Dover board declares lead agency for zoning rewrite and schedules hearing on temporary moratorium for energy and data-storage facilities

The Town Board of Dover on June 24 moved to declare itself the lead agency for proposed zoning amendments and to circulate the final draft to the Town Planning Board, the Town Zoning Board, Dutchess County Planning and town consultants for review.

Town counsel advised that circulation and the lead-agency designation are required steps in the environmental review and zoning-update process. The board approved a motion to distribute the draft and to serve as lead agency so the review process can proceed. Board members said the final draft of zoning changes had been provided to them earlier that day.

In a related action, the board scheduled a public hearing for July 29, 2026, on a proposed local law adopting a temporary town-wide moratorium on the construction of energy and data-storage facilities. The proposed moratorium, as described by counsel, would run 180 days with an option to extend an additional 180 days if necessary while the town completes zoning analyses and identifies suitable locations in the updated code.

Board members said the moratorium is intended to allow the town to complete the zoning rewrite and to prevent projects from being built under older rules before the town finishes its review. A board member asked that copies of the proposed moratorium be forwarded to the Town Planning Board, Zoning Board and Dutchess County Planning for comment; the board added that amendment by vote.

Next steps: the town will circulate the zoning amendments and the moratorium draft to the named reviewing agencies, post the information to board members, and hold the July 29 public hearing at Dover Town Hall where public comment will be accepted.