April Recount

Below is the report that the Department submitted to the City Manager for April:

FY2012 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 154 Facebook (City of Dover NH Planning) friends and 300 followers on Twitter @DoverNHPlanning).

During the month of April, four (4) Planning blog posts were drafted, one looking at the relationship between planning and home improvements, two reviewing the Director of Planning and Community Development’s recent trip to the National Planning Conference. The final covered the March report to the Manager.  The blog had over 400 page views in the month of April, which brings the total page views to over 10,400 for the blog.

The Department of Planning and Community Development promoted the Dover Community Trail through the facebook fan page for the trail (with 311 fans), as well as a Sustainable Dover facebook fan page for the trail (with 136 fans).

The Director of Planning and Community Development filmed two promotional videos for Dover Download to air on Channel 22. The videos highlight the Dover2023 Community Visioning project, and upcoming Planning Board workshop topics.

The Director of Planning and Community Development and Assistant City Planner attended the thirteenth annual Dover Pride Clean Up Day, produced by Dover Main Street. The Director served as the City’s liaison with Main Street and its volunteers, and the Assistant City Planner worked alongside residents in cleaning up areas of Henry Law Park.

The Department of Planning and Community Development held three community input sessions in April as part of its Dover 2023 Community Vision project. The three were neighborhood meetings at the three elementary schools (April 10, 12 and 16). These meetings further refined and prioritized the visions elements that had been expressed at the March meetings. The information will be refined further at the May 1 and May 5^th communitywide meetings.

The Director of Planning and Community Development was a featured speaker at the Dover Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs meeting. At this meeting the Director spoke about Dover 2023, and about planned transportation projects in Dover.

8. Attend workshops and participate in other education opportunities to further continuing professional development.

In April, Planning and Community Development staff participated in one (1) seminar. The topic was developing leadership skills. The focus was on informing Baldridge based institutions on ways to review and improve systems.

The Director of Planning and Community Development continued to be part of the team developing conference topics and themes for this year’s New Hampshire Planner’s Association annual conference in May.

The Director of Planning and Community Development continued 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. In April, the group visited Concord as part of Government Day.

The Director of Planning and Community Development attended the National Planning Conference, produced by the American Planning Association. This four day conference focused on rethinking planning initiatives and modernizing systems and techniques to communicate ideas to the public. The Director attended sessions on funding opportunities, using zoning maps to convey more than just zoning boundaries, climate change, innovative web page and tablet tools to communicate plans and planning to the public, and sessions on management strategies to bring efficiencies to plan review processes.

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.

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 continued to work with the Economic Development Director to review the proposed infill development proposal and its revisions, as presented by River Valley Development. This included attending the City Council workshop reviewing the infill opportunities.

12. Complete the implementation of the ongoing energy efficiency improvements and provide periodic reports of energy savings.

Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) has completed the first quarter energy report for the City. JCI completed energy upgrades and improvements to City buildings and facilities as part of a guaranteed energy savings contract with Dover. The City is on track to save $319,463 in the first year of the contract with JCI which started in November through October, annually for a ten (10) year period. Fiscal year to date savings are $186,516. The report can be viewed at www.dover.nh.gov, under “Current City Reports.” The report is titled: Johnson Control M&V Report 1st Quarter Report

GENERAL DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

FOCUS/GOALS: 

Planning and Community Development staff worked in April with staff at COAST to review locations for bus stops and ways to improve transit frequency. The review focused on handicap accessibility and installation of bus shelters at stops. These shelters will allow users to be protected from the elements while waiting for the bus.

Planning staff continued to work encouraging participation in May’s Bike/Walk to work week. The City has hosted a free breakfast to “green” commuters for the past two years and plans on promoting the event this year, as well.

Planning staff worked with Strafford Regional Planning Commission staff to complete an application for the designation of Route 108 from the Durham line to Portland Avenue as a scenic byway promoting the mills in Dover. This application will be forwarded to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for review and inclusion in this Federal program. Additionally, staff withed with the Commission on a Coastal Grant to review fluvial erosion concerns along the Cochecho River. Dover staff will assist the Commission with in-kind matching efforts for a grant the Commission received. Finally, Planning staff worked to educate the Commission staff regarding Dover’s Park and Ride facilities. This work included background, grants applied to fund the projects, user statistics and operations overviews.

Planning staff worked on the Community Trail, to assist in its completion. This work included working to develop bids for the construction of the connector under the Spaulding Turnpike and Whittier Falls Way. Work also included reviewing drainage and vandalism concerns along the Fisher Street to Folsom Street portion and reviewing sign needs along the whole length of the trail. Finally, staff updated trail maps online and in promotional material.

