FY2011 CITY COUNCIL EXPECTATIONS OF
CITY MANAGER
4.
Continue to communicate with the community through hosting of periodic ward and
neighborhood meetings such as quarterly Dover Discussions along with exploring
new methods to increase interaction and participation by citizens in local
governance and community forums.
The Department of Planning and Community Development
continued to update its blog, face book page and twitter feed to communicate
with the public. The Department of Planning and Community Development has 142
Facebook (City of Dover NH Planning) friends and 279 followers on Twitter
@DoverNHPlanning).
During the month of January, nine (8) Planning blog posts
were drafted, including one on recounting the winter sign sweep; two reviewing
the benefits of citizen involvement in planning activities, one announcing the
availability of community development block grant applications, one welcoming
our new assistant city planner, one discussing changes to FastTrans, one about
discerning aesthetics in community character; one discussing the Planning
Director’s Leadership Seacoast activities, and finally a blog post reviewing
Planning activities in December. The blog had over 500 page views in the month
of January.
The Department of Planning and Community
Development promoted the Dover Community Trail through the facebook fan page
for the trail (with 296 fans), as well as a Sustainable Dover facebook fan page
for the trail (with 122 fans).
The Director of Planning and Community
Development filmed four Dover Download video segments to air on Channel 22. The
topics included land use amendments, the winter sign sweep and the capital
improvement’s program.
The Director of Planning and Community
Development attended the Business after Hours held by the Chamber of Commerce
on January 17, 2012 at Blackman Chiropractic as well as the City Council and
School Board inauguration on January 2, 2012.
Finally, this month the Department of Planning and Community
Development sent out 38 letters to new homeowners congratulating them on their
purchase, as well as informing them of the current zoning for their property
and alerting them to the various methods the department uses to inform and
update the public.
8.
Attend workshops and participate in other education opportunities to further continuing
professional development.
In January, the
Director of Planning and Community Development staff participated in one (3) webinars. The topics were all
related to performance standards and understanding your customers.
The Director
of Planning and Community Development began as one of the 35 participants in
the Leadership Seacoast program. This program is 9 full days, spread out over 4
months, designed to challenge personal assumptions about critical issues while
exploring diverse ideas, resources and practices. This is all done with a focus
of the seacoast region.
The Director of Planning and Community Development is part of
the team developing conference topics and themes for this year’s New Hampshire
Planner’s Association annual conference in May.
9.
Develop a closer working relationship with the School Department and all other
City Departments. Further explore and pursue opportunities where City and
Schools can combine and/share services for the benefit of the community and
report to the City Council.
The Planning Department followed up with
the School Department on the projects that had been included in the Capital
Improvement’s Program. The follow up was both to understand the projects that
may begin as part of the FY 2013 authorization, but also included a review of
potential projects for FY14 – 19.
10.
Support local businesses to aid in the community’s economic growth by working
in conjunction with local economic development groups and business
organizations.
The Director of Planning and Community Development attended
the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours that occurred on
January 17, 2012. As a result of this
BAH, staff was able to assist three businesses with questions that had been
asked at that session.
12.
Complete the implementation of the ongoing energy efficiency improvements and provide
periodic reports of energy savings.
In December, Johnson Controls, Inc (JCI).
Submitted an installations report based upon the completion of the installation
phase of the energy infrastructure improvements. This began the monitoring and
verification process. As part of that monitoring and verification, ADI Energy,
which had been retained by the City to monitor the investment, is reviewing the
installation report and working to clarify benchmarks and data contained within
the installation report.
Additionally, Planning and Community
Development staff are working with JCI to develop the format and process by
which the City will receive data pertaining to the measurements of the savings
forecasted by the Performance Contract the City has with JCI.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT
UPDATES:
FOCUS/GOALS:
Planning
and Community Development staff conducted a sign sweep, the 9th
through 12th of January. This sweep resulted in the City removing 21
illegal signs from the right of way, or utility poles. This is a reduction from
the same sweep one year ago.
The
Planning Department continued to work towards completion of the Community
Trail. In January work on the trail included working towards an easement
agreement with two abutters to the trail, as well as coordinating two separate
grants to secure funds for extensions of the trail toward the south of Fisher
Street.
The
Planning Department applied for consideration by the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology for inclusion in its “Building the Capacity of Coastal Communities
in New England to Address Climate Change Risks Through the Use of Role-Play
Simulations” program. This program will allow staff to work with MIT graduate
students to plan for climate change and work towards the City’s sustainability
goals.
In
addition to the day to day activities in the Planning Department, staff
facilitated the following applications before Boards and Commissions:
Planning Board
·
Granted
a 90-day extension for a minor lot line adjustment plan for Fenton & David
Groen, located at 67 & 75 Central Avenue.
·
Held
two public hearings on amendments to the Site Plan Review ordinance
o
After
the second, the Board approved the amendments
·
Held
two public hearings on amendments to the Subdivision of Land ordinance
o
After
the second, the Board approved the amendments
·
Held
its goal setting session and outlined workshop topics and land use amendments
to review in 2012.
Zoning Board
·
No
cases were heard
Conservation Commission
·
NHDES
Dredge and Fill Permit for the City of Dover located on Watson and Tolend Roads.
o
This
will allow the City to rehabilitate 3.7 miles of Tolend Road and Watson Road
with associated drainage and slope improvements. The total impact to roadside ditch line
wetlands is 37,070 square feet.
