Dover Planning Board Approves ADU Rules Overhaul and $263,270 FY27 Budget

DOVER — December 8, 2025 — Dover Planning Board unanimously overhauls accessory dwelling unit regulations and approves a $263,270 FY27 budget at its December 8 meeting. The three-member board voted to eliminate the distinction between attached and detached ADUs, remove a separate permitting process, and strike residency requirements from Planning Board Regulations Chapter 240, completing work begun at the May 2025 town meeting under the state's Affordable Homes Act. The board also approved two preliminary site plans: a 22,774-square-foot indoor riding arena at 54 Farm Street and an 860-square-foot ADU conversion at 53 Pissit Street. The FY27 budget of $263,270 reflects an 8.67 percent increase over FY26, nearly all of it driven by the hiring of new planning assistant Christine Brown, selected from 36 applicants. Town Planner Melissa Bogosian flagged two likely May 2026 warrant articles — a master plan update estimated at $175,000 and an in-house site plan review bylaw overhaul — with warrant submissions due January 8.