Public hearings slated for proposed expansion of Community Revitalization District, water meter replacements

posted on: 1/22/2021; updated: 1/26/2021

The City Council is scheduled to hold three public hearings at its 7 p.m. meeting this Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The first public hearing is whether the City Council should appropriate $704,000 from the Water Fund capital reserve to finance a portion of the remaining funding needed to complete the replacement of older water meters. According to City Council agenda materials, 4,038 old water meters need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $1,177,326. The resolution to approve the capital reserve appropriation requires a two-thirds vote by the City Council.

The other two public hearings are related to the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive Program as outlined in state law RSA 79-E.

One public hearing is on whether the City Council should expand the City of Dover’s Community Revitalization District to include the area surrounded by First Street, Second Street, Chestnut Street and Central Avenue. There is currently a Community Revitalization District near City Hall where Robbins Auto headquarters once stood and where the new Orpheum Apartments now stands.

The second public hearing is whether the City Council should authorize the City Manager to enter into a development agreement with Chinburg Management, LLC., for the redevelopment of the former Strafford County Superior Court, located at 1 First Street. If the City Council approved the expansion of the Community Revitalization District as proposed, it would include the old courthouse property. This would allow Chinburg Management and other property owners in the block to apply for property tax relief through RSA 79-E. The goals of the agreement and the expansion of the Community Revitalization Distract include retaining the historic building and providing increased options for affordable housing.

In November, City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. signed a term-sheet agreement with Eric Chinburg of Chinburg Management, LLC., which lays out a roadmap for a development agreement if authorized by the City Council.

According to the term-sheet agreement, the City of Dover would approximately maintain the property’s current tax valuation for seven years. Beginning in tax year 2030, there would be a guaranteed tax assessed value of the property of $7 million. If the actual assessed value were below $7 million at that time, the developer would owe the difference. If the assessed value was above $7 million, the developer would owe the higher amount. Currently, the property is assessed at $789,100. The guarantee is an increase in valuation of more than 780 percent during the tax credit period.

If the City Council authorizes Joyal to enter into a development agreement, Chinburg Management would still need to submit an RSA 79-E application and meet the requirements dictated by RSA 79-E. According to the term sheet agreement, if the City Council does not approve Chinburg Management’s RSA 79-E application, either party of the development agreement may terminate the contract. An RSA 79-E application includes review and comment by the Heritage Commission and Downtown Dover Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board before the City Council finalizes its review.

The City Council discussed the potential of expanding the Community Redevelopment District at its Jan. 6, 2021 workshop, which can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here.

The City Council is also expected to appoint a new City Councilor for Ward 4 to fill out the term of Joshua Manley. The City Council accepted his resignation at its Jan. 6 meeting. (More information about the two applicants can be found in this edition of Dover Download and online here.)

Click here for City Council’s Jan. 27 meeting’s full agenda.

In addition to the public hearings and Citizens’ Forum where Dover residents, business owners and property owners may address the City Council, emails and voicemails can also be submitted to the Council. Email all City Councilors at once using the address CityCouncil-All@dover.nh.gov or call 516-MEET (6338) and leave a message. To be heard ahead of a particular meeting, call or email at least three hours before the meeting begins.

As with speaking at a public hearing or Citizens’ Forum, phone messages and emails sent to all board members will be retained as part of the meeting minutes and are subject to New Hampshire’s Right to Know law, RSA 91:A.

The City Council meeting will be televised on Channel 22 and available for on-demand viewing at https://dovernh.viebit.com/index.php.