Water issues threaten development in Centerville, Sugarcreek Twp.

Future development of new homes and businesses in the area bordering Centerville and Sugarcreek Twp. could be in jeopardy unless a new water tower is built and tied into the Greene County water system, officials said.

Low water pressure in the area has been a concern since the Cornerstone of Centerville development began several years ago. Greene County has been working with the two major developers in that area — Cornerstone’s Oberer Land Development and Guttman Development Group — to find a solution, according to Greene County Administrator Brandon Huddleson.

“It’s kind of like you’ve got a cup of water and everybody is putting their straw in. If there’s 100 straws in a cup, you’re going to get less water per straw. That’s sort of the situation we have now,” Huddleson said.

Greene County has made an offer to the developer of Rollandia Golf Course, Guttman Development Group, to build the tower where it would serve the area best, Huddleson said.

MORE: To continue growing, the Cornerstone of Centerville area could use a big new item: A water tower

The offer is $100,000 for about an an acre needed to build the tower, but the county has not received a response, Huddleson said.

Rollandia is slated to be the site of a multi-family residential and senior living community.

A representative of the Guttman Development Group could not be reached for comment for this story.

The water tower could be built at an estimated cost of $3.2 million. The project would take one to two years, depending on weather to accommodate the requisite coating of the inside and outside of the tower, Huddleson said.

“We have not turned down a single permit for new construction based on the need for that tower,” Huddleson said. “We know that at some point we’re going to reach that precipice where we can’t add any more users without that water tower.”

Development is continuing in this rapidly growing area where Greene and Montgomery counties meet.

MORE: Centerville seeks Clean Ohio funds for Cornerstone park project

Mason-based HiFive Development Services completed construction last summer of the four-story, 96-room Home2 Suites by Hilton, 5321 Cornerstone Blvd.

Officials said pumps were included in the hotel’s construction to ensure adequate water pressure reached the upper floors of the hotel.

The hotel had to install a booster to get the pressure high enough for the sprinkler system.

Many stores and businesses have come into the Cornerstone of Centerville development, including Cabela’s, First Financial Bank, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express and Kroger.

Kettering Health Network officials said the nonprofit doesn’t have immediate plans for land it bought near Cornerstone of Centerville development for $1.8 million last year.

The rapidly growing health system, with $1.75 billion in revenue in 2017, bought 10.5 acres near Cornerstone North Boulevard and Wilmington Pike. The property is about one mile from Miami Valley Hospital South, which is operated by competitor Premier Health.

A spokeswoman for Kettering Health said there isn’t a plan at this time for what to do with the land.

The land is on the corner of a block transformed in recent years into the Cornerstone of Centerville, which is a mix of shops, restaurants, a hotel and professional office. The development by Oberer Companies is still being built in phases.

Commissioners last year hired Arcadis US Inc., in a $364,391 contract, to update Greene County’s water master plan. The updated plan will be used by community leaders and developers as it identifies potential development projects over the next 20 years and the effect they could have to the county’s water system.

MORE: New hotel opens in Centerville along busy I-675 corridor

About the Authors