Potential issues with the new Dover High School hit close to home for its soon-to-be neighbors who attended a meeting about the school Aug. 5. Residents turned out to ask questions and voice concerns, and to hear what architects and the engineers had planned for the site.
Nearly all plans are tentative right now, a point that was stressed by Carl Krienen of ABHA Architects and Gregg Moore of the Becker Morgan Group. They encouraged attendees to speak up about concerns and recommendations, which led to talks on everything from traffic lights to sports field placement.
The site rests on Route 8 near the western border of the city. It backs up against the subdivisions of Westover and Cannon Mill, and part of the plot sits behind single-family homes on Route 8.
Traffic
As it stands, the district foresees the installation of two stoplights and entrances to the property from Route 8, and maybe a third entrance without a light. An acceleration/deceleration lane and turning lane would be added around the lights, Moore said. Planners would try to limit the expansion so as not to take away more land than necessary along Route 8.
Moore said the architects and engineers would probably have a better idea of the roadway projects at the late August public meeting.
One of the known road projects will be installing a road to the west of the property. The shared access road will run between the new school and Leander Lakes, a proposed apartment complex. The complex has been planned and approved by the city, but no construction has begun. Both Leander Lakes and Dover High School should pay part of the cost for the shared access road, but if construction on the school starts before the apartments, the district may end up footing the bill and asking for reimbursement, Moore said.
Former school board member Doug VanSant asked why the district should pay for a city road.
“Look, you’re cutting a corner off the property there that would be free land for their road,” VanSant said.
Moore and the other presenters had no answers, but told the audience to attend the planning commission meeting later in the fall and the board of adjustment meeting to make sure their opinions are heard.
Safety and privacy
Many residents also were curious about the property lines.
Krienen explained that there will be a buffer zone from the property line to at least 25 feet inside the border. At some points, an increased zone of 175 feet will be in effect because of an easement from a redirected electric line. Residents seemed pleased to hear of the buffers, yet many would like a fence around the school’s property to stop sports equipment from damaging their property.
