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 density.

Staff said the proposal conforms to the site's Rangeland (160-acre minimum) zoning and cited General Plan policy DE-206 in support of utility infrastructure needed for wired, wireless and satellite communications. Staff reviewed prior use permits and conditions and found no inconsistencies; the proposal was referred to agencies on June 19, 2025.

The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians submitted comments on July 2, 2025, expressing concerns about "the ground scope of work" and asking when the area was last surveyed for cultural resources. The tribe said it might request an on-site monitor during earth-moving activities. Staff noted the tribe's primary concern "pertains to potential cultural resources in the project area." The tribe's contact listed in the record is Valerie Stanley, THPO, thpo@sherwoodband.com.

According to the staff memorandum, the applicant responded by email on July 9, 2025, clarifying that neither the 2-inch conduit nor the rigid components would require trenching. Staff also cited the project's prior environmental review (2010 use permit modification), which stated "no significant earth moving is proposed and the site has been previously developed. No mitigation required." Nevertheless, staff recommended Condition 9 advising the applicant of the county's archaeological ordinance and Condition 8 requiring that if archaeological sites or artifacts are discovered during excavation or construction, the property owner must cease work within 100 feet of the find and notify the director of the Department of Planning and Building Services; the director would coordinate further actions for protection of resources under Mendocino County Code section 22.120.090.

Staff recommended the project be found categorically exempt from further CEQA review under California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15301 (Class 1, existing facilities). After a brief discussion and noting no public commenters or applicants in attendance, the zoning administrator said they would modify Condition 1 to change the appeal reference from "10 working days" to "10 calendar days" to align with code requirements, and announced approval of the administrative permit "subject to the findings within the resolution and the conditions with that one modification." The record does not show a roll-call vote; the approval was made by the zoning administrator at the hearing.

The permit approval maintains the existing tower footprint and height and preserves the conditions of prior entitlements; it also leaves in place the county's archaeological protections should undiscovered cultural materials be found during any future ground-disturbing work. The appeal period runs from the date the permit notice is issued per the modified Condition 1.

Notes from the hearing: the applicant was not present in the hearing room or on Zoom; staff and the zoning administrator were the only live participants who spoke to the item.