Residents air concerns over proposed Dover housing development
DOVER ‒ A group has formed to oppose a proposed 30-lot housing development on the north end of Dover.
The Goettge Flood Prevention Group sent out letters to property owners who live along Goettge Run, warning them to take precautions to protect their homes from flooding because of the development. The letter prompted several residents to attend Monday's city council meeting to express their concerns.
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Andrew Loos lives near the stream. At high water, the stream comes an inch and a half from a bridge which provides him with access to the back half of his property. He said he was worried that additional runoff would threaten his house and his garage.
"(Goettge Run) can handle no more water, no more runoff. If they have any more runoff, my bridge is gone, it's going to flood my property," he told council.
He added, "There's absolutely no way that I'm going to let this happen. I'll do everything possible to stop any extra runoff on this."
What is planned
Lawver Construction of New Philadelphia is proposing to build the 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 are worried that the additional houses would send more water into the stream.
Joyce Stephan said her neighbors are upset about the proposal. Goettge Run goes right behind her house.
"We've never been flooded out there. We've been there 32 years," she said. "We've never been flooded, but it's come up to the bank, over the bank. We're losing a lot of bank all the time."
Joseph Huffman, who owns several properties on West 14th Street near the stream, said he was concerned for himself and his tenants. Noting that Goettge Run has flooded in the past, "this is going to ruin me, it's just a matter of time."
"I'm pleading with you guys. Do not let this go through," he told city officials.
The T-R reached out to the Goettge Flood Prevention Group for comment but received no response.
A long history of flooding
Goettge Run begins in the hills north of Dover. It flows through Dover City Park, residential neighborhoods on the north side of the city and empties into Sugar Creek near the Dover Chemical plant. The stream has been a flooding concern for more than a half a century. In 1969, summer floods partially destroyed the Walnut Street bridge over Goettge Run.
Service Director Dave Douglas acknowledged the residents' concerns, calling the stream "one of the fastest rising, meanest creeks."
"I've dealt with Goettge Run for many years because I've been here a long time and I've seen a lot of flooding from it," he said. "No matter what we do, no matter what anybody does, even if you don't build up there, it can flood. All it takes is a 200-year storm, a 300-year storm."
But he also said, "It's hard to keep development back, because we need development. We don't have enough homes."
Mayor Shane Gunnoe said there are many steps that the development has to go through before work begins. The plat has to be approved, and a storm water permit has to be issued. The developer cannot release any more water into the stream than is already going into it.
"Certainly, the expectation is that he will build a very robust storm water management system to retain that water," the mayor said.
Currently, city officials are focused on bringing needed infrastructure to the site, such as water and sewer lines and roads, and how to pay for it.
Council President Justin Perkowski told the residents their concerns will be passed on to the developer.
Public hearing planned
A public hearing is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. July 17 in council chambers to discuss the creation of an incentive district at the site to help pay for infrastructure work.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Residents air concerns over proposed Dover housing development
