Protect Nevada County, California: Urge the Board of Supervisors to Declare the Current Draft an Emergency Ordinance and Direct County Staff to Adopt Residents’ Protective Wireless Ordinance

California’s Nevada County is on the verge of adopting an amended, slightly more protective wireless ordinance that would still allow cell towers dangerously close to homes, schools, and environmentally sensitive areas — without adequate safety protections and the disregard of public comment from hundreds of submissions for adequate health and safety protections.

Extensive scientific research shows that exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cell towers and other wireless facilities can harm human health, wildlife, and the environment. Yet the County’s current draft ordinance fails to include even the most basic safeguards — like minimum setbacks of 500 feet and transparency about proposed projects — that protect residents and preserve rural character.

In response, Nevada County for Safe Tech has drafted a comprehensive protective ordinance that aligns with the County’s legislative goals to protect public health, property values, and the environment. At the February 26 hearing on the County’s draft ordinance, the Planning Commission recommended County staff meet with Nevada County for Safe Tech and other community advocates.

Nevada County for Safe Tech met with County staff to discuss adding at least two key protective provisions — conditional use permits for small cell wireless facilities and exceptions to use permits for some facilities. However, the staff memo for the April 14 hearing fails to mention both the Planning Commission’s recommendation and the meeting between staff and community advocates. The County’s current draft ordinance remains unchanged.

California residents please use the form below to urge the Board of Supervisors to declare the current draft ordinance an urgency ordinance and instruct planning staff to revise the current draft to require conditional use permits for small cell wireless facilities as well as exceptions for some of these facilities at the April 14 hearing. There is no downside: adopting these amendments is legally sound, community-driven, and positions Nevada County for long-term success.

If you prefer to mail a letter, send it to this address:

Now is the time to act. We need area residents to show up, speak out, and make their voices heard at the April 14 meeting at 1:30 p.m. If you would like to speak at the hearing and receive talking points or a short prepared script, please contact Nevada County for Safe Tech. The hearing will be livestreamed on YouTube.