Planning staff worked with residents of the Atkinson, Belknap, Cushing and Lexington neighborhood as part of the traffic calming project contained within the CIP. This project is investigating options for traffic calming that will work best for the neighborhood. Jeffery Taylor and Associates has been retained to assist the neighborhood and staff in this project. The project is intended to be completed this summer.

In addition to the day to day activities in the Planning Department, staff facilitated the following applications before Boards and Commissions:

Planning Board

·        Continued a public hearing on renovating a former shoe factory/warehouse into 42 units of housing located at 1 Dover Street.

·        A site walk was held April 3, 2012 for the Dover Street project.

Zoning Board

·        Tabled a variance request for Salmon Falls Holdings for 46/48 Arch Street from Section 170-12 and 170-40 of the Zoning Ordinance.

o   This will allow for the erection of a 3 unit dwelling, where single family are allowed by right.

·        Granted a variance request for McQuade realty at 2 Sumner Drive from Section 170-12.A of the Zoning Ordinance.

o   This allows a Commercial Recreation facility in the Rural Industrial District.

Conservation Commission

·        A request for a NHDES Permit by Notification for John Gesek  located at 127 Spur Road. 

o   This allows a the owner to conduct work adjacent to the Bellamy River in a tidal wetland to replace six existing creosote timber pilings on a fixed pier with new pressure treated pilings in the same locations.

Transportation Advisory Commission

·        Endorsed a group of residents who wish to install walkability signs to improve pedestrian mobility in Dover.

o   This pilot project will be done in conjunction with City staff.

·        Approved a request to add a stop sign on Dover Street at Park Street.

·        Approved a request to add two stop signs on Ham Street at Park Street.

·        Approved a request to remove a one way restriction on the Woodman Park School access road.

·        Approved a request to remove a prohibition of parking on Central Avenue, southbound, near Tuttle Square (Silver Street).

Energy Commission

·        Held an organizational meeting, approving rules, identifying when meetings will occur and discussing the election of officers.

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.

Work continued on the Dover 2023 visioning sessions. Three were held at the elementary schools in April, on the 10, 12, and 16^th. These sessions sought to prioritize the results from the March meetings and to refine the direction that vision elements might direct the City to take. These elements will be further refined in May.

Review, and update as needed, the Community Development Block Grant program to ensure compatibility with Best Management Practices.

The Director of Planning and Community Development and the Community Block Grant Coordinator met with representatives from HUD to discuss changes that might be put in place, which will refine the process, while still meeting federal guidelines. These include the presentation of data and the solicitation and collection of application information.

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 Planning Board reviewed these on April 24^th, and is continuing to support 4 of the 5 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. The April topic is land use board orientation and sidewalks vs shoulders for roadways. The May topic will be issues facing Great Bay and the Capital Improvements Program.

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 continue to develop outreach materials for businesses on Dover’s sign regulations.

The Director of Planning and Community Development is developing an invitation to business owners. The invitation will be to meet with Planning staff and discuss the relation between developing a quality of life Dover residents would like, while being supportive of economic development.

Coordinate discussions and implementation of improved pedestrian and vehicular way finding signs in downtown Dover.

Planning staff met with residents who wish to work on this project. The project will be a pilot project, which the residents are fundraising to support.

DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION & ENHANCEMENTS

The Director of Planning and Community Development was selected to moderate a session on using Arts and Culture in revitalizing a community as part of this year’s New Hampshire Planner’s Association annual conference in May. The session will be the closing session.

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

· Willand Pond

· Silver Street reconstruction request for proposals.

· Nelson Street reconstruction request for proposals.

· Centennial Drive

· Property at the intersection of Ham and Park Streets

· 99 Columbus Avenue

· Olive Meadow Lane

Planning staff worked with land owners of property at the following locations on development or redevelopment opportunities:

• NH Coffee on Sumner Drive
• Spruce Lane
• 544 Tolend Road
• 37 Dover Point Road
• 28 Dover Point Road
• Thornwood Commons project
• 6 Dover Point Road
• Temple Israel
• 44 Arch Street
• 1 Washington Street
• 23 Horne Street
• Various properties owned by Robbins Auto Parts Realty
• Properties at the intersection of Oak Street and Central Avenue.
• The Herbal Path
• Property on Dover Neck Road
• Property on lower Central Avenue
• Dover Community Garden
• Dover Fields project on Durham Road.

