The Mendocino County Zoning Administrator on Jan. 9, 2025 approved Administrative Permit AP 2023-0047, allowing modifications to an existing Crown Castle wireless communications facility on Cleveland Mountain.

County staff reported that the permit would allow the installation of four new antennas, four microwave dishes, eight remote radio units and eight coaxial cables, plus a new 3-foot-by-3-foot concrete pad within an existing 36,100-square-foot leased area on a 110-acre parcel at 1876 Oak Knoll Road (parcel 157-130-06), about 1.5 miles southwest of Buckeye at the terminus of Oak Knoll Road.

Staff said the project was determined categorically exempt from further environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301 (existing facilities). Planning staff described the existing Crown Castle facility as a 50- to 55-foot monopole with antennas, microwave dishes and ground-based equipment. The site is in an area the county identifies as very high fire hazard; staff said the facility is subject to CAL FIRE requirements and local fire-protection services.

The facility will remain unmanned and operate continuously; company representatives visit the site less than twice a month for maintenance, staff said. County staff also reported that there was a previous permit modification approved to renew the use for another 10-year period, which is scheduled to expire in 2034.

With no public comment present on the item, the Zoning Administrator said he would open and close the public hearing and approved the project "subject to the findings and conditions contained within the resolution dated January 9, 2025," as stated in the hearing record. The record did not include a roll-call vote; the approval was entered into the record by the Zoning Administrator.