Community Housing Needs Committee Update

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, City Council approved an extension request by the Ad Hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs, giving the Committee until Jan. 31, 2025, to finalize its efforts.

In 2023, City Council established the Ad Hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs, initially requiring it to submit a final report by Sept. 2024. However, in light of recent extensions to the grant programs supporting the Committee’s efforts, the term extension was requested to conclude its work.

The Committee has been tasked with building upon actions related to housing already taken by the City, assessing barriers to affordability, and proposing long-term solutions to encourage the creation and preservation of attainable housing options for all. The findings and recommendations will be included in their final report submitted to City Council.

The Committee’s work is currently supported by two InvestNH grant programs, Housing Opportunity Planning (HOP) and Housing Navigator, whose timelines were extended by New Hampshire Housing on July 16, 2024, to amend completion dates to Dec. 31, 2024 and Feb. 28, 2025, respectively. 

Questions or comments on the work of the Committee can be directed to Housing Navigator Ryan Pope at r.pope@dover.nh.gov.

Rooting for Dover

This week's episode of the Dover Download podcast delved into the topics of street trees and clean energy initiatives in the City of Dover. Deputy City Manager Chris Parker chatted with Resilience Manager Jackson Kaspari, Planning Department intern John DesRoches, and Facilities and Grounds Superintendent Mark Colonna. The group discussed Dover's street tree replacement program, emphasizing benefits like aesthetics, drainage, heat reduction, and public health. Also discussed was the project’s origins, tree replacement process, funding, and species diversity. They also addressed the phased removal of ash trees due to emerald ash borer infestation.

Later in the episode, Parker and Kaspari covered the Dover Community Power program, highlighting new electricity rates, renewable energy options, and the program’s flexibility to encourage clean energy adoption.

To listen to the episode, or previous episodes of the Dover Download podcast, click here.

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 want to know:

What are your top priorities and concerns regarding housing in Dover?

Submit your responses here: https://polco.us/fpwhbr

Here are the results from the last poll, which asked, "Where would you like to see more street trees in Dover?"

Results of Recent Meetings

Ad Hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs, 8/22/2024

The Ad-Hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs met on Thursday, Aug. 22, where it:

• Discussed Housing Navigator updates and held work group break out sessions.

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

Master Plan Steering Committee, 8/22/2024

The Master Plan Steering Committee for the Conservation and Open Space Chapter met on Thursday, Aug. 22, where it:

• Reviewed draft chapter actions and a draft chapter outline from project consultants, Resilience Planning & Design;

• Reviewed outreach efforts for the update project.

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

Planning Board, 8/27/2024

The Planning Board met on Tuesday, Aug. 27, where it:

• Held a public hearing and recommended for approval to City Council the proposed amendments to Chapter 170, entitled “Zoning" of the code of the City of Dover. The full text of the amendments is available in the Planning Department and on the city website located under Planning Board meeting materials. *

• Held a public hearing and recommended for approval to City Council the draft substantial amendments to the FY23 and FY24 CDBG Annual Action Plans. The full text of the amendments can be found here. *

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Shawn L. Arkwell & Drew Family Revocable Trust, Assessor’s Map F, Lots 6 and 8, zoned R-40, located at 258 Tolend Rd. and Tolend Road. *(LOTA-2024-0010)

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Andrew Koellmer and Natalie A. Hoginski, Assessor’s Map L, Lot 14-L, zoned R-20, located at 59 Spur Rd. Proposal is to construct an addition to a residential home, creating 256 square feet of permanent impact to the Conservation District. *(COND-2024-0021)

• Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Andrew Koellmer and Natalie A. Hoginski and Natalie Koellmer, Assessor’s Map L, Lots 14-P and 14-L, zoned R-20, located at 3 and 59 Spur Rd. *(LOTA-2024-0008)

• Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Edward John Williams III and Lydia N. Williams, Assessor’s Map L, Lot 44, zoned R-20, located at 167 Spur Rd. Proposal is for 6,114 square feet of total disturbance within the Conservation District for the re-development of the residential lot. *(COND-2024-0022)

• Moved to table the following item until a future regular Planning Board meeting: Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Heath J. Todd Revocable Trust, Assessor’s Map M, Lot 104, zoned R-40, located at Back Road. Proposal is to create an access drive to the developable portion of the lot where a single home and accessory structures are to be built, permanently impacting 8,880 square feet of wetlands and 29,176 square feet of the 50-foot wetland buffer. There are also 151 square feet of temporary impact to wetlands. *(COND-2024-0023)

• Moved to table the following item until a future regular Planning Board meeting: Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for Heath J. Todd Revocable Trust, Assessor’s Map M, Lot 104, zoned R-40, located at Back Road. Proposal is to have 1,110 square feet of permanent impact and 73 square feet of temporary impact are proposed to the Conservation District associated with a patio path, patio, and access to a proposed tidal docking structure. *(COND-2024-0027)

• Applicant requested the following item be continued to the regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting on Oct. 8: Consideration and acceptance of a Conditional Use Permit for 17-19 Summer Street Properties, LLC, Assessor’s Map 12, Lot 35-1, zoned HR, located at Locust Street. Proposal is to build a 2,400 square feet four unit building in the Heritage District. *(COND-2024-0020)

• Applicant requested the following item be continued to the regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting on Oct. 8: Consideration and acceptance of a Site Review for 17-19 Summer Street Properties, LLC, Assessor’s Map 12, Lot 35-1, zoned HR, located at Locust Street. Proposal is to build a 2,400 square feet residential building consisting of four, two-bedroom units, improved driveway access, parking, utilities, and drainage improvements. *(SITE-2024-0003) 

• Applicant requested the following item be continued to a future regular Planning Board meeting: Consideration and acceptance of an Amendment to a Site Plan for Wooden Ruler Realty, LLC, Assessor’s Map 6, Lot 40, zoned CBD-G, located at 42-44 Third St. Proposal is to modify the building design and amend conditions of approval, numbers 13 and 19 in regards to parking. *(WAIV-2024-0012) 

• Approved a Site Plan for Berry Surveying & Engineering (Owners: Pillar Imaging, LLC), Assessor’s Map 31, Lot 11, zoned CBD-T, located at 1 Grove St. Proposal is for the construction of a 25-space parking lot. *(SITE-2024-0007)

• A discussion was held on Impact Fees and Planning Board members requested draft amendments to revise the Impact Fee program in Dover. *

Note: * denotes public hearing; (20XX-XXXX) denotes the application number.

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