October 14, 2022
Welcome from the Planning Director
Hello everyone,

October…full of apples, colorful leaves, chili, and of course, National Community Planning Month. This past Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the City Council meeting, the Mayor read a proclamation recognizing the professional planners and volunteer members of our land use boards. It was so nice to have the chairs of the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, and Energy Commission there to be recognized. Dover would not be the amazing community it is without all the time and effort by citizen planners on our boards and commissions, so thank you to all of you volunteering on our land use boards!
National Community Planning Month is an opportunity to take a step back and look at the impact planning has on our community. The American Planning Association is specifically looking at how planners are leading the way forward in our communities after the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had. This includes focusing on small business strategies, closing the digital gap, reinventing the roles of Planning Departments, looking at roads to recovery, and to feel re-inspired. Feel free to check out conversations happening around the country using #PlanningMonth on social media.

Questions about development and the role of planners in the City of Dover? Please email E.Bassegio@dover.nh.gov.

Enjoy,
Donna P. Benton, AICP
Director of Planning and Community Development
Energy Awareness
Resilient Dover is releasing a series of Green Tips and the latest is on the subject of Energy Awareness. These easy tips can reduce your energy use at home and contribute to a more Resilient Dover! Looking for more Green Tips? You can access them by clicking here.
Thank you to Northeast Color!
Thank you to workers from Northeast Color in Dover, who painted a new mural last week in the tunnel in Henry Law Park between the Children's Museum of New Hampshire and Dover Adventure Playground. They also touched up spots along the Community Trail and worked on projects at the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

We appreciate all their donated time and materials on these projects and contributing to making Dover such a wonderful place to live and work.

Thank you, Northeast Color!
Capital Improvements Program

The proposed FY2024-2029 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) was presented on Wednesday, Sept. 21, to the City Council and the Planning Board at a joint workshop. You can watch the full workshop by clicking here.

The CIP has been reviewed by the Planning Board and City Council, and each body has held public hearings. The Planning Board has sent its recommendation to City Council, which will be voting on the CIP at an upcoming meeting, likely at either its Oct. 26 or Nov. 9 meetings

The complete FY2024-2029 CIP book is available online and can be reviewed in person at the Library, City Clerk’s office, and the Planning Department.

For a look at how the CIP is prepared, click here.
Dover Download podcast:
Your guide to what's
happening this week

In addition to each week's email edition of Dover Download, the City of Dover offers a weekly podcast. The podcast is hosted by Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker, who chats each week about the city's programs, services, public bodies, and projects. Each episode also takes a brief detour to the past with a look back at the week in Dover's history.

In this week's episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Services Director John Storer and Environmental Projects Manager Gretchen Young about stormwater. Stormwater, which comes from rain, snow and other precipitation, is absorbed by soil and plants or remains on impervious surfaces, like pavement or rooftops. Young and Storer discuss how Dover manages stormwater runoff, including the possible creation of a stormwater utility, which has been recommended to the City Council by a committee formed to look at stormwater funding options.

Once one of the largest fraternal orders in the country, the Knights of Pythias were well established in Dover. This week, in 1933, was an important time for the Pythians in Dover. We look back at why in This Week in Dover History.

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: Smart Growth

Smart Growth is an approach to planning that looks to achieve and balance economic, social, and environmental prosperity. The Dover Planning Department, as noted on the City Website, promotes Smart Growth through its progressive examination and implementation of land use regulations.

The American Planning Association's Policy Guide on Smart Growth provides more detailed information on the Smart Growth approach to planning inclusive, livable communities.

Also, be sure to check out the American Planning Association's highlights on National Community Planning Month by clicking here.
If you have a word of the week or topics that you want to hear about, please email E.Bassegio@dover.nh.gov.
Upcoming Meetings
Energy Commission, 10/19/2022

The Energy Commission will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m. On the agenda:

  • Review Proposed Electric Aggregation Plan.

  • Debrief from 2022 Apple Harvest Day Electric Vehicle Show.

  • Debrief from Oct. 5 Council Workshop. 

Find the complete agenda, where minutes and an audio recording will be posted when available, here:
Zoning Board of Adjustment, 10/20/2022

The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:00 p.m. On the agenda:

  • Z22-10/ZONE-2022-0006, Owner Liberty Real Property LLC (Jessie Davies) 145 Fourth St., (Tax Map 33, Lot 82), located in the Medium-Density Residential (R-12) Zoning District request a Variance of dimensional requirements from Section 170-12.B. of the Zoning Ordinance to allow construction of an approximately 30’ x. 19.5’ house, 5.3’ from the front build-to-line, where 15’-25’ is required.*

  • Z22-11/ZONE-2022-0007, Owners Scheller P. Karl & Patricia A. Trustees / Scheller Family Trust (Karl & Patricia Scheller), 10 Isaac Lucas Cir., (Tax Map M, Lot 90 A-6), located in the Rural Residential (R-40) Zoning District, request a Variance of the dimensional requirements from Section 170-12.B. of the Zoning Ordinance to allow construction of a 16’ x 20’ addition to the existing house, 16’ from the rear property line, where 30’ is required.*

