Dayton Daily News Neighborhood section, 15 Mar 2007

Oakwood: Residents concerned about Sugar Camp project

Helen Bebbington -- More details and residents' concerns about the Sugar Camp development project were aired during the March 5 City Council meeting.

The timeline for the 36-acre residential and commercial development will be about five eyars, said developer Herold Williams, president and CEO of the Versant Group.

During the public hearing, additional sketches were shown of the master plan, which is awaiting approval by Oakwood City Council. Council did not take any action on the plan, which was approved in January by the planning commission.

The site is being developed jointly by the Oakwood Investment Groupa dn Versant Group. By early 2008, work is scheduled to be completed on the new site of Beth Abraham Synagogue, as well as the gatehouse. The synagogue will be housed in one of the four large buildings at the site. Work is already under way on the synagogue.

Construction of the homes and professional buildings will follow.

The plans will include a pocket park, which will be about one-third of an acre, along Schantz Avenue, and a 5,000-square-foot community center.

Williams said steps would be taken to preserve some of the older trees and an arborist would be consulted during the construction.

"We will establish a very rigid preservation plan," Williams said.

Oakwood resident Nancy Bain, who has attending previous planning commission meetings, said she is concerned about the development's affect on the local environment. Bain believes the loss of green space is detrimental to the community, and is particularly concerned about storm water management for the new development. One possibility for dealing with water drainage is to use the Miami-Erie Canal, which would send the water into the Great Miami River.

"These developments do not pay heed to storm water management," Bain said.

Bain had hoped the city would consider converting the Old River Athletic Fields into a wetlands area. That land, just north of Sugar Camp, was bought last year by Oakwood and is used for sporting events.

Residents were also concerned about an influx of school children, should famiilies decide to buy the homes, which will cost between $400,000 and $750,000.

"We certainly know as a developer that we can't discriminate against people with children," Williams said.

Williams said the development will be marketed to "upper-end, empty-nester buyers."

Oakwood planners hear details about Sugar Camp

Some issues with the development, including water runoff affecting Kettering, still not settled.

By Helen Bebbington, January 11, 2007

Although many details for the proposed development appear settled, issues such as storm water runoff and making the area accessible to walkers are not. Planning Commission members asked one of the developers, the Versant Group, to include a walking path for Oakwood residents, in part to allow easier access to the Old River Athletic Fields.

CEO Herold Williams said he would have details on the walking path and address other concerns during Wednesday's planning commission meeting.

During that meeting, the Planning Commission could vote on whether or not to send the plan to City Council for approval.

The master plan for the Sugar Camp site combines the proposals of two developers, the Oakwood Investment Group and Versant.

The Oakwood Investment Group's property would include office buildings and the Beth Abraham Synagogue.

Versant plans to build upscale homes and condos, which range in price from about $400,000 to $750,000, and are geared toward empty-nesters. It also plans to build a professional building, as well as some type of community center for residents.

Three residents expresssed concerns about the proposed development, ranging from a possible increase of school students, to the home architecture clashing with the rest of Oakwood.

Oakwood Superintendent Mary Jo Scalzo, however, said the district is prepared for an increase in students, should there be one.

City officials said the Sugar Camp development would not cause the city to hire more personnel, either in the Safety Department or for other services such as trash pickup.

Developers are still studying issues such as increased traffic, as well as how to handle water runoff.

The plan calls for traffic lights to be installed on Far Hills Avenue and Springhouse Road, and at Kramer Road and West Schantz. The access road near the Marriott Hotel that leads to Oakwood's Old River fields will be closed. The Springhouse Road entrance will serve the fields and residences.

One possibility for dealing with water drainage is to use the Miami-Erie Canal, which would send water into the Great Miami River. An engineer working for the developers has contacted the city of Kettering, which would be impacted by water runoff from the development.

Kettering would need to see a hydraulic study with projections comparing how much water the Sugar Camp site sends to the canal, both now and after development, said Steve Bergstresser, director of the city's Engineering Department.

"They (developers) haven't presented any plans to us," said Bergstresser.

Oakwood planners OK master proposal for Sugar Camp

By Staff reports, Thursday, January 18, 2007

OAKWOOD -- The master plan for the Sugar Camp development was approved Wednesday by the city's planning commission.

The joint plan, as presented by the Oakwood Investment Group and Versant Group, is to be discussed by the city council March 5. Once the council approves the plan, development can begin in the 36-acre area.

The Versant Group plans to build condos, villas and single-family homes geared toward empty nesters. The homes will range in price from about $400,000 to $750,000.

Sugar Camp keeps look, takes new mission

by Joanne Clodfelter, Dec. 14, 2006

OAKWOOD -- Sugar Camp's proposed conversion from an NCR training facility to a medial campus will preserve its rustic beauty while giving it a new lease on life, developers said.

"Day one, I took one look at this and said this would make a perfect medical environment," said Dr. Edward Thomas, who will relocate his Ohio Eye Care Specialists from Wyoming Street to one of the existing buildings at Sugar Camp.

In addition to his own practice, Thomas envisions up to 200 other medical professionals relocating to one fo the two buildings he is leasing in Sugar Camp's wooded setting, creating a medical facility campus in Oakwood. He said Sugar Camp is an ideal location between Miami Valley hospitals and Kettering hospitals.

"We're open to anything, as long as it fits in correctly," said Amy Meeks, marketing direcgtor for Ohio Eyecare Specialists. She said that other tenants for the medical campus might include laboratories, cardiac rehabilitation facilities or pain-management clinics. They plan to keep the auditorium as a community venue for medical and wellness presentations.

"The council is very excited with this development. It matches up wonderfully with our own long-range plan. We couldn't have painted a better picture. This is very exciting. This medical use is just perfect," Oakwood Vice Mayor Carlo McGinnis said.