Well you can try excluding specific file types (related to the stuff you are developing) in that particular folder, edit the exclusion and add the file type at the end /*.v21 (example of excluding my drive image disk image files). Though if these are all .exe files there would still be a limited risk.
You can set the First action to Ask, which would allow you to select an option, but there isn't one directly to allow and exclude (to prevent accidental use on a true virus).
You could try sending a couple of these files from the virus chest to avast for analysis, it may help.
When in the chest with these files you can also Restore and add to exclusions.