DEPARTMENTAL ACKNOLWEDGEMENTS

LA State of Mind

I am at the 2012 national conference for the American Planning Association. The conference, this year, is in Los Angeles. It is my first trip to LA. So far, I can see the appeals of the City, but also understand the draw backs.

For someone coming from New Hampshire, it is nice to see mountains and different environments around me. I had expected more of a homogenous environment, and while there is a dull brown color to everything, there are a lot of different climates here and environments.

What is off putting though is the amount of time you need to spend in a car to get to those different environments. It is not a shock really. We always hear about of Californian's, not just Angelenos, love their cars. This is to a whole different level. Not only are the roads clogged (it took 40 minutes to go 20 miles on Saturday - on the highway), people don't seem to walk anywhere. They get in their cars to go 2 blocks.

I have heard numerous times from people that certain roads need pedestrian safety islands, because crossing the streets is too dangerous, on certain streets in Dover. Here it feels like every crosswalk crosses 6 lanes of traffic. One thing that is very odd, for an East coaster, is that people don't jaywalk. If the pedestrian light isn't green, they don't go. It doesn't seem to matter if their are cars coming or not, people wait their turn. This just doesn't feel right to me.

What I can say about LA is that while there isn't an overall beauty or sense of place, like their is in Boston or New York, there are pockets of extreme beauty and scenery. The Santa Monica Pier is stunning, the Hollywood sign is cool, Malibu Canyon, breathtaking. Get off those paths though and it is any city USA. I am staying in Downtown LA. There are buildings here that are your typical tall glass steel skyscrapers. They don't have a feel or look to them. On the other hand I spent part of today on a tour of  architecture along the famous Wilshire Boulevard. There are some stunning examples of Art Deco buildings here and they should be tops on peoples lists of things to check out.

One real eye opener: the prevalence of unhealthy food. I had this myth of Californians eating healthy and vegetarian, and being fit and trim. Well if Angelenos are fit and trim it is thanks to exercise. In New England cities, there is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Here there is a Winchells Donuts on every corner, and then a local mom and pop place mid block. If you want something a bit more substantial, there are hamburger places and hot dog stands evenly spread between the donut shops. I get that there is a car culture and that burgers epitomize that, but wow. For my waist line, it is a good thing I can't eat donuts. I'd come home 10 pounds heavier.

So those are my first impressions of the City.

Those and the fact that for a place that sees over 350 days of sunlight, the first day I was here, Friday, it poured, which was odd. That and the fact that I packed only shorts, and it hasn't been much warmer than 60s, has thrown me off. I was expecting heat and more heat. This is the Southwest, right?

This blog entry is a bit short, but I'll write more over the next few days with other thoughts and impressions.

Zoning Amendments

Tonight, the Dover City Council will review and hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the zoning code. These amendments, which began in idea form over a year ago, have been the work of Planning Board members, volunteers, staff and result from an extensive review and understanding of our current ordinance.

I would certainly invite the public to attend a this public hearing to provide feedback on the posted zoning amendments. This is the first public hearing the City Council has held on the amendments, but is the third overall. The first was held as part of the Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Planning Board meeting. The second was held on December 20, 2011. The meeting will take place in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The ten (10) amendments will promote development that will have a positive tax impact, protect natural resources, and better manage growth.

The proposed amendments were presented to the Planning Board at their work session on October 25th after 9 months of drafting and review by the Planning Board. The amendments are the result of an ongoing comprehensive effort by the Planning Board to review the land use regulations for the community. Planning Board members and interested volunteers developed these amendments with staff. Additionally, these amendments contain elements suggested to the City by the United States Environmental Program Agency. These amendments focus on energy efficiency, alternative energy allowance, and sustainable planning and building practices.

A letter has been mailed to all property owners explaining each of the amendments, and inviting recipients to attend the public hearing. My goal in sending the letter, was to explain the amendments in laymens terms. I am sure I have written it here, and said it many times elsewhere that you shouldn’t need to have a master’s degree in planning to understand the City’s land use regulations. We want to have amendments that can be understood and worked with, ones which create opportunities and not roadblocks.

The complete text of the proposed amendments are available on the city's website at here, listed under the "Current Reports” section on the home page. Additionally, a copy is available for inspection under the Planning Department’s page. Hard copies are available at the Public Library and the City Clerk's Office and Planning Department at City Hall.

After the December 20th public hearing, the Planning Board unanimously voted to approve amendments. Now it is the City Council's opportunity to review the amendments. After the public hearing tonight, the Council will hold a workshop where I will give an amendment by amendment review of the proposals. You can follow along by looking at the presentation I'll use.