·
A
Conditional Use Permit was tabled for Michael and Shelby Brewer located on
Fourth Street
o
This
would allow encroachment into the wetlands buffer for a house and driveway.
Transportation Advisory Commission
·
Received
an update on parking concerns at Park Street Park.
·
Reviewed
a request from a resident to install a yield sign at the intersection of Spruce
Lane and Garrison Road (in favor of Garrison Road).
·
Reviewed
a request from a resident regarding traffic hazards on Portland Avenue.
·
Approved
a request by residents of Boyle Street to restrict parking to one side of the
road.
o
This
will be forwarded to the City Council to update Chapter 166 of the City Code.
Ensure timely preparation and
presentation of the FY13 – 18 Capital Improvements Program.
The
Capital Improvement’s Program was approved by the City Council on December 14.
Coordinate update of Land Use and
Transportation chapters of the Master Plan, through development and
implementation of Speak Out Dover and associated survey programs.
The
Master Plan Steering Committee held its second meeting on Monday, January
16. The Committee agreed on “Dover 2023:
Building Our Tomorrow” as the name of the process to create the visioning
section of the Master Plan. Roger Hawk
and his team presented their proposal to facilitate this process which will
include three community wide meetings to be held at Dover Middle School on
Saturday March 10, Saturday April 7, and Saturday May 5, and several smaller
neighborhood meetings to be held at the elementary schools after the March 10
and April 7 meetings. With the intention
of maximizing citizen participation in the visioning process, the Committee
agreed on a plan to market Dover 2023 which will include press releases, a
website, mailings, a Dover Download video presentation, outreach to local
community groups, and student participation.
The
Open Space and Conservation chapter of the Master Plan is being completed and
the Planning Board will have a presentation of the material at its March 13,
2012 workshop. This presentation will include the chapter information and
recommendations.
Review, and update as needed, the
Community Development Block Grant program to ensure compatibility with Best
Management Practices.
Department of Planning and Community
Development staff continued to review how neighboring communities administer
their Community Development Block Grant programs. This review is part of the
overall review staff is completing on our program, as well as part of the
application process, which began in January and will be completed in March.
Promote streamlining plan review through
use of electronic means amongst internal staff (smart board at TRC etc).
Pricing
of the installation of a smart board in the Second Floor conference room in
City Hall has placed this project on hold.
Analyze the City Code to ensure that
City regulations encourage sustainable practices in city operations and
encourage green practices by residents and business owners.
The
Planning Board has undertaken a review of the final 5 land use amendments
suggested by the EPA Building Blocks report. These amendments act to promote
alternative energy sources, reduce the City’s carbon footprint and encouraging
use of sustainability through resource allocation. The City Council will review
these zoning amendments.
The
first 10 amendments that were approved by the Planning Board are before the
City Council for its review and adoption. The City Council forwarded the
amendments to a public hearing on February 8, 2012. After the public hearing
the Council may vote on the amendments.
Develop educational opportunities for
staff and board/commission members that are low resource cost, whether through
staff presentations to boards/commissions, or web based education.
The
Director of Planning and Community Development worked with the Planning Board
Chair to develop an educational program for the 2012 workshops that occur the
second Tuesday of the month for Planning Board members. There are 9 workshops
scheduled with topics ranging from legislative updates, to low impact
development.
Increase outreach and education to
business and residents on benefits of infill development and transit oriented
development as means to develop and redevelop in Dover’s urban core.
The
Assistant City Planner and the Economic Development Director are working on
education and outreach material to reach out to businesses regarding Dover’s
sign regulations.
The Director of Planning and Community
Development is conducting a review of the Department’s web site and the
information contained within it and other similar sites to ensure that data is
current and valuable.
Coordinate discussions and
implementation of improved pedestrian and vehicular way finding signs in
downtown Dover.
Notes
and ideas from the May wayfinding meeting have been reviewed, by planning staff
and are being coordinated for follow up.
DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION & ENHANCEMENTS
Planning and Community Development staff
assisted the Community Services and Inspection staff with a review of
outstanding issues on several projects, and took the lead on reaching out to
the developers. The plans/projects are as follows:
·
Gladiola
Way
·
Nye
Lane/Pacific Landing
·
Willand
Pond
Planning staff worked with land owners
of property at the following locations on development or redevelopment
opportunities:
- NH Coffee on Sumner Drive
- 385 Sixth Street
- 1 Washington Street
- 3 Dover Street
- Thornwood Commons project
- Robbins Auto properties throughout the City
- Property on Tolend Road
- 6 Brick Road
- 410 Sixth Street
- Olive Meadow Lane
- Property at the intersection of Glenwood and Whittier Streets
- Industrial property located between Maple Street and Horne Street
- Sign improvements to 184 Washington Street
- Sign improvements to 1 Waldron Court
DEPARTMENTAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Department of Planning and Community
Development welcomed Timothy Corwin as the new Assistant City Planner. Tim has
a background in land use law, as well as experience in zoning administration.
Tim will be working with the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and other boards and
commissions. Tim and his family are new to Dover, and brings and energy and
experience that is welcomed by all.
No comments:
Post a Comment