Dover can look at Portsmouth, chart its own path

Dover is going to become the next Portsmouth. That’s becoming a popular refrain for Dover residents who are concerned about development and rising taxes.

Some Portsmouth residents have cheered and others have groaned over the past decade-plus as tall buildings go up downtown. Many complain, asking why taxes keep going up with all this commercial development supposedly contributing to the tax base. The critics say they never wanted their little city to become a mini-Boston.

Now Dover has high-priced luxury apartment complexes going up, too, with a big waterfront development project years in the making that is getting closer to moving forward. Free parking on Saturdays is going away in downtown Dover and prices for extended parking are going up as enforcement hours get longer. They see some businesses leaving, such as Nicole's, and wonder why this has to happen. This sounds familiar to anyone who frequents downtown Portsmouth, where pricing structures have been changing and costs rising for years.

Dover opened an $87 million high school last year, and this year its City Council approved a contract that addressed the fact its teachers were underpaid compared to many other local communities. These are factors in a tax rate that is likely to keep rising.

Dover officials took a positive step recently, holding a community meeting at The Strand to answer questions and offer explanations to residents feeling anxious or upset over their changing city.

“We just can’t say no,” said Assistant City Manger Chris Parker, responding to complaints about the apartment developments and the impact on downtown parking and traffic. “We operate based on state statutes, not just our own rules and regulations. New Hampshire is a property rights state. It does not allow us to limit the number of permits given in a year as in states like Maine. It doesn’t allow us to declare a growth moratorium. ... On some issues, we can only suggest to developers.”

Mayor Karen Weston, a business owner downtown, has said she, too, is concerned about her tax bill going up continually, and believes more commercial development is needed to “help offset our property taxes.”

Do you agree with her? Do you see another way? Or is this a hopeless situation for those who want to slow down growth in Dover?

The answer isn’t simple.

Dover is going to keep changing and developers are going to exercise their right to create high-end apartments and condos to make money. However, residents can have a say. The city is already looking at changing zoning in certain areas, and creative ideas from smart minds in the city can make a big difference.

Those who want a voice are unlikely to accomplish much with social media complaints, but they can become part of a constructive community conversation. The people who attended the community meeting with councilors, the mayor and other city leaders at The Strand certainly made their voices heard.

Ambitious residents can take the leap and run for city office (the filing period is Sept. 9-20). This takes hard work, volunteer service and attending night meetings. You could start out by attending City Council meetings or Planning Board meetings or other city boards as a member of the public. You could write letters to city officials, perhaps send them to this newspaper, too, to make your views known. You can look to Portsmouth and see what you like and what you don't like and craft plans for Dover accordingly. If you have ideas (maybe creating incentives for workforce housing rather than luxury apartments?) share them.

You won't change the course of Dover overnight, but if you're willing to get involved for the long haul, you can help shape Dover's future.