Chamber of Commerce | Visitor Bureau | Economic Development Commission 614 S. Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454 | (805) 925-2403 | SantaMaria.com 27 November 2023
Alice Patino, Mayor
Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem
Mike Cordero, Council Member
Carlos Escobedo, Council Member
Gloria Soto, Council Member
Mayor and Council Members:
The Santa Maria City Council will soon make a decision that will have enormous consequences for the future of our community.
In 2021, the City started a General Plan update process, creating the master plan for city growth over the next 25-30 years. The Plan starts by acknowledging the city will grow by 30,000 residents during that time, meaning the community must identify where and how to build an additional 10,000-12,000 housing units. We also need to decide where the amenities of a great community are built –schools, parks/sports field, fire stations, community centers, and all the rest. Just as importantly, the plan needs to create space for an additional 10,000 high wage jobs to support the families who will live here.
Thirty-four years ago, the City started the last general plan process. At that time the population was 64,000.
The study looked at a wide range of growth options, including infill and expansion. That General Plan was approved in 1993 and forecast adding 2,000-plus acres to the city. The Plan has worked, accommodating our current population of 110,000.
Based on that Plan, the City limits expanded to accommodate new neighborhoods including Westgate, Pacific Crest, Harvest Glen, Heritage, Preisker Ranch, and many others.
The city also encouraged and approved infill projects. New commercial projects were built along north Broadway such as the Vallarta and Food Max shopping centers and several new hotels. Infill residential projects included Hancock Terrace, Oak Creek, Mission Creek, Meridian, and many other apartment projects.
Community-serving amenities were added, including eight elementary schools and one high school, parks and trails, a new library, fire stations, a new police headquarters, and new community centers. The major commercial centers along Highway 101 featuring Walmart, Lowes, Costco, and Home Depot were built.
Highway 101 was expanded to three lanes in each direction and most of the interchanges were expanded.
For two years now, the City has conducted extensive public outreach and incorporated feedback from a wide range of stakeholders to envision a future Santa Maria. City staff are now presenting the City Council with three growth scenarios. Those options included a “no new land” plan (infill only), a traditional growth model similar in scope to the plan now being completed, and a hybrid option that prioritizes infill while allowing for necessary room to grow.
A vocal minority, supported by organizations who oppose any growth, have been pushing for the infill only option. They claim all new housing needs for the next 30 years can be provided by “Stacking and Packing” residential units in six- to seven-story apartments, along with many more ADU’s on single family lots. What they don’t tell people is what their plan won’t bring to the city … no new schools, no new parks or sports facilities, no new community centers, no expansion of the hospital, and no new land for businesses that will create the jobs we will need. The quality of life in Santa Maria will be vastly different if 30,000-40,000 additional people are forced to live within the existing city boundary.
Other options acknowledge that the city we want and deserve will require some growth in the city’s boundaries.
They allow for – and encourage – additional infill, resulting in a full spectrum of housing choices for the next generation of Santa Marians. These options acknowledge current and new residents want quality schools, an expanded hospital