Dover adopts unconventional design

This story has been corrected to amend reporter error regarding inaccuracies in the new subdivision regulations

DOVER – The July 8 council meeting began as a socially distanced event with chairs spaced six feet apart. The limited seating arrangement was not enough for the crowd that waited outside.

Once council members finished executive session about possible real estate or building acquisition, a crowd of neighbors, officials, and others filed into the wood paneled room with its vaulted ceilings, and began undoing the spare stacks of chairs along the walls.

People placed chairs in the empty spaces, eventually arranging themselves in clusters or rows.

Dover is getting used to a new normal, which includes new planning and zoning guidelines for the town of 968, according to North Idaho Resource Guide.

Clare Marley, Planning and Zoning administrator presented the focus of Thursday’s meeting: repealing and replacing the subdividing regulations of Dover city code, also known as Title 11.

Among the changes:

– Modernizing the documentation processes. More specifically, moving away from requiring multiple paper copies and allowing documents to be submitted electronically

– Creating a defined process for short plats that removes the need for a second hearing in front of city council.

– Adding street standard definitions to subdivision regulations

– Clarifying warranty and bond requirements for infrastructure improvements

– Redefining the term “open space” to include structures like restrooms and picnic shelters

– Removing the possibility for a third party to sue in subdivision projects that do not involve them

– Updating the design chapter of subdivision regulations. More specifically, design choices that reduce light pollution, improving lot and block design, and being specific about pathway requirements

– Introducing conservation subdivisions

Discussion about this new kind of subdivision dominated the meeting, which lasted over three hours.

A goal in the previous comprehensive plan from 2017, conservation subdivisions are designed to preserve environmental features. They are unconventional, and look it, too.

According to the staff report submitted, the objective of conservation subdivisions is “clustered residential enclaves, smaller lot sizes, reduced setbacks, and reduced road building.” This is done so 30% of the subdivision’s land can be designated as permanently protected open space that cannot be built upon.

These eccentric choices are tailored to the community, and intend to “reduce site disturbance, encourage cluster development, and mitigate impacts on wildlife, habitat, and working lands.”

Since these kinds of builds are unconventional, the city has the right to document the violation of regulations along with the title.

Planning and Zoning Administrator, Clare Marley, worked with other city officials for over two years to create the new city ordinance.

“It offers some fresh ideas, fresh options for subdividing land,” she said in an interview with the Daily Bee. “Hopefully it makes the process easier and more modernized.”

“For a little city, we got a lot going on,” said council president Diane Brockway. “It just makes us better and better.”

Dover recently adopted a rule that allows the public to bring up things that are not on the agenda at the monthly meetings. This allows people to make the council aware of topics that are important to them, instead of confining discussion to just the topics on the agenda.

More information can be found at cityofdover.id.gov