Subdivision approval appealed in East TD; Hearing set for Thursday, April 17
View from proposed subdivsion site at the east end of 21st Street off of View Court in The Dalles.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., April 16, 2025 — The Dalles Planning Commission will hear an appeal Thursday evening over the proposed 29-lot development for East 21st Street overlooking Adventist Hospital.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at The Dalles City Hall, 313 Court St.
In his application, Jason Alford, TDHS Class of ‘97, proposed to build the subdivision in two phases. The first section of 3.33 acres will be split into 14 lots and contain 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.
He estimated that the entire project could take 5 years to complete.
The Subdivision is being proposed at the end of 21st Street just east of Dry Hollow Elementary and overlooking Adventist Health Hospital. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Appellant Pam Danzer, who lives just below the proposed development is representing 23 neighbors who signed a petition against the subdivision as currently designed. She argues it poses safety, infrastructure, and livability concerns that must be addressed before the project proceeds.
Essentially, she and other neighbors are asking for a reduction in the number of lots and mitigations to ensure safety.
The appeal comes after The Dalles Planning Commission approved a variance on March 6 for the subdivision to reduce the internal block width from the standard 200 feet to an average of 132 feet, citing unique site constraints. The subdivision was then approved on March 21.
Chief among the issues is traffic, according to some neighbors as a 2022 impact analysis projects more than 300 daily vehicle trips from the development.
Emergency access is another sticking point. According to Danzer, the proposed single access point violates Oregon Fire Code, which requires wider roadways and dual entry options for fire vehicles. Neighbors also state that the steep 21st Street poses concerns for property damage to houses at the bottom of the hill during icy and snowy driving conditions.
Water infrastructure is also under scrutiny. Danzer cites ongoing complaints from residents about low pressure and questions whether the system can support 29 additional homes, especially those requiring water-based fire suppression systems. She says an engineering review and potential upgrades to water mains on East 21st and View Court are necessary.
Click to hear to read the entire appeal. Start on page 123.
