The fate of a 16-tower cellular phone facility will have to wait until Dec. 9. The Planning Commission previously approved the tower, located off Highway 41 near Atascadero, with a few conditions. But after about an hour of testimony from worried neighbors, SLO County Supervisors seemed to lean toward overriding the earlier approval.

The project was submitted by Sprint Nextel, but would also serve Verizon and possibly AT&T. Supervisors voted 4-1, with Harry Ovitt voting against, to consider the denial because the property had been illegally graded before any project was approved.

Members of the Toro Creek Alliance protest group also worried about potential health risks to neighbors surrounding the towers.

County staff was instructed to review the appeal based on the illegal grading and come back with recommendations for denial.