Hockinson-area residents continue their fight against a proposed cell tower near rural neighborhoods

A group of residents near Hockinson, Washington, is pushing back against a proposed 165-foot cell tower slated for a site just north of Northeast 189th Street and Northeast 207th Avenue. The project, backed by Vertical Bridge and T-Mobile, would sit on leased land within a 10-acre property surrounded by established neighborhoods. Residents including Tom Erkert, Dale Good and Mark Roeter have challenged the project through the county's land-use process and have now appealed the decision to Superior Court.

For families who've chosen a quiet, rural setting specifically to avoid this kind of infrastructure, the case highlights a tension playing out in communities across the country: cellular carriers need coverage, but nearby homeowners often feel they have little say in where towers go up. "We're not against having better service or having more options," Erkert told The Reflector. "What we are against is doing something that's completely unnecessary that can have serious health side effects."

Why This Matters Beyond Hockinson

The residents say their concerns go beyond aesthetics. They've raised questions about visual impact, noise, and potential effects on property values, pointing to a review by a local real estate professional that reportedly estimated value reductions among nearby homes — though those figures haven't been independently verified. The group also distributed a mailer to properties within roughly 500 meters of the site and gathered more than 60 signatures opposing the project. One recent homebuyer in the area said he wouldn't have purchased his house had he known about the proposed tower beforehand.

This is a reminder for anyone house-hunting: proximity to cell infrastructure is rarely disclosed upfront, and once a tower is approved, it's difficult to undo. If you're evaluating a property, it's worth checking local zoning filings and county land-use boards for pending wireless infrastructure proposals before you buy.

What Health-Conscious Families Can Do Now

Whether or not this particular tower moves forward, it's a useful nudge to think about overall EMF exposure at home — much of which comes from everyday appliances, not just outdoor infrastructure. Simple swaps can meaningfully reduce your household's exposure footprint. For example, choosing a low-EMF air purifier lets you improve indoor air quality without adding unnecessary electromagnetic output, and swapping to a low-EMF hair dryer is an easy way to cut exposure during a daily routine many people don't think twice about. For those in homes near denser wireless infrastructure, some families also explore EMF shielding paint as part of a broader strategy to reduce ambient signal exposure indoors.

The Hockinson case is still working its way through Superior Court, and it's likely to be watched closely by other communities facing similar proposals.

Originally reported by The Reflector