mitigation techniques.

The method used at this event — cutting and careful removal in spring and fall — is a mitigation strategy to help slow the spread of knotweed and create space for native species to return.

Want to learn more about recommended mitigation and removal methods? Visit: Invasive in the Spotlight: Japanese Knotweed & Preventing the Spread of Japanese Knotweed.

Planning Department at Apple Harvest Day

Planning Department staff and volunteers had a lot of fun at Apple Harvest Day. Staff members and volunteers were able to answer questions from residents and discuss housing in Dover, the Dover Community Trail, and updates to the Master Plan.

Planning staff also sought feedback related to the update of the Master Plan's Land Use Chapter. An important component in the Land Use Chapter is the future land use map. This is different from a zoning map and it is meant to be a visual representation of the future land use strategy for Dover and illustrates where and how land use will be guided and shaped over the next ten years.

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.

As we talked about in our last newsletter, we want to know your thoughts on the draft Future Land Use Map.

Let us know here: https://polco.us/sdquyv

We appreciate your responses on the Future Land Use Map and look forward to sharing the results.

Upcoming Meetings

Below are summaries of upcoming 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.

Planning Board, 10/14/2025

The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, October 14, where it will:

• Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Tina M. Sawtelle, located at 476 Sixth Street. Proposal seeks to allow overlapping impacts to wetland buffers and the Conservation District for an expansion of an existing single-family home with approx. 181 s.f. of permanent wetland buffer impacts and approx. 554 s.f. of temporary buffer disturbance.

• Consideration of an Amendment to a previously approved TDR Subdivision/Site Plan for 5 Sherman Street, LLC located at 10 and 11 Banner Drive and 9 Sophie Drive. Proposal seeks to amend the 1,400-square-foot size restriction for the subject properties as set in the previously approved plans [P21-87].

• Consideration and possible posting on the proposed Amendments regarding Chapter 153 (Site Plan Regulations) in relation to the requirements of NH House Bill 413 regarding vesting period for approved plans.

• Consideration and possible posting on the proposed Amendments regarding Chapter 157 (Land Subdivision Regulations) in relation to the requirements of NH House Bill 413 regarding vesting period for approved plans.

The full text of the amendments is available in the Planning Department Office, on the city's website contained within the Planning Board's meeting materials, and on the Planning Department webpage.

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

Zoning Board of Adjustment, 10/16/2025

The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, Oct 16th, where it will consider:

• Owners Katrine B. & John M. MacGregor 50 Mount Vernon Street, located in the Urban Density Multi-Residential District (RM-U), requests a Special Exception to, following the conversion of an existing 3-unit home to a 2-unit home, construct a 2-unit addition for an increased from 3-units to 4-units total. 

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