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On Oct. 8, 2024,, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a 70 ft., T-Mobile cell tower for 9300 Mill Station Rd., Sebastopol. The installer (Vertical Bridge) plans to make this twelve antenna T-Mobile cell tower look like a faux water tower to “blend in with the neighborhood.” The vote was 3-2, with Supervisors Lynda Hopkins and Susan Gorin voting against it. Now neighbors plan to take this to court! This proposed tower first came before the Bureau of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) in March 2023. The BZA made a careful and in depth analysis over four public meetings and on June 13, 2024, they unanimously denied the tower, and for good reason! Their final determination stated that the tower was “inconsistent with the surrounding neighboring residences and the character of the community….” The project was also “considered detrimental to the health, safety, peace and comfort or general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood or to the general welfare of the area in particular.” Vertical Bridge was not happy with the decision. They filed an appeal before the Board of Supervisors and had the BZA denial overturned. It was obvious to all of us in attendance that the Supervisors already had their minds made up to approve the tower prior to the public meeting on Oct. 8th. They had enough good evidence to deny the tower, but they ignored it all. If this tower is allowed to be built, will our local governments ever stop a cell tower ANYWHERE for ANY REASON? Stay tuned for more information on how to support legal action against this approval decision by the Board of Supervisors. |