Planning Board holds first CIP public hearing Tuesday

posted on 10/12/2026

The Dover Planning Board will discuss and hold its first of two public hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2028-2033 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

City Manager J. Michael Joyal Jr.'s presented the proposed fiscal year 2028-2033 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at the Oct. 7 joint workshop session of the City Council and Planning Board. The six-year plan outlines $243,018,282 in proposed capital investments, including $30,645,418 for FY2028.

At the workshop, Director of Planning and Community Development Donna Benton guided members of both boards through the proposal, which identifies major infrastructure, facility, equipment and other capital needs, along with projected costs, funding sources and schedules.

Although the City Council will vote on adopting the entire six-year plan, only the first year, FY2028, is funded. Projects proposed for subsequent years serve as a planning guide and are reviewed and updated annually. The first-year projects and appropriations will be incorporated into the proposed FY2028 municipal budget, which the city manager will present to the City Council in February.

The CIP includes projects costing at least $25,000 with a useful life of three years or more. Funding comes from several sources, including the annual operating budget, capital reserves, debt financing and grants. The city evaluates projects based on community needs, alignment with the city's Master Plan, and available financial resources.

During the presentation, Benton explained that scheduling projects involves balancing priorities with financial constraints.

"It is based off priority, but it's also about what we can afford each year," Benton said.

The complete 225-page CIP document, along with the Oct. 7 presentation and previous years' plans, is available on the city's Capital Improvements Program webpage. The document includes a summary of proposed projects, followed by detailed project descriptions, funding information and financial projections.

Printed copies are also available for public review at the Planning Department and City Clerk's Office at City Hall, and at the Dover Public Library.

Public hearings and upcoming review

The Planning Board will begin its review of the proposed CIP on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when it will hold its first public hearing. The board will evaluate whether the proposed projects are consistent with priorities established in the city's Master Plan.

The Planning Board is scheduled to continue its review on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with Nov. 10 available if it needs additional time. Following its review, the board will make a recommendation to the City Council.

The City Council is expected to take up three CIP resolutions at its Wednesday, Oct. 28 meeting. The resolutions address adoption of the six-year planning document, appropriations for FY2028 non-debt-financed projects, and authorization of appropriations and bonding for FY2028 debt-financed projects.

The Council will refer the resolutions to public hearings, providing additional opportunities for residents to comment. An additional Council workshop may be held Nov. 4, if needed. A final vote on the CIP is anticipated for Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Benton will also discuss the CIP, how projects are prioritized and how residents can participate in the review process on the Tuesday, Oct. 13 episode of the Dover Download podcast, hosted by Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker.

For the complete CIP, supporting documents, information about the review process and the Oct. 7 workshop video, visit the city's CIP webpage.