Parkdale Plan Story Map details planning project

Hood River County Community Development has published a Story Map that shares details and status of the Parkdale Unincorporated Community Plan. Project goals, the community outreach summary, and Buildable Lands Inventory are all included in the working document that will be updated as new information becomes available.

Here is the Story Map link. The Story Map can also be found on the Community Development webpage and on the homepage at hoodrivercounty.gov, in the Public Notices & News box.

The planning process will designate Parkdale as a rural unincorporated community in compliance with Statewide Planning Goal 14 (Urbanization). The Story Map gives background about this planning goal, describes what unincorporated communities are, and explains the history of Parkdale as part of Hood River County’s comprehensive plan.

At this time, many tasks have been completed for the Parkdale Community Plan, including a community outreach survey, a community meeting, and the Buildable Lands Inventory. The Story Map shares summaries of these tasks.

The Buildable Lands Inventory includes classifying approximately 140 acres of land in the study area and designating tax lots as vacant, partially vacant or developed. An interactive feature in the Story Map displays the status of each tax lot, as well as zoning and size. Most buildable lands are zoned Residential.

The County’s consultant, MIG, is nearing completion of an Existing/Future Conditions Memo that will include information about existing public facilities, such as sewer, water, and transportation, and the capacity of these facilities to accommodate future growth.

A second community meeting will be scheduled when County consultant MIG’s Existing/Future Conditions Memo is ready to share, and after draft ordinances have been completed. The meeting will present these and other findings so far and will provide another opportunity for public input. The hosting of an additional community workshop is also being considered to explore other aspects of the project and to glean additional insights. (If a workshop occurs, it will likely be prior to the second community meeting.) Notice of these events will be provided by email, as well as through the County’s social media outlets and the Planning Department’s website. Use this link to sign up for County Development email announcements.

In Progress and Future Tasks

• Final Parkdale Existing and Future Conditions Memo
• Parkdale Community Workshop (possible)
• Comprehensive Plan Revision
• Zoning Regulation Revision
• Draft Unincorporated Community Plan
• Parkdale Community Meeting #2
• Planning Commission/Board of Commissioners Joint Work Session
• Plan Refinements as Needed
• Planning Commission Public Hearing
• Board of Commissioners Public Hearing

Remaining tasks are described on the last page of the Parkdale Community Plan Story Map.

A Planning Commission public hearing will be scheduled for commissioners to consider the draft community plan and related Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance/Map changes and input. Opportunities for the public to attend and provide written and/or oral testimony will be provided in advance. Notice will be mailed to all property owners directly affected by the project in advance of the public hearing, while additional public notice will be provided to others via email, County social media outlets, the Planning Department website, and the Columbia Gorge News.

Based on all the information presented and testimony received, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners to adopt the Community Plan either in whole or with changes. A separate public hearing will then be held by the Board of Commissioners to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation. A second opportunity for the public to testify will be provided. The Board will then make a final decision, which will then be sent to the State of Oregon for their acceptance.

Aerial of Downtown Parkdale