City Council Workshop, May 6, 2026

Housing Initiatives And Regional Strategy

In Brief

Staff and regional partners presented a status update on housing goals, emphasizing that Dover maintains a diverse housing stock and utilizes innovative land-use policies like transfer of development rights and transit-oriented zoning to improve affordability.

Key Points

• Median home sale prices in Dover reached 574,000 dollars in March 2026, while high construction costs and land scarcity continue to pressure the market.
• The city continues to support housing through public-private partnerships, the removal of impact fees, and an increased allowance for accessory dwelling units.
• Regional housing coalitions highlighted that Dover serves as a municipal leader for other regional communities, citing the city’s success in leveraging grant funds and maintaining pro-housing regulations.
• Future efforts focus on developing a housing data dashboard to improve public transparency and utilizing community development block grants for rental rehabilitation.

Council Inquiry

• City Council members questioned the feasibility of a community land trust and inquired about strategies to better support the Planning Board when facing neighborhood opposition to projects.
• City Council members asked for clarification on how HUD fair market rent calculations interact with housing choice voucher utilization and expressed interest in pre-approved plans for housing developments.

Dredge Cell Closure And Maglaras Park Reconstruction

In Brief

The city is managing the closure of a dredge cell used for previous river maintenance projects while repurposing the site for snow storage and municipal parking.

Key Points

• The dredge cell has reached capacity, requiring a waiver from the state to complete necessary closures and site improvements.
• The project budget is $8.5 million dollars, which covers site capping, the construction of a parking area, roadway extensions, and the reconstruction of two baseball fields.
• The site will serve as a designated snow storage area for downtown during winter months, with a transition to recreational use for the park in the spring and summer.
• Reconstruction of the athletic fields is expected to be completed by 2028, with final layouts for parking and field use currently in the design phase.

Council Inquiry

• City Council members inquired about the potential for metered parking and requested that officials consider access for residents over purely commercial or business use.
• City Council members asked for information regarding long-term traffic impacts and potential alternative uses for the site, such as seasonal hockey space.

Financial/Strategic Outlook

• The city has secured $8.5 million dollars in total funding across multiple CIP cycles for the waterfront and park projects.
• The planning department is actively working to refine housing data to better inform future development decisions and identify where additional housing supply is most needed.
• Staff indicated that the next steps involve finalizing permitting with state environmental departments and coordinating with local sports leagues for the field layout.
• The city continues to balance the high costs of infrastructure and development against the goal of maintaining attainability for the local workforce.