Neighbor group wins tower ruling
October 2, 2008 · Updated 1:23 PM
North Bend cell phone structure
to move 50 feet
By Seth Truscott
Editor
A group of North Bend residents recently won the last battle in their long-running appeal against a proposed cell tower.
Families in the Circle River Ranch area wont be bugged as much by the planned 150-foot T-Mobile tower, following King County Hearing Examiner Stafford Smiths Aug. 25 decision that the tower should move 50 feet southeast of its original site.
This summer, six families appealed a hearing examiners decision allowing the tower, and staged a small protest during T-Mobiles North Bend picnic.
Neighbor Rob Salopek said the examiners latest decision reflected a red balloon test run in late July, comparing views at both the original site and the one 50 feet away, which neighbors asked for.
It made a difference, Salopek said. It moved it out of virtually everbodys view.
Neighbors challenged the towers location to protect their views of nearby Mount Si.
Salopek called the decision a win-win for all parties. Tower property owner Jerome Klacsan and T-Mobile still get to build the tower, he said.
We didnt move it into anybody elses sight view, Salopek added.
While bittersweet, considering the neighbors two-year, $15,000 appeal battle, Salopek savored the win.
Its a rare victory over a multi-billion dollar company, he said. Well take it.
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