The Dalles City Council reached a consensus to hold off on approving the City’s Employment Buildable Lands Inventory, choosing instead to seek a dialogue with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development about its unique growth challenges. Scott Hege, who said he was speaking as a private citizen and not in his role as a Wasco County Commissioner, told the Council with over 70 percent of what was cited in the inventory as buildable lands owned by one company and likely never to be available to the community, the City really doesn’t have the 20-year supply DLCD wants them to have. Hege said he thinks there is an opportunity to talk with DLCD about the issue. Councilor Tim McGlothlin said there is insufficient land available for economic growth, and a pause was needed. City officials have been fighting Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area restrictions on its urban growth boundary options for a number of years.