If you have any questions, or comments, please me at 516-6008, or via email.

Citizen Planner

Have you done something for twenty years? Something you love? Something you didn't get paid for? Well, lucky for the City of Dover, Ron Cole has.

Ron stepped down last night as a member of the Dover Planning Board. For me, Ron was the Planning Board. He served long and well, accomplishing many goals and expressing many thoughts about the good, thoughtful planning that he wanted to see in Dover, and has been proud to be a part of. An accomplishment he should be proud of is that he was the chair of the Board for 17 years (1994 - 2010), and vice chair for one year (1993).

In Ron's time there have been multiple master plan updates, and three Planning Directors. He outlasted everyone who was on the board when he joined (November 12, 1991) and when he assented to the Chairmanship (January 11, 1994), and as near as I can tell he has served more than any other member of the Planning Board. Add to that, that he was named Citizen Planner of the Year, and you have a very accomplished citizen planner.

I am going to miss two things. First Ron is an incredibly well spoken cheerleader for Dover. He always is positive about the community and the benefits he receives from living here. He sees the very big picture and is able to translate it between the planning jargon/technical side into a clean laymen's terms sense. Add to that he is thoughtful and has been interested in trendsetting, pushing planning in Dover to different and new areas.

I'll also miss his constructive criticism. Ron was a big supporter of mine as I was developing through the staff here. I remember talking with him when I came to Dover in 1997, and working closer to him in 2002, as part of the then re-zoning work. In 2007 he was a great asset as I looked to become the Planning Director. He has such a skill with people that he knows how to say "you're wrong" and not make you feel wrong. He helped me numerous times not only see a better path, but take it. Even after working with him for 14 years now, he continues to overwhelm me with his knowledge and understanding that we need to be ever present in today, as we learn from the past and perfect the future.

Luckily for me he isn't leaving Dover or anything that drastic, he is still around to chat with and grab for a committee here and there, when we need his perspective. Ron has been a great asset to Dover, and he should be thanked and congratulated for the immense time and dedication he has given to the Planning Board. There aren't many people like Ron Cole, and the entire Dover planning community should be proud that he chose to volunteer with us for so long.

Thanks, Ron.

Tracking Success

As we celebrate ten years of revived passenger rail service in Dover, here's what I remember the day the Downeaster came to town. I remember that on December 15, 2001, I had lunch at the pizza place next door to the transportation center, and watched the festivities from there, as opposed to being part of the mob, with a fellow employee of the Community Services Department.

I remember that I felt bad for Bruce. Bruce was the planner (who recently retired) who had championed the City's efforts to secure the train stopping in Dover. I felt bad because Bruce was in the Air National Guard and he had been called up as part of the massive call up post 9/11. So as people were celebrating the arrival of something he had worked so hard to help secure, Bruce was in the Middle East defending the rest of us.

Beyond that specific day, what I think about the Downeaster falls into two categories. The first is emotional and the second is rational. The emotional is the connection the Downeaster has to parental memories. My son was 3 in 2001. He and I would drive downtown, get a coffee and a pastry, run to the post office for the mail (we had a PO Box), and then head to the transportation center to watch the train come through every Saturday. We rode it for the first time together in December of 2002, when we went to Exeter and back.

My son's reaction to seeing the train, and (in my experience) general every child's reaction is that of elation. Kids love to see the train come into town, and they love to ride trains when they can. This feeling I think is second only to planners love of the idea of a train, or mass transit for that matter. Not sure where the emotional connection comes from (that's why its emotional, right?), but it is a visceral response. Eyes light up, we start swaying to a fro, get nervous; the whole nine yards. You'd think the prom was coming up and we are taking a model.

This flows into the rational connection I have with the Downeaster. We are very lucky as a community to have not only the Downeaster stop through Dover, but to have our station downtown. The ability for travelers to step off the train, cross the street (admittedly not the safest crossing), and shop, eat, stroll, etc, is a true bonus for us. I won't go into ridership numbers or the statistical info, but will say they are excellent and continue to grow each year.

The Downeaster was Amtrak's fastest-growing service in fiscal years 2006 and 2008, and continues to be a route that brings in necessary revenue for the Amtrak system. Are there things that could be improved upon? Sure, there are in every aspect of life. That said, on a birthday, let's focus on the great thing it is to be located on this line, to be able to experience that feeling of giddy joy riding the train and celebrate ten years of success.

Were You There?

