Zoning administrator approves T‑Mobile equipment upgrades at Bald Hill cell tower, with tribal concerns noted

The Mendocino County zoning administrator on July 23 approved administrative permit AP2025-0015 to allow equipment removal, replacement and upgrades at an existing 51-foot wireless telecommunications tower on property owned by the Maguire Family Trust near Fort Bragg. The permit was requested by T‑Mobile, with Crown Castle identified as the applicant representative; the applicant was not present at the hearing.

Project planner Margo Rodriguez told the zoning administrator the work would occur within the tower's existing leased area at 21929 Bald Hill Road (Assessor's Parcel Number 069-270-14), about 3 miles northeast of the city of Fort Bragg and 1.95 miles northeast of the Bald Hill Road/Pudding Creek Road intersection. The project includes replacement and installation of equipment and the installation of a single 2-inch conduit; staff said the project would not increase the tower's height, would not encroach on setbacks and would not increase residential…