'It's a concern to us too:' Developer reassures Dover residents about flooding concerns

DOVER — At a public hearing Monday on plans to create an incentive district to pay for infrastructure at a proposed housing development, residents continued to express their concerns that the development could create flooding problems in Dover.

Lawver Construction of New Philadelphia is proposing to build the 30-lot development on a 14-acre tract of land off of Ohio Avenue/County Road 80 just past Aspen Drive on the edge of the city corporation limit. It would be known as Crimson Cove.

Residents say they are worried that runoff from the development will flow into Goettge Run, a stream that runs through the north end of Dover, and worsen flooding problems that have existed for decades.

"We're aware that there's quite a bit of concern regarding water and Goettge Run," Bill Gibson, sales manager for Lawver Homes, told those in attendance. "It's a concern to us too. We don't want to cause a flooding problem for anyone, certainly not our neighbors in the City of Dover."

Sales manager: Ohio EPA regulates watershed and floodwater management

He noted the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency oversees all watershed and floodwater management in the state. "Lawver Homes has no say in how this is going to be executed," he said. "The Ohio EPA governs all of that."

Previous housing developments in Dover did not have to adhere to the current regulations on floodwater management, he said.

Crimson Cove: 30-lot housing development planned for north end of Dover

All infrastructure and engineering studies will be completed by George Fiedler & Associates in Dover and then those plans will be reviewed, verified and approved by AECOM, an Akron infrastructure consulting firm, prior to being submitting to city council and the Ohio EPA for approval, he said.

"The EPA requires the water retention system to be designed around and to handle a 100-year rain flood," Gibson said. "That is the national standard."

Planned retention pond designed to control runoff

The development will have a retention pond to handle runoff.

When the hearing was open to public comment, resident Jill Lengler, who formerly served as Tuscarawas County's floodplain coordinator, asked who would be responsible for the pond. Gibson said the development will have a homeowner's association, which will manage it.

Lengler also asked if a floodplain study would be done to establish a floodway in that area or if the city would have the development built to more strenuous standards, in light of recent flooding in places likes Vermont.

"That's why we're going to have AECOM in here, because we need to have some advice on this," Service Director Dave Douglas responded. "We also need to have somebody that's more of an expert on this than what we are."

Resident Roger Tylke said he had his doubts about the retention pond. He noted the floodplain was mapped out in 1987, but there hasn't been a 100-year flood since then. "When the floodwater comes up, it's right there at the top and it scares the heck out of me. Any more water at all is a concern."

He said he was happy that another company would be looking at the plans.

Mayor: City would receive new tax revenue

At the beginning of the hearing, Mayor Shane Gunnoe touted the economic benefits of the Crimson Cove development. Currently, local government collects $250 a year in taxes on the 14-acre tract. Using the assumption that homes worth $350,000 and up are built there, the incentive district would create about $183,000 in new tax revenue.

The development would generate additional sales tax from the sale of millions of dollars of supplies, income taxes from those working on the site and would create additional work for area residents, he said. "More importantly, it helps address a need for new housing in the Dover area."

Gunnoe said 26 people already have expressed interest in purchasing lots in Crimson Cove.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Developer reassures Dover residents about flooding concerns