Dover Finance Committee Rejects Citizens Petition to Eliminate Accessory-Use Site Plan Review

DOVER — March 26, 2025 — Dover's Finance Committee voted 6-2 against endorsing a citizens petition that would strip the Planning Board's site plan review authority over accessory structures such as garages, pools, and cabanas. Planning Board Chair Carol appeared before the committee to argue that two already-funded initiatives — a professional consultant review of Chapter 185's site plan review article and a cross-departmental online permitting system with a vendor already selected — should be allowed to run their course before any bylaw change is made, telling members "site plan review is the messiest thing that planning boards do." Data she presented showed accessory-use reviews made up between 50 and 92 percent of the Planning Board's annual site plan caseload from 2022 through 2024. The Planning Board had itself voted 4-0 two days earlier to oppose the petition. Only committee members Kevin and Sarah voted yes; the petition now goes to May town meeting without Finance Committee support.