Donovan Farms

Donovan Farms

Donovan Farms consists of three parcels totaling approximately 107.834 acres. Parcels were Annexed to the City of Delaware on May 22, 2023, per the City’s Comprehensive Plan. A Planned Mixed-use (PMU) development with single-family homes, a mixed-use residential/commercial area, and a multi-family area are proposed. The project will include public open spaces, sidewalks, pedestrian paths, stormwater management, and utilities designed to City of Delaware standards. This suburban mixed-residential development would complete the street connections proposed in the 2020-2040 City of Delaware Thoroughfare Plan. The proposed layout will preserve and protect a percentage of the site as natural habitat; Open space is proposed at approximately 30% for the single-family portion, and additional open space will be required as the multi-family areas develop. The project layout reflects the Traditional Residential Character Key Attributes, including walkability, street network, setbacks, lot sizes, open space, and architectural detailing. Open space has been designed to provide opportunities for different types of activities throughout the project. A pollinator meadow, exercise loop trail, and a multi-age play area with furnishings are planned for individual parkland areas. Sidewalks and multi-use paths provide connectivity within and between the neighborhoods and park to the north and east, as well as providing further walking connectivity and wellness opportunities around the main central basin. The existing perimeter hedgerows will be maintained and enhanced along the edges of the properties to provide a vegetated buffer between the residential uses. The development will be implemented in phases, beginning with the single-family areas first, followed by multi-family and mixed commercial phases.

Stormwater currently flows through the site via an existing drainage path. The project stormwater will be managed on site through a series of swales and ponds, primarily located along the existing drainage path. At the request of the City, LSSE re-evaluated the stormwater runoff for the entire watershed to manage and improve the conveyance of runoff from the watershed. LSSE has designed a conveyance system for the discharge of the stormwater management facility developed for the Donovan Farms development. The proposed ditch is designed to safely convey the 100-year storm event. The stormwater management facility for the Donovan Farms development has been designed to not only collect and detain runoff from the proposed development but also capture runoff from upstream and release it at a reduced rate as well. The proposed detention facility has also been designed to collect and capture runoff from the adjacent future off-site multi-family development. In addition, the design of the proposed ditch and stormwater detention facility has been developed in such a manner that approximately eight feet of additional fall has been provided to improve drainage conditions for the properties located north of the proposed development.

There are existing sanitary sewer lines in proximity to the site from the north and an existing easement from the south. Coordination with the City of Delaware Engineering Department staff has occurred, and staff have confirmed that the Sanitary System and both sanitary lines have capacity. The City Engineering Department has expressed interest in improving capacity in the area by developing a sanitary lift station in coordination with the development of single-family homes. The City requested an increase in the size of the proposed sanitary lift station so that it could serve this site and have the capacity to serve adjacent properties. Sanitary system and lift station design are being coordinated with the City of Delaware Engineering. It is anticipated that a public/private proportional cost-sharing agreement would be entered into in order to facilitate developing a facility of appropriate scale.

The layout proposes a looped road system with a combination of variable-width rights-of-way. All homes will have two-car garages with driveway parking, with on-street visitor parking capacity. Sidewalks will be provided along both sides of the streets. Paths will be provided internally and along the perimeter, connecting the open space and parkland areas, and providing connectivity to the adjacent residential project to the north, the park to the east, and the proposed future multi-family to the east.

MARKETS:

• Residential

SERVICES:

• Civil – Environmental Engineering
• Surveying
• Landscape Architecture Planning