Dover Housing Task Force Launches Three-Part Public Engagement on Housing Roadmap

DOVER — March 31, 2026 — Dover Housing Task Force opens public engagement series on housing roadmap with March 31 forum. The task force, formed in 2023 and working with consultant Barrett Planning Group, presented data showing Dover's 2025 median single-family home sales price at $1.6 million, more than 95 percent of town land zoned for single-family residential use, and an affordable housing inventory of just 2.82 percent against the state's 10 percent Chapter 40B target. Task force member Carol Lisbon confirmed Dover has never adopted the Community Preservation Act, saying the town "has lost significant funds because of that," and said any recommended reforms would require zoning changes given Dover's highly restrictive regulatory landscape. Residents Sarah Bright raised water supply concerns and called for a moratorium on construction, while residents Simone Azevedo and Chris Verney called for multifamily conversion options and a reimagined town center; resident John Jeffries, a former selectman and restaurant owner, argued that the town center lacks the parking, water, and sewer infrastructure to support any meaningful development without significant prior investment. The task force plans two additional public forums, including at least one in-person session.