Dover Planning Board Recommends ADU and Site Plan Bylaw Changes for Town Meeting

DOVER — April 13, 2026 — Dover Planning Board sends accessory dwelling unit and site plan review overhaul to May Annual Town Meeting. The board voted unanimously to recommend Article 18, a corrective ADU amendment prompted by Attorney General comments on language passed at the 2025 Town Meeting, and voted 3-1 to recommend Article 19, a comprehensive restructuring of the site plan review process across five sections of the zoning bylaw. Member Val Lin cast the sole dissent on Article 19, citing concern about a new exemption that would allow garages and sheds under a 1,015-square-foot perimeter in residential districts to proceed without abutter notification. "I think it's really important that people have a voice when there's something happening next to their property," Lin said. The board revised the definition of "intensification of use" to require that increased activity "negatively impacts the neighborhood in any material respect," narrowing the threshold for triggering review. Chair Carol Lisbon announced the board will begin a second round of bylaw work in July, targeting noise, lighting, short-term rentals, and key definitions for the 2027 Town Meeting.