Dover Development; What’s Actually Happening

The Standard sat down with two of the builders and developers who have been moving a lot of dirt in Dover recently. Bruce Saunders and Rex Hawkins. We met at Cattle and Bakes, Wednesday, June 11. Developer Bill Mace was going to be there, couldn’t make it, but let Saunders know what he was doing. Between Saunders, Hawkins and Mace, there are three major developments in Dover. Saunders broke ground on the lot next to City Hall in December of 2021. Currently, he is building another set of Townhomes at the end of the lot behind where NAPA was. He told the Standard, they are going to be just like the ones at the end of the Dover Bridge. He said he still has a lot of dirt to move where NAPA was located and is filling in behind the courthouse. Saunders also said there are absolutely no plans for anything going in those spaces for now. He told the Standard he had the area re-platted into four sections. Where NAPA and the pink building were located will remain commercial but he has a lot of work to do before even being able to entertain an offer. Mace bought the property surrounding the old OshKosh/Sentry Armor building. Hawkins built the storage units west of Dover, then bought the property across from the Family Dollar and one lot, next to the store.

Mace is going to build homes, some on the water, on the property. Saunders said Mace told him he didn’t know yet how many or when they will be available. Saunders added, “Dover is in bad need of housing.” Hawkins said, when asked about what he bought. He said he was going to put something similar to the Emporium in Dover and have retail spaces on the lot next to Family Dollar. He said, “The whole building will be like 120’ by 60’. We’re filling it in right now or, you know, raising it up, compacting it. The plans are to do a commercial retail center. Pretty much like this one here.” I asked, “Do you know how many spaces?” He said, “It could be as many as six. It just depends on if somebody wanted several or not.” There have been many rumors from the public about what could be going in but Hawkins said he still has a lot of work to do and hasn’t been approached by anyone wanting a space. He said his final permits to build should be ready by this week and he’s hoping to open this fall but won’t know for sure for a while. They said they are both behind because of all the rain we’ve had.

Hawkins also bought about 25 acres across the road. The chirt pit, he is hauling dirt and gravel from there for the lot next to Family Dollar. He said he has to wait for engineers to work on what would even be feasible to build on the property, roughly running from the Welcome to Dover sign to Dixieland Country Cabins road front. He did say he wouldn’t mind building homes or apartments, with open space, a walking trail, etc. on that side, but is not sure at this time. When David and Debbie Wallace sold their place next to Family Dollar with the Bradford Pears, it included 25 acres across the highway. It was all bought and split up. The same group, Capitol Investor Group, who bought the lot next to city hall years ago, bought the property. The lot next to City Hall was originally bought by local Dentist Dr. Derek Renfroe. He conveyed a Quit Claim Deed to the Capitol Investor Group, who conveyed a Quit Claim Deed to Emporium of Dover, LLC. There is a non-disclosure agreement and the individual owners of the group are not listed but it is well known, Renfroe and local Attorney Charles Parks are two of the owners. Parks is the son of the Dover City Administrator. Saunders said since the lot was sold, it has probably generated about more than $200,000 in property and sales taxes.

The group sold the home at the top of the hill. They then subdivided the property across the road and made 11 lots on the side of Family Dollar. Eddie Pulley bought the 25 acres but sold it to Hawkins. The Town of Dover approved annexing the property on Family Dollar side into the city limits last year. We reported in April of 2024, “‘The Planning Commission recommended the Mayor and Alderman approve the annexation. ‘It’s right past the Dollar Tree, the prior property of David and Debbie Wallace, the front part where the Bradford Pear trees are, it is going to be divided into 11, one acre lot units,’ Mayor Lesa Fitzhugh explained.”’ So, the City is now running a main sewer line to the property they annexed.

At the May 12 Town of Dover meeting this year, we reported, ‘”Fitzhugh spoke about the plan of services provided to annexed property. ‘Proper public notices were issued and cost estimates were prepared. The bids received for the project came in below these estimates. The city manager has disclosed all potential conflicts of interest and clearly explained that if the city chose to vote in the annexation, they would have a plan for established services which could include water, sewer, fire, police, etc. We have received guidance from the Greater National Regional Council, (GNRC) confirming that Tennessee Code mandates the city to establish a plan for essential services, which could include a trunk or a mainline for newly annexed properties. The planned main sewer line will also provide services to Mr. Hawkins’ newly annexed property (across from the Family Dollar). Regarding the return on investment, we anticipate this, we realize through various revenue streams including property taxes, sales taxes, water and sewer connection fees, maybe potential liquor taxes and personal property taxes. Approximately nine acres have already been annexed for the town’s future growth and Mr. Hawkins’ annexation will add an additional 20 acres.”’ The GNRC rep present at the meeting, said, “Some things may be available immediately for police coverage, for instance, but some other things may require a development timeline. So, one of the requirements of tenancy law is that there’s a timeline to implement these things so we don’t have an open-ended situation. I think there have been some questions about the municipal code 18-123, utilities, extensions, and new developments.” Basically he reiterated what Fitzhugh was saying, the town has to be able to provide services to the annexed property but the developer will be responsible for tapping into the main line of sewer and water. All members voted to approve owners request to annex property into the city limits. Parcel number 085 002.03, located across from the Family Dollar store.”…

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