Hood River County to restart Parkdale community plan after sanitary and regulatory review

County Community Development Director Eric Walker told commissioners that staff met with Parkdale Sanitary District, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Land Conservation and Development to clarify infrastructure and permitting constraints for the Parkdale Unincorporated Community Plan.

Walker said Parkdale’s treatment plant is newer and currently operates within DEQ standards and was built to accommodate an estimated 20–30 years of growth. DEQ indicated two potential paths for modest additional development: daily flow monitoring to demonstrate available capacity, or an anti‑degradation study (the latter was judged expensive and not recommended). DLCD advised limited reintroduction of additional housing forms — accessory dwelling units, duplexes and some multifamily options — while maintaining a two‑acre minimum lot size and requiring confirmation of sewer capacity before permitting.

Staff asked the Board for consensus to restart the plan with modifications informed by those consultations. The Board voted unanimously to remove the hold and directed staff to notify adjacent property owners and about 150 citizens who had signed up for planning notifications; staff expects a Planning Commission hearing in late summer or fall and a subsequent Board hearing for adoption or further modification.

Commissioner Muenzer asked how community members can get involved; Walker said staff will send hearing notices and outreach materials when hearings are scheduled.