Cell tower case between city of Walla Walla v. AT&T put on hold
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The case concerning a proposed 65-foot cell tower between the city of Walla Walla and AT&T has been stayed, according to Walla Walla City Attorney Tim Donaldson.
Donaldson said the stay by U.S. District Court Judge Stanley A. Bastian allows AT&T to pursue co-location of its proposed cell tower at a site located at Russell Creek and Depping roads rather than the Blue Mountain Community Church site at 928 Sturm Avenue.
The case is stayed until Feb. 28, 2025. A bench trial was originally scheduled to begin a week from today (Nov. 12) at the federal courthouse in Richland.
In September 2023, after hearing from AT&T’s representatives, city employees, and residents, the hearing examiner denied the project’s conditional-use permit for construction, operation and maintenance of a wireless telecommunications facility consisting of a 65-foot faux pine tree and accessory equipment. The city served notice of final decision on the application in November 2023.
AT&T filed a lawsuit in December 2023 against the city of Walla Walla in federal court claiming the city violated the Telecommunications Act by denying a conditional-use permit for a cell tower on property owned by the church. In the lawsuit, AT&T claimed the city’s denial prevents the wireless company from providing necessary wireless services. It further contends that the city should have provided an alternate site if the area it proposed didn’t meet requirements.
