The Balsam Bluff development project in Dallesport, Washington is the largest construction project in the unincorporated Klickitat County since the Dalles Dam was built. Today we shall discuss the developer, the project's scope, and potential impacts. The Balsam Bluff project encompasses approximately 70 acres west of Highway 197 across the highway from the Dirt Huggers Composting facility. The West border is the Summit Cedar Reman LLC and the Gilmore Fish Smokehouse. Dallesport is unique in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area (CRGSA) as a Census Designated Area with an approximate population of 1,426 in 2022, the area is exempt from the strict building codes attributed to the CRGSA. With close to one thousand acres of habitable land this ‘exempt’ area is particularly unique in the Gorge and has seen potential developers in the past. The CRGSA is approximately 292,500 acres in size, spanning eighty-five miles following the Columbia River of Oregon and Washington.

Chinook Hills Development’s Phase One of the Master Plan as defined by the Architect Mark VanderZanden is to develop a mixed-use community. The plan highlights a thirty-five-acre park as the central feature. The first phase is two hundred garden apartments, 90 single-family homes, and 60 town homes. A significant portion, estimated to be half the total land, will be dedicated to a central park and green space. Phase two and three have yet to be defined.

The park and open space are key features designed to preserve the natural beauty of the area and provide recreational amenities for residents. The specifics of land allocation per housing type are not explicitly detailed in the architects provided plan. The developers web site states: “At Chinook Hills Development, we believe in building a community that serve everyone not just those with high incomes.” The apartments are situated across 5 acres, while the remaining land is divided between single-family homes and town homes. A more detailed site plan is needed to provide precise acreage for each housing type. The website mentions a desire to create housing options for a wide range of income levels with a goal aiming for inclusivity by offering a mix of housing types of apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes catering to different financial levels. This variety is intended to provide options for families and retirees, ensuring a broader range of affordability. The developer will create incentives to further enhance “homeownership achievable for local residents”.  

The project involves local real estate developer Doug Kirchhofer as the developer and owner of Chinook Hills Development a Washington State LLC. Chinook Hills Development acts as the developer, responsible for land acquisition, securing funding, overseeing the entire development process, and managing relationships with various stakeholders. In October 2024, referencing the property acquisition an unnamed source close to the project stated: “We just inked the deal yesterday morning, we had to wait for Lakeside to get their contract done first with the family.”

The architect, Mark VanderZanden of Surround Architecture Inc., is responsible for design, ensuring functionality, aesthetics, and adherence to regulations. The development team emphasizes early and ongoing community engagement which highlights the importance of community involvement. A public meeting was held on January 10, 2025, to present project details and gather feedback from the Dallesport Community. The public meeting attendees’ questions included concerns regarding the impact on the volunteer fire department, ambulance services, and the water district were raised. Numerous questions remain unanswered: How will the development affect the locals who rely on a volunteer fire department? Will this project raise our water rates and taxes? Mr. VanderZanden stated the developer is actively collaborating with the Dallesport Water District to accommodate the increased population and address the specifics of the development.  The current plan is to use a local well near the property and transfer water rights owned by the Dallesport Water District from an unused well located at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport. This would necessitate a localized water storage and pump station similar to the one on Sixth Ave. to distribute the necessary water supply and fire flow.  The development of Balsam Bluff construction estimates for the water needs alone is excess of two million dollars.

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