Neighbor takes subdivision appeal to TD City Council
Views from the Alford Property looking over The Dalles Dam.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., May 2, 2025 — Approval of a 29-unit subdivision in East The Dalles is now being appealed to The Dalles City Council after the planning commission denied an appeal by neighbors to the project two weeks ago.
Theodore Valkov who owns a home near the proposed subdivision submitted the appeal and council will hear it on May 12 at 5: 30 p.m.
“The development as proposed … creates significant hazards to current residents of the community, to future residents of the development, and to their guests. These hazards include, but are not limited to, loss of life, injury and loss of property due to fire, ground movement, vehicular accidents, and limitations to access,” Valkov wrote in his initial comments in the planning appeal. “These hazards arise primarily from the poor manner in which the proposed development is currently conceived. They are substantial in scope, affecting not only dozens of homes in the area, but also public infrastructure. Said defects in the proposed development also interfere with the right of quiet enjoyment of current and future property owners in the area. This is not a trivial matter. Given the number of people affected and the nature of interference, the net effect is a substantial material and psychological detriment to the community.”
Location of the Alford Subdivision and how the lots layout east of 21st Street.
After a 2- plus hour hearing, The Dalles Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the 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 on 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.
Twenty-three neighbors have signed a petition against the subdivision as currently designed. Neighbor Pam 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 Valkov’s house that sits just to the west and overlooks Danzer’s property.
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.
