The City of Dover invites the public to attend a public hearing to provide feedback on the posted zoning amendments. The public hearing is scheduled as part of the Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Planning Board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The 25 amendments will promote development that will have a positive tax impact, provide more opportunities for a mixture of commercial and residential uses, and facilitate a wider range of accessory uses for residential properties.The proposed amendments were presented to the Planning Board at their work session on June 26 after seven months of drafting and review by the Planning Board. The amendments are the result of an ongoing comprehensive effort by the Planning Board to review the land use regulations for the community. The amendments were developed by Planning Board members and interested volunteers together with staff. They include, among other things, adjusting zoning boundaries to expand the Central Business District to provide more opportunities for a mix of uses, adjusting split zoned lots, creating a pair of new zoning districts, expanding opportunities for agricultural uses, establishing accessory dwelling units as a permitted use in residential zones to account for changing demographics and the needs of our residents, updating our child care and customary home occupation regulations, and more.
A letter has been mailed to all property owners explaining each of the amendments, and inviting recipients to attend the public hearing.
According to Christopher Parker, Director of Planning and Community Development, “We have tried to explain the amendments in laymen’s terms, understanding that you shouldn’t need to have a master’s degree in planning to understand the City’s land use regulations. We want to have amendments that can be understood and worked with, ones which create opportunities and not roadblocks.”
The complete text of the proposed amendments is available on the city's website at www.dover.nh.gov, listed under the "Current Reports” section on the home page.
Additionally, a copy is available for inspection under the Planning Department’s page. Hard copies are available at the Public Library and the City Clerk's Office and Planning Department at City Hall.
After the July 24 public hearing, a second hearing before the Planning Board will be held on Aug. 28. Should the Planning Board approve the changes, the amendments will be forwarded to the City Council for its review.
For more information please contact the City of Dover Department of Planning and Community Development at 516-6008.
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