Citywide mailer to alert residents of proposed TDR, zoning amendments

posted on 8/18/2026

The City of Dover’s Planning Department is mailing a letter city-wide informing residents and property owners of proposed amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance, including proposed revisions of the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) zoning ordinance.

The letter includes a list of the proposed amendments; the full text of the proposed zoning amendments is published on the Planning Department’s website. The letter also includes the date of the Planning Board’s public hearing on the proposed changes, which will occur on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, and Sept. 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

Proposed revisions to the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) ordinance were endorsed by the Planning Board’s TDR Subcommittee, which has met regularly since April 2025, to review and suggest changes to the ordinance. The subcommittee’s endorsed language is included in its July 15, 2026 meeting agenda materials. The Planning Department also has a webpage about the TDR ordinance.

The chair and vice chair of the TDR Subcommittee, Leslie Herd and Jan Nedelka, and Zoning Administrator Paul Crouser, gave an overview to the Planning Board of the proposed revisions at the Planning Board’s July 28, 2026 meeting. Watch the discussion.

Other, but not all, proposed ordinance changes include:

Moving computer and data processing from permitted uses in the Innovative Technology zones to a conditional use and creating specific restrictions;
Updating swimming pool regulations to match the state building code;
Amending the Customary Home Occupation ordinance;
Amending a variety of definitions in the code.

Following the Sept. 8, 2026 and Sept. 22, 2026 public hearings, the Planning Board will consider endorsing the amendments. If it does, the endorsed amendments will go to the City Council for ratification. The City Council will also hold a public hearing on any proposed zoning amendments changes before taking a vote to authorize any ordinance changes.

For more information, contact the Planning Department at 603-516-6008.