In April of 2021, the City of Hood River Transportation System Plan was amended to incorporate recommendations from the Westside Area Concept Plan Report. No public hearings currently are scheduled to adopt other components of the report.
Project Overview
The concept plan process was initiated in September, 2016, with the intention of preparing an integrated land-use and transportation plan for a 450-acre project area located within Hood River’s Urban Growth Boundary. The project was funded by a grant from Oregon’s Transportation and Growth Management Program, and the Westside Area Concept Plan Report was published in December, 2017.
The project considered land use, streets, bike ways, pedestrian paths, parks, schools, utilities, and funding for infrastructure with the intention of facilitating development of workforce and affordable housing, refining the Transportation System Plan, and applying smart growth development strategies. Consensus was not achieved for changes to zoning designations of properties in the study area, however, amendments to the City’s zoning code have been adopted consistent with project objectives, recommendations for parks were incorporated into the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Master Plan in 2020, and recommendations for amendments the City’s Transportation System Plan were adopted in 2021.
Project Area
The Project Area (see below) is located on the west side of Hood River and extends south from Interstate 84 at Exit 62 into a historically low-density residential area that includes numerous vacant parcels.
Project Area Overview
At the time the concept plan was prepared:
- The 450-acre project area consisted of 577 lots/parcels including developed neighborhoods, vacant and partially vacant lands.
- About 58% of the project area was vacant or partially vacant in Low Density Residential (R-1) and Standard Density Residential (R-2) zones.
- Approximately 65 developable acres were zoned General Commercial (C-2) and Light Industrial (LI), located in the northern part of the study area.
- A 17-acre vacant parcel owned by the Hood River County School District was being considered for future facility needs.
About 160 acres of the project area were located outside the city limits but within the Urban Growth Boundary. An intergovernmental agreement between City of Hood River and Hood River County addresses the County’s management of land use activities in this Urban Growth Area (“UGA”) consistent with City standards until such time that annexation occurs. The City and County were co-applicants for the grant that funded this work.
Technical Advisory Committee
- Kevin Liburdy, City Planning Dept. (PMT)
- John Roberts, Director, Hood River County Community Development Dept. (PMT)
- Gail Curtis, Oregon Department of Transportation, Transportation and Growth Management Program (PMT)
- Joel Madsen, Executive Director, Mid-Columbia Housing Authority
- Saundra Buchanan (CFO) and Don Benefield (Operations Director), Hood River County School District
- Julie Stephens, Interim Director, Columbia Area Transit
- Mark Hickok, Director, Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District
- Scott Edelman, Central Oregon Regional Representative, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
- Kim Travis, North Central Regional Solutions Team, Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services
- Avi Tayar, P.E., ODOT Region 1
- Mark Lago, Director, City Public Works and Engineering Dept.
- Mikel Diwan, Director, County Public Works and Engineering Dept., or Don Wiley, County Engineer
- Cindy Walbridge and Jennifer Kaden, City Planning Dept.
- Steve Wheeler, City Manager
- Kip Miller, City Fire Dept.
- Neal Holste, City Police Dept.
* PMT = Project Management Team
Project Advisory Committee
- Ross Brown, property owner in study area
- Denise McCravey, property owner in study area, real estate broker
- Mike Caldwell, property and business owner in study area
- Mark Fuentes, Modern Pacific Properties, property owner in study area
- Bob Schuppe, property owner in study area; Chair, County Planning Commission
- Belinda Ballah, property owner in study area; Director, Hood River County Prevention Dept.
- Heather Staten, Executive Director, Hood River Valley Residents Committee
- Susan Garrett Crowley, interested citizen on behalf of Livable Hood River
- Maria Castro, interested citizen
- Dan Hoyt, Mobility Manager, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District
- Teresa Ocampo, interested citizen; business owner
- Claudia von Flotow, interested citizen
- Michael Broncheau, Manager of Fishing Site Maintenance Dept. for Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
- Les Perkins, Manager, Farmers Irrigation District; County Board of Commissioners; and Mid-Columbia Housing Authority board member
- Brian Becker, property owner in study area
- Mark Zanmiller, City Council representative
- Bill Irving, City Planning Commission representative
- Bonnie New, interested citizen; representative of Aging In The Gorge Alliance; property owner in study area
Consultant Team
- Angelo Planning Group, Land Use & Project Management
- Walker Macy, Urban Design
- DKS Associates, Transportation
- ECONorthwest, Economics and Housing
- David Evans Associates, Infrastructure
View of Mt. Hood from the southern portion of the study area.