Saturday, December 10th, saw the launch of the gundalow Piscataqua in Portsmouth. This was an historic event, and I was happy to participate. For those readers, who aren't aware, I am on the Board of Director's for the Gundalow Company. The company has a mission of preserving and enhancing the maritime history and environment of the Piscataqua region.

The Piscataqua (gundalow, not river or region), was born out the hard work of many people. I joined the Board in 2009, and remember the first meeting I attended was spent looking at a the drawings and blueprints for the new boat, which at the time was still a desire, and not a reality. The Board had been working on this dream for some time already, and looking back it is impressive to see the Piscataqua in the Piscataqua.

Countless hours have been put into the creation and fundraising of and for this vessel. It is amazing to have been a small part of it, and there are many people who are due a great deal of thanks for their efforts and resources. 

I have enjoyed being on the Board, as it really allows myself the opportunity to interact in different ways with different people in the Seacoast. It also allows me to be a part of the launch of something that hasn't been launched since the 1980s, and really hasn't been common since the 1880s. I am taking some liberties here, but really, two centuries ago gundalows were common transportation features, today only two working ones exists, and they are located down the road here in New Hampshire.

In the industrial revolution gundalows were common. They were riding up and down the Cochoecho, the Piscataqua and most other rivers in the new world. These vessels are flat bottomed and convey goods from port to port and offered a similar function to the tractor trailer trucks might today. The transportation of these goods has evolved, or in some cases devolved.

One reason I love being on the Board is the sense that we are educating people to this alternative mode of transit. Anyone that has read this blog will know that I am a supporter of the idea that we are ruining out of oil, and I believe we need to reawaken ourselves to the reality of other modes of transit. Modes other than automobiles. I think, beyond the awareness we are building about the fragility of the Piscarqua River's ecosystem, we are also going to be building awareness of the value of wind powered transit.

Overall for me the best part of Saturday's launch was not the pleasure of riding the Piscataqua on her first tour, nor was it the thrill of being with 1,000 people celebrating the launch. The best part was sharing it with my 13 year old son. He fussed about going, and he flittered about the cold when we got to Pierce Island. That said, when we saw the Piscataqua sitting in its cradle and poised for launch he started to change When we were able to join the crew and other board members onboard he really got excited.

It is great to see a child get excited about a wooden boat. A vessel that is built for education and not for excitement or thrill riding. That was pretty cool. I can't wait to see school kids riding, and learning aboard the Piscataqua . It will be a very good addition to the region.

When you get a chance to visit the Piscataqua at Prescott Park, enjoy her majesty and celebrate her mission.

The 2011 Commute Green New Hampshire Challenge

Beginning today, May 16, the City of Dover is taking part in the 2011 Commute Green New Hampshire Challenge. This challenge looks to push us to walk, bike, carpool, take transit (bus, train, FasTrans), basically do whatever we can not to commute in a single occupancy vehicle.

The City has formed a team, and has invited volunteers and staff to participate in our team, as we look to lower our carbon footprint, and encourage multi-modal transit in the City. As part of the challenge we are encouraging participants to come to the Dover Transportation Center on Friday, May 20th, to partake in free coffee and breakfast. The coffee has been donated by NH Coffee Roasters and the breakfast by Holy Rosary Credit Union.

C & J Bus lines is participating at both their Dover and Portsmouth locations. They will have coffee and donuts for commuters every day this week to celebrate and encourage commuting.

That's great that we are doing all this, but what is Commute Green New Hampshire?

Commute Green New Hampshire is the annual promotion which encourages commuters to choose healthier and more environmentally-friendly transportation options. It doesn't matter if you are commuting to work, school, shopping or run of the mill trips. If you make the trip, make it green.

According to Commute Green's web site:
· U.S. families spend about $9,000 a year on transportation costs.
· More than 22 percent of all motor vehicle trips Americans take are less than one mile in length, and 50 percent of the working population commutes five miles or less to work.
· One car emits about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon of gasoline it uses, but each New Hampshire resident can reduce the equivalent of about taking two cars a year off the road just by carpooling, bicycling, walking or using public transportation three days a week.

That is all impressive, but what is more impressive is how simple it is to make an effort to be more green and to commute with someone else, or using a healthier mode of transportation. It just takes a bit of pre-planning. I know not everyone can walk to work. I know some of you have a longer commute than my one mile (it is uphill both ways), and might not live near your co-workers, but maybe you can make a pact to meet at a park n ride in the middle with a coworker, and figure out a way to commute green part of the trip.

All I ask, and all that the project asks, is that you give it a try this week. Figure out a small way to be part of the challenge and we all will be better off for it.

