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New Project of 5G tower installation on Hobson's road in the Bald Hill area

A major wireless communication facility is proposed at 21601 Hobson Road SE, near Bass Lake and Yelm. They propose a lattice tower with 4 colocation sites. Verizon is commandeering the project. The proposal is currently under review by Thurston County and includes an approximately 180-foot multi-tenant tower, a fenced equipment compound, access-road improvements, utility infrastructure, fiber service, equipment cabinets and a diesel backup generator. The public deserve to have their say in these installations of new 5G towers by Vertical Bridge, the Tower development company.


Why the application deserves careful public review

Community members reviewing the record have identified several unresolved inconsistencies and information gaps. These do not automatically determine the outcome, but they should be addressed before the County approves the project.



Help the community obtain qualified legal representation

The application is technically complex and involves land-use procedure, SEPA, wetlands, stormwater, access-road development, utilities and the County’s wireless-facility ordinance.

Local residents are raising funds to retain an experienced Washington land-use attorney who can:

  • Review the complete application;

  • Advise residents on the controlling County code;

  • Prepare written objections;

  • Participate in the public hearing;

  • Examine the applicant’s evidence;

  • Preserve SEPA and land-use appeal issues;

  • Respond to revised materials; and

  • Protect the community’s procedural rights.


Support the fundraiser

Funds will be used for attorney fees, expert consultation, hearing preparation, public-record expenses and any necessary administrative appeal.

Community members can also help by:

  • Sharing the fundraiser;

  • Sending the party-of-record email;

  • Reviewing documents;

  • Attending meetings and the public hearing;

  • Submitting factual comments;

  • Photographing visible site conditions from lawful locations; and

  • Informing neighbors who may not have received mailed notice.

  • Register as a party of record: If you live further than 2600 feet, you will not receive any notifications, contact Thurston County to be listed as a party of record in following the instructions below.

  • Review the documents submitted by Vertical Bridge in using Laserfiche


Register as a party of record



CC: sonja.cady@co.thurston.wa.us BCC: no.5g.in.the.bald.hill.wa@gmail.com (our email address so we can include you in our future communications) Email template: Dear Thurston County CPED and Land Use Clerk:


I request that I be added immediately as an interested person and party of record for the proposed Bass Lake wireless communication facility at 21601 Hobson Road SE, Yelm, parcel 23619320000.


Known project identifiers include:


Project: 2026103116

Special Use Permit: 26-111355 ZM

SEPA permit: 26-111357 XA

Related utility permit: 26-111587

Applicant project names: Bass Lake, WA-5237 and WA-5327


Please:


1. Confirm the current status of each associated application, including whether the application has been determined complete and the date of any completeness or incompleteness determination.


2. Add my name, email address, and mailing address to every interested-person, notification, service, public-comment, and party-of-record list associated with this project.


3. Provide notice and, where available, electronic copies or links whenever any of the following is issued, received, scheduled, revised, or posted:


   • Notice of Application;

   • completeness or incompleteness determination;

   • requests for additional information;

   • applicant resubmittals and material plan revisions;

   • SEPA threshold determination and appeal notice;

   • critical-area determination or approval;

   • wetland-buffer reduction, mitigation, isolated-buffer, or reasonable-use request;

   • public hearing notice;

   • staff report and attachments;

   • agency comments;

   • communication matrices;

   • Hearing Examiner exhibits, orders, and hearing dates;

   • final decision;

   • reconsideration request or decision; and

   • any claimed shot-clock extension, tolling agreement, expiration, or deemed-granted notice.


4. Confirm the procedure and deadline for submitting written comments so that they become part of the official administrative record.


5. Confirm that this request itself will be retained in the official project file.


This is a request for notice and inclusion on the project’s service and party-of-record lists. It is not intended as a standing Public Records Act request for records that do not yet exist.

My contact information is:


Name: [Your name]

Mailing address: [Mailing address]

Telephone: [your phone number]


Please acknowledge receipt and confirm that I have been added to the appropriate lists.



Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME] How to find the application documents in Laserfiche


Thurston County uses its Laserfiche WebLink public-document system for records associated with active permit applications.


Step-by-step search instructions

1. Open the Laserfiche search page

Open the link above. The page may be labeled Search Options—Laserfiche WebLink.

2. Search by the main project number

Enter:

2026103116


Use the broadest available document category first, such as All Documents, when that option is available.

 
 
 

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