Dover Planning Commission approves final plat for Crimson Cove housing development

DOVER ‒ The Dover Planning Commission voted Tuesday to approve the final plat for the Crimson Cove housing development.

The vote to approve the plat was unanimous. The issue now goes to Dover City Council.

Lawver Construction of New Philadelphia is planning 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.

Jarod Lawver of Lawver Construction said he would like to get started with the project in late June or early July and begin building houses in October. The goal is to have the entire project completed in three years, building 10 houses per year.

At a public hearing prior to the Planning Commission vote, Michael Shore, senior hydrologist for AECOM, an Akron infrastructure consulting firm hired by the city, talked about a study he did on Goettge Run, which runs through the northern part of Dover. Residents living along the stream have expressed concerns that the new development would release more water into the run, creating flooding problems.

In response to a question from Mayor Shane Gunnoe, Shore said Crimson Cove would not cause any additional flooding downstream. His finding was based on what would happen during a 100-year storm.

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

Skeptical of engineers

Joseph Huffman, who lives on West 14th Street near Goettge Run, and also owns rental properties in the vicinity, said he is skeptical of engineers and engineering because of flooding behind his house in the past.

"How can anybody in this room tell me that if you build those 30 houses that it is not going to put any more water in Goettge Run?" he asked. He pointed out other housing developments in the north side of Dover that have had problems with water.

"I don't think anybody here wants to harm anybody or do anything wrong. They want to develop their community. I get it. But I'm right at the point where I get the short end of the stick."

If Goettge Run would have come over its bank during last week's heavy rains, his basement would have been flooded, he said. "As far as I'm concerned, that creek can't take one more tablespoon of water or it's going to affect me."

Oversight needed

Mike Gunther, a resident of Aspen Drive, noted that plans are good, but the key is implementation and oversight of the development.

"Right now, we need to be reassured that that's going to happen, and it's going to happen through the oversight of the city, because we don't want any variance issues getting in the way of that," he told members of the commission. "We need the oversight."

Impediments to water flow

Gunnoe said the city intends to retain Shore to look at the R.J. Corman railroad bridge over Goettge Run near Dover Chemical and other impediments to the flow of the stream and then make improvements.

During storms last week, the water from the stream was just below the railroad bridge, Service Director Dave Douglas said. "So, we know, No. 1, we've got to put another culvert in each one of those tracks, because it's too small."

In response to a question about whether water and sewer lines at Crimson Cove were set up for future development in that area, the mayor responded, "The water and sewer line extension are essentially what the city does as kind of a best practice for someday. I don't know when someday may be. Someday may be generations off. I don't know, but as we're doing this, we figured we might as well have it available for what happens."

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

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover Planning Commission approves plat for new housing development