Activated Planning

What... two blog posts in one week? Wow, something must be up!

That's right folks, I've been inspired. Yesterday (Tuesday), was a day of active planning. Not to imply that regular day to day activities don't include planning, nor to imply that the day to day activities aren't important, but we all get bogged down in the day to day, and when something out of the ordinary comes along, you can get inspired by it.

Yesterday was one of those days. On the face of it, a day of 4 meetings, and some administrative work, might seem day to day. Bonus was the two main meetings. The first was a session with residents, business owners, transit providers and civic leaders to discuss ways to improve our wayfinding in downtown Dover.

What is wayfinding? It can be signage, but it is a much larger concept. Think about the tools we use to get around town. It isn't just signs - in the literal sense. We use clues such as activity and street furniture and lighting styles to be aware that we are in the downtown area.

The meeting was a great kick off to what I see as a project to highlight Dover's assets, our waterfall, our river, our shops and restaurants, and our museums. The meeting was geared to generate excitement among the stakeholders, and I think it did just that. It was fun to discuss Dover as a resident and as a tourist trying to get around.

The second meeting of note was a workshop the Sustainable Dover program hosted on permaculture. What the heck is permaculture? It is designing development with nature in mind. It is the idea that we are part of nature and need to design our homes, neighborhoods and communities to be part of nature and not fight nature.

Steve Whitman, a planner from Plymouth, who in my estimation is one of the most visionary and proactive planners in New Hampshire, came and taught 12 of us the basic philosophy and framework of this concept. It is not new, and Steve isn't the innovator, but it is new to many peoples conscious, and Steve has immersed himself and family into the idea. He has developed a sideshow that demonstrates the philosophy and framework using examples from his home and life.

I am not going to try and summarize the 12 points involved, or even try to explain the overall concept more than I have. Instead I am going to dwell on it, and review my own activities and make lifestyle changes to embrace the philosophy and I hope to continue to be inspired by the workshop, and its companion workshop in 2 weeks.It was great to see a concept that is complicated, but makes so much sense, and is obtainable with some minor changes to your life (composting etc).

I went home at 9:30 last night and didn't mind a bit that I had last stepped foot in the house 15 hours earlier. I didn't mind, because I was so jazzed about the great work we had completed during the day. It was rewarding to be encouraged by the stakeholders involved with the wayfinding project, and then to be inspired by learning something new and adoptable, was that much more energizing.

So, how do we replicate that energy today? We'll see and I'll let you know.

The Census Revealed

Last year, I encouraged residents of Dover to reply to census forms that were distributed (http://dovernhplanning.blogspot.com/2010/03/census-smensus.html). The middle of last week, the New Hampshire population figures were revealed. In total the State of NH was up 6.5% for a total of just of 1.3 million residents.

Locally, Dover has reached just under 30,000 residents (29,987). For rounding purposes, I'm going to feel justified saying we are at 30,000 residents. I am sure between last April and this April we'll have 13 new residents :). This is an 11.5 percent increase over 2000 (26,884). When reviewing the Office of Energy and Planning's estimates for population, our numbers are over 1000 residents higher. In 2007 we hired a company, DemographicsNow, to review and extrapolate population and other demographics. At that time, they determined we had 29,402 residents. That number now seems very solid.

If you live in Dover, you now live in the fifth most populous community in NH. We lept from 7th to 5th (incidentally, we scrambled over Rochester and Salem). Stafford County was the fastest growing county at 9.7 percent. To give some perspective, Dover is the only community in the top 10 to have double digit percentage population growth, and gained 3100 residents, highest numerical increase in the state, by a community. Windham, which is in Rockingham County, grew 27 percent to 13,000+ residents. It was the community with the largest percentage growth in the state, and gained 300 less people than Dover. To put Dover's growth in perspective, Cheshire and Sullivan Counties gained 100 people more than Dover each.

Those numbers are staggering. They are also evidence of what we who work for the City, and what residents of the City know. Dover is the place to be. We have a great quality of life, we have great geography, and truly have opportunities all around us to keep the onward and upward momentum at our backs.

So what's next? Well, the easy answer is to move forward. But how? I think that's a discussion we need to keep having. The Planning Department is happy to start that discussion and I think soon, you will see us put feelers out there. This data is perfect for us to start the next iteration of the Land Use section of the Mast Plan. This chapter will help the community define what we want to look like at 10 years, what we want to feel like in 20 years, and what we want to look like when we reach 35,000?

