In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Planning Director Donna Benton about recent development activities in Dover. Benton provides an overview of various projects approved by the Planning Board in the first half of 2024, including housing developments, commercial projects, and amendments to existing plans. They discuss the challenges of balancing housing needs with conservation efforts, particularly in relation to Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) requests. Benton highlights the ongoing work on the city's Master Plan, including updates to the Conservation and Open Space chapter and plans for the Land Use chapter. The conversation touches on the Community Trail's expansion and various art projects along the trail. Benton also mentions the progress of the Community Housing Needs Committee and their work on regulatory audits to support attainable housing. The discussion covers the difficulties faced in the Capital Improvements Program due to rising costs and inflation. Throughout the conversation, Parker and Benton reflect on the changes in Dover's planning processes over the years and the increasing public engagement in planning matters.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the devastating fire that destroyed Dover's City Hall on August 3, 1933. The segment describes the grand opera house that was part of the building and mentions the construction of the current City Hall, which opened in 1935.
