Cell Tower Permit Denial Upheld by Division 2
The ongoing land use battle over cell tower siting rages on, with this round awarded to the opponents of a Cingular tower proposed for construction in a rural area of Thurston County. Division 2 upheld a hearing examiner's permit denial, summarizing a portion of the key evidence as follows:
The testimony of area residents amply demonstrates that the WCF would
adversely impact views of Mt. Rainier and open vistas of rural farmland.
Currently, no other structures pierce the natural skyline in that area,
which remains undeveloped except for residences, some home businesses, and
a handful of non-residential structures, including a fire station, gas
station and church. We hold that the record contains sufficient evidence
of incompatibility with neighborhood character and adverse aesthetic
impacts to support the hearing examiner's decision
