Zoning administrator approves Verizon/Crown Castle antenna modifications near Hopland

The Mendocino County Zoning Administrator approved an administrative permit (AP2025-0034) on Feb. 26 to allow Verizon Wireless and Crown Castle to modify an existing wireless facility located about three miles southwest of Hopland.

Mark Pleitzer, the staff planner, presented the project as “an administrative permit to authorize an eligible facilities request for modifications on an existing wireless facility, including 6 radio antennas, 6 radios, and 3 arc caps.” He said the site sits on an approved use permit that remains valid through 2032 and described the location near Road 110 and Feliz Creek Road. Staff concluded that all required findings could be made and recommended approval with no special conditions.

The zoning administrator opened the public hearing, acknowledged that no members of the public were present either online or in the hearing room, closed the public hearing, and reviewed the staff report and proposed resolution. “So I will approve the project subject to the findings and conditions contained within the resolution,” the zoning administrator said, then adjourned the meeting at 10:14 a.m. The approval was recorded as an administrative action in the hearing record; no formal roll-call vote or tally was recorded in the transcript.

Because the decision implemented an eligible facilities request to alter an existing communications structure, no new use permit was required beyond the documented findings; the staff report did not list special mitigation conditions. The hearing record does not show public testimony, conditions beyond those in the resolution, or any motions or amendments by other parties.

The zoning administrator’s approval completes the county-level permit step recorded in this hearing. The transcript does not specify subsequent permit recording steps, construction timelines, or notices to neighboring property owners.