Subdivision Appeal denied in TD; Work could begin this summer
The Dalles, Ore., April 22, 2025 - Jason Alford received the green light to move forward on a 29-unit subdivision in East The Dalles last week when The Dalles Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny an appeal of the subdivision approval at its meeting on Thursday, April 17.
“We’re hoping to get started this summer but we need to talk with the city and engineer and figure out timelines,” said Alford this morning, April 22. “We’re a little bit behind from where we were hoping to be.”
The development comes as a housing shortage has gripped The Dalles since the Pandemic with some estimating we are short 500 housing units in the area. During the planning commission meeting it was stated that The City of The Dalles is targeting 50 new homes a year.
Last year, 12 were built.
Pam Danzer
Appellant Pam Danzer, who lives just below the proposed development, and 23 neighbors signed a petition against the subdivision as currently designed. Danzer argued the houses that will sit atop a steep hill posed safety, infrastructure, and livability concerns that needed to be addressed before the project proceeded.
Planning Commissioners did not see it that way.
Commission Chair Cody Cornett, before voting, said that conditions of the subdivision approval require Alford to perform soil and geologic tests to ensure that the hill below the subdivision will not sluff or cause an avalanche.
During the meeting, Darrin Eckman with AKS Engineering who was speaking on behalf of Alford, also pointed out that the subdivision falls outside of the Geologic Hazard Zone in Wasco County. He also said slopes below the subdivision are less steep than those of the slopes of the current house that sits just to the west and overlooks Danzer’s property.
Location of the Alford Subdivision and how the lots layout.
Eckman also addressed concerns about fill on the property, stating the subdivision is also required to provide stepped engineered fills of 8 inches to a foot that are properly moistened and then compacted.
The view from the subdivision looking down E. 21st Street. Concerns over traffic on this road during snowy conditions were also raised in the appeal.
In regard to fire engine access, Eckman said the new subdivision would provide turn-around access via hammerhead roads in the first phase of the subdivision or possibly through graveling a large position of the second phase of the construction area.
In his application, Alford proposes to build the subdivision in two phases. The first section of 3.33 acres will be split into 14 lots and contain most or a loop road that provides access to homes built on the plateau.
An additional 15 lots will become available later in the second phase on another 3.91 acres which will be annexed into the city.
Alford estimated that the entire project could take 5 years to complete.