Note: * denotes public hearing.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes and an audio recording will be posted when available, here:

To watch a video preview of the meeting with Zoning Administrator Natasha Kypfer, visit
Technical Review Committee, 10/20/2022

The Planning Board's Technical Review Committee (TRC) will meet on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m. On the agenda:

  • Site Review for Summit Land Development, (Owner: 7 West, LLC), Assessor’s Map H, Lot 11, zoned Gateway, located at Durham Road, 250’ north of Daley Drive. Proposal is for construction of a 14,160 square foot three story medical office building. Three Conditional Use Permits will also appear before the Planning Board. [This item was previously heard on June 2, 2022] (P22-39) 

Note: (PXX-XX) denotes Planning Board application number.

Find the complete agenda, where minutes and an audio recording will be posted when available, here:
Results of Recent Meetings
Arts Commission, 10/3/2022

The Arts Commission met on Monday, October 3, where it:

  • Reviewed ongoing project updates, which includes work with the 400th Committee, the Committee for Graffiti Management, and the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee.

  • Discussed the ongoing Americans for the Arts Survey with member and staff updates.

Find the complete agenda, draft minutes, and an audio recording of the meeting here:
Community Trail Advisory Committee, 10/4/2022

The Community Trail Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, Oct. 4, where it:

  • Heard staff updates on ongoing projects such as the Voyage Solar System exhibit and Trail expansions.

  • Discussed graffiti management proposals and an upcoming volunteer service day on the Trail.

Find the complete agenda, draft minutes, and an audio recording of the meeting here:
City Council Workshop, 10/5/2022

The City Council met for a Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 5, where it:

  • Heard an overview from School Business Administrator Limanni on the list of proposed School CIP Projects to the Council.

  • Discussed the list of recommended changes to the CIP provided to the Council by the City Manager.

  • Heard an Energy Commission Report by Energy Commission Chair Bill Baber.

  • Heard a presentation by Dr. Kaspari, the City’s Resilience Manager, regarding “The Citywide Resilience Plan and Beyond."

Find the complete agenda, draft minutes, reports, and an audio recording of the meeting here:
Planning Board, 10/11/2022

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, Oct. 11, where it:

  • Held a public hearing and voted to recommend to City Council the City’s proposed Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) FY 2024-2029. The CIP can be found on the City website at www.dover.nh.gov and in the Library, City Clerk’s office, and the Planning Department.*

  • Continued until the Board's Oct. 25 meeting its consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for William C. Fisher and Chaney N. Fisher, Assessor’s Map 7, Lot 2, zoned R-20, located at 1 Boston Harbor Rd. Proposal is to install a 960 square foot addition, new deck stairs, an outdoor shower, replace the existing driveway with pervious pavers, install a pervious paver walkway and concrete pad for utility equipment creating 534 square feet of temporary wetland impact, (419 square feet within the Conservation District), and 2,890 square feet of permanent wetland impact, (1,306 square feet within the Conservation District). *(P22-58/COND-2022-0011)

  • Approved a Conditional Use Permit for White Birch Armory, (Owner: Recon Realty, LLC), Assessor’s Map G, Lot 3-A-100, zoned CM, located at 80 Industrial Park Dr. Proposal is for a 20,287 square foot addition with associated expanded parking, additional drainage and grading, creating 6,975 square feet of wetland buffer impact. *(22-65/COND-2022-0029)

  • Approved the Site Plan for White Birch Armory, (Owner: Recon Realty, LLC) Assessor’s Map G, Lot 3-A-100, zoned CM, located at 80 Industrial Park Dr. Proposal is to construct a 20,287 square foot addition to increase office and warehouse space on site, including additional parking, landscaping, lighting and stormwater management improvements. *(P22-63/SITE-2022-0013)

Note: * denotes public hearing; (PXX-XX) denotes Planning Board application number.

Click here to watch the meeting. Find the complete agenda at:
Technical Review Committee, 10/13/2022

The Planning Board's Technical Review Committee (TRC) met on Thursday, Oct. 13, where it reviewed:

  • Site Review for Wooden Ruler Realty, LLC (Owner: Wong, John & Wong, Mo Y Trustees of the Mo Y Wong Living Revocable Trust of 2006), Assessor’s Map 6, Lots 32 & 40, zoned CBD-G, located at 42-44 Third St. Proposal is to construct a 103,000 square foot mixed-use building with commercial uses on the first floor, a below grade parking area, and 58 residential units. A Conditional Use Permit for the street, tree, and bench requirements of the CBD-G District adjacent to Third Street will also appear before the Planning Board. (P22-60) [This item was previously heard on August 25,2022]

Note: (PXX-XX) denotes Planning Board application number.

Find the complete agenda, draft minutes, and an audio recording of the meeting here:
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF DOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE
City Hall, 288 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 516-6008
Monday - Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.