Stay tuned, because I have some ideas, and I hope you do as well. We can only continue to prosper if we work together to make Dover the community we all want to enjoy.

It's Florida....

Looking out on a rainy Wednesday, I figure it is a perfect time to reflect on an annual trip I take. Like many New Englanders, come mid winter I desire some warmth. So, I like to visit Florida for some spring training baseball.

Now, I could recount the five baseball games I saw (in five days no less), but that isn't really planning related. Instead, I want to pass on some observations, which are planning in nature. As a quick aside, Amy, I didn't take any photographs of catch basins or manholes - sorry (enjoy the one from Seattle).

Transportation

Air Travel
One thing about Florida from a transportation planning POV is that they have the airports/air travel aspect down. You'd expect this from an area with such a strong tourism industry. You can easily reach the airports, the means to get in and out are clear and the flow at the airport seems to work well. No issues with rental cars either.

Car Travel
Every road seems to be a major arterial. It is amazing to me what auto travel on roads that were not originally cow paths that were eventually paved can be like. I am not just writing about interstates here, nor the limited access state highways. Typically we have three types of roads, local roads (residential in nature), collectors (think Whittier Street, or Sixth Street), and then arterial (Central Avenue). Well, my experience in Florida is that the local roads might be the same, but the next step seems to be an arterial. These roads are designed to be four lane roads, with a very wide Right of Way - even if not all used - that are flat and straight. They are designed with limited access built in and are not to be traveled at a slow 30 miles an hour.

Bike, Train etc
Famously, now, the State of Florida has turned down the federal stimulus moneys to be used to expand train systems. The Governor has said he does not favor high speed rail, and does not see the value in linking Tampa and Miami via trains.

I found it odd, then, that there is a very strong bicycle ethic in Florida. Everywhere you turn there is a bike path, and I am not just talking about sidewalks that double as bike paths, though sidewalks are everywhere. It helps that so much of the terrain is flat, and it is impressive to see people using the bike paths. There were some along the highway, and you could see that people use them and enjoy them. I do wonder if it is an affordability aspect. Bikes cost less to purchase and operate than cars, and with a temperate climate, can be used year round for many trips. Florida things nothing of bike racks, stands as common place - from what I saw.

Development
The development pattern seems to be very proactive. I am not sure who puts the infrastructure in, whether it is the government (County is very strong), or if developers put it in, but there is a long view horizon used in placing infrastructure in the ground. The roads are designed for future use, with curb cuts and water/sanitary and storm water infrastructure put in the ground for the build out, as opposed to incrementally upgraded. Roads that I drove in 2007 had the four lanes etc, and cow pastures on either side. Now they have commercial nodes or golf course subdivisions where the cow pastures were. They built it (infrastructure) and development came.

Speaking of development, it is very much its own animal in Florida, and for that matter maybe other locales. Being a tourism based place, much of the development seems to be national chains and familiar names. Looking for someplace to eat, you'll feel at home with the Applebees, Friday's, Denny's etc. I didn't see much local, though I am sure it exists, just not in the commercial nodes off the major roads. I suspect this comes to a cost of rent/lease rate issue.

One interesting thing to me, coming from an urban center (didn't say vast or large), is the suburban feel to it all. Sure you have great urban centers like Sarasota, parts of Ft. Myers, or nice downtown areas like Venice, but the majority of what I saw was suburban strip. The community I stayed in had a new town center, off a major thoroughfare, with a new City Hall and new post office. You have residential enclaves that have access to the arterial, which have commercial nodes off them. I saw very little integration of uses. There are few if any neighborhood stores. Sure the residential enclave might have a gas station/convenience store at the entrance, but beyond that I did not experience a mixed use center outside of the established downtowns, such as Sarasota.

I didn't get to experience it, and certainly I was a tourist, but I always wonder in scenarios like that how the community aspect is. Do people feel part of the "municipality" or are they more rooted in their residential development? Do they say they are from Sarasota, or from Sarasota County? What is community living like? It is so automobile centric, that I wonder if it is that much harder to develop that community - place - driven feeling we enjoy in Dover.

Weather
Obviously it doesn't snow in Florida - at least Southwest Florida, and if it does, it is not snow like we have in New Hampshire. This allows for much different infrastructure development. Not just more bike paths, and roads, that treat storm water run off differently, (scuppers instead of catch basins), and certainly the consideration for plowing is not present. But there is a different year round use of the commercial nodes and roads.

