The Planning Board through the Decades: A Conversation with John Swartzendruber about the 2000s

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with John Swartzendruber, a former Planning Board member who served from 2003 until the 2010s. This is the third episode in a series looking back at the Planning Board over the years. Swartzendruber discusses how he joined the board after his father-in-law, who had been a planning director in Portsmouth, suggested he get involved in the community. He reflects on the positive experience of working with a diverse group of board members and city staff, highlighting the camaraderie and teamwork. Swartzendruber mentions notable projects during his tenure, including Liberty Mutual's campus expansion in 2007 (from which he recused himself as a Liberty employee) and the Point Place development. He describes how planning board members received physical packets of materials delivered to their homes before meetings, a practice that has since shifted to digital delivery. Swartzendruber explains that he eventually left the board when his growing family commitments made it difficult to attend meetings consistently. He encourages listeners to consider volunteering for the Planning Board, emphasizing that no specific experience is required to make a valuable contribution.

In This Week in Dover History, we hear from Brian Early of Media Services and Erin Bassegio from the planning department about recent city activities. They discuss April City Council actions including approval of new ballot counting machines, a water main replacement project, and a contract for natural turf maintenance on city fields. The Planning Board reviewed Community Development Block Grant funding, approved a project for five single-family homes, and conducted training for members on their roles and responsibilities. Various subcommittees are working on updates to the Transfer of Development Rights ordinance and addressing community housing needs. Other boards and commissions that met include the Conservation Commission, Zoning Board, Parking Commission, and Waterfront Committee.