BIG DAYTON HOME-BUILDING PROJECT MOVES FORWARD
Change of plans addressed traffic safety, water-related issues.
Northeast Dayton is on track to get more than 250 new homes after developers modified their plans to try to alleviate neighbors’ concerns about safety and traffic.
Oberer Land Developers LTD’s new plan for market-rate, single-family homes at 4400 Old Troy Pike now includes two entry points into the development on Old Troy Pike, which is meant to ease traffic congestion and improve safety.
The project, which is planned for about 100 acres of vacant farm land, is one of the largest new-home developments in Dayton in years.
But some neighbors still say they are worried the development will lead to increased water and flooding issues on their properties.
“I’m afraid of the water problem: My backyard’s a swamp,” said Robert Baker, who lives at 4400 Needmore Road. “All this building roads and houses — that water has got to go somewhere.”
Last month, some people who live or own property near 4400 Old Troy Pike voiced concerns that Oberer’s proposed housing project would result in traffic headaches, more crashes and flooding issues in the area.
The new homes will range in size from 1,250 square feet (two-bedroom homes) to 2,300 square feet (five bedrooms).
In response, Oberer revised its site plan to create two entrances on Old Troy Pike instead of one. The company also scrapped a proposal to create an emergency access
point north of the development on Lloyd Avenue.
A trip generation study by an engineering group for the city of Dayton estimated the road as a result of the new development would have about 192 additional trips entering and exiting the subdivision in the morning and about 256 more in the afternoon and nighttime hours, said Abigail Free, city of Dayton planner.
The study recommended upgrading Old Troy Pike to create two left-turn lanes on the southbound portion of the road and a deceleration lane in the northbound section, Free said.
Water engineering staff reviewed the plans and indicated they believe the detention ponds are adequate for the development, Free said.
City staff said right now there’s nothing holding the water runoff back on the development site and detention ponds could help reduce flooding issues in the area. The land previously was zoned for a mobile home development.
The Dayton Plan Board approved a zoning map amendment in support of the new housing project.
The developers didn’t get everything they wanted. The Plan Board required the development to have a sidewalk along Old Troy Pike.
Members of the development team said installing a sidewalk is expensive and wouldn’t lead anywhere.
Multiple neighbors say they are worried the development will intensify the area’s problems with storm runoff and flooding.
“I like the turn lanes on Troy street — it’s still going to add a lot of traffic to our neighborhood, but my big concern was the water,” said Ed Waite, who lives on Lloyd Avenue. “We’re a swamp right now: You could swim in our backyards.”
Greg Smith, developer with Oberer Companies, said the development’s water retention ponds will be sufficient to prevent additional water runoff.
Brian Gaskin, who lives on the 4200 block of Old Troy Pike, said the road already is 35 feet from his front porch and he’s worried widening Old Troy Pike will bring traffic too close for comfort.
“It’s a road, it’s close, it’s noisy, but any (closer) is going to start affecting how we live,” he said.