The weather, climate and terrain, allows for a much different street scape consideration. Beyond palm trees and the like, vegetation is very different. It has a different flow to it. It certainly is more tropical, and has a different hue to it. I also noticed that there is a lot more sand or grit in places I wouldn't have expected either element.

Overall, Florida is certainly not New Hampshire. Nothing bad here, just different. I think it is a important to see different communities and places, and am happy to have had the opportunity. Experiences frame our thinking and make us better planners. It is always good to research and learn from our neighbors and partners no matter how close or far away they are.

Speaking of learning, I'd like to remind you (presuming you've read this far), that this Saturday is TuttleFest. You can come and learn about the work we are doing to promote sustainability in Dover, and learn about local farming and agricultural needs.

Breakfast of Champions

This morning I had a great experience. I enjoy the musings of author James Howard Kunstler. He writes books about urbanism, energy policy and society in general. He is not a planner by trade, he studied journalism. Jim has written 10 books, some fiction, most non. Lately, he has written fiction based upon the notion that our oil reserves are finite and that soon we will come to a point where oil will run out, and that will have far reaching impacts.

Jim is currently on a book tour for his latest book, the Which of Hebron, which is one of his fictional books to promote the book. I was in Portsmouth this weekend and saw that he will be at River Run books tonight (Sept 30). I decided Sunday that it would be a good idea to email Jim and see if he had time for lunch.

Sure enough he wrote back Monday. We were able to work out a breakfast this morning in Exeter. What follows is recollection of breakfast.

Breakfast
I met Jim at 8 am. We had emailed back and forth earlier in the week, and I told him I'd call him when I got to Exeter. Not caring where we ate, I had no issue eating at the hotel restaurant.

Jim is a great guy. His writing can be cantankerous and seem jaded, but I didn't take that away from him at all. I honestly had no expectation. I don't see him as anything more than someone who chronicles his observations in book, blog and podcast form. Breakfast was just that. We ate, shot the breeze and joked for 2 hours.

I found Jim to be very real and very laid back. He is, in my mind, a celeb. That said he has the same quirks, and problems we all have in life. We commiserated about traveling to and in New Orleans, where he had just came back from. We discussed a recent podcast he did in which he discussed traveling to Acadia National Park from upstate NY. He had some great line about the disposable architecture you find on Route 1 from Hampton NH to Acadia. In fact, I pointed out that the whole drive has such poor built form not just along this stretch but along almost all of Route 1.

Kunstler grew up in NYC and I told him my son and I are heading there next Friday - by train - and he gave me some pointers and then laughed at the trip we have planned (about 10 hours of train and bus travel packed into a 24 hour period). We talked baseball, which was great.

I never felt like I should be impressed to be with him - though I was - nor did I ever feel that he was "on" for me. There was no character, he was a guy with opinions and unlike many people he isn't afraid to share them, and even better he didn't feel that his opinions outranked mine. For instance we talked about Portsmouth, and I gave him some local observations and he gave me the tourist POV. It was fun to hear, and at the end of the day, I think he took my comments as worthwhile.

As I said, I got to spend 2 hours with him. I figured at best I'd get half and hour of coffee. At no point did I get rushed. There was an equal feeling of respect of time and in the end I think the fact we both had to get to work was the limiting factor. For someone who has a great bite to his writing, he was incredibly polite and was not phased by any question. All he wanted in response was equal ability to ask questions (we talked about being a city planner - dealing with the public - and about the process of setting personal preference aside for legal rights). He was also interested to hear about Dover's Form Based Code. I say interested, because I don't think he ever humored me.

Have I found a new best friend? No, but I would gladly spend more time, email, breakfast or otherwise with Jim. He has some great ideas (we are running out of oil, and we do need to learn to live without so much dependence on automobiles), and is a terrific writer (read The Geography of Nowhere).

Regrets
Did I miss an opportunity? Not sure on this one. I thought about giving him a first hand take on owning a Pit Bull, which he derided in a podcast once. In the end it didn't matter to me if he was won over or not. Writing that I guess I don't have any regrets. You always think about what ifs. What if I had been able to get him to Dover? What if I had asked him for writing advice? What if I asked him if he wanted to crash at my house, instead of a hotel tonight (I can only imagine my wife's take on that one - hey Sweety guess what!). No, I think I did all right.

Conclusion
When I got back to Dover, I sent a thank you email. I think in honesty the response I got back was a sincere you're welcome and a just as sincere, thanks for my time.

This was a great way to start a day. Bill Bryson, who wrote a wonderful book about walking the Appalachian Trail, is speaking in 2 weeks at River Run. Maybe I'll email him. What's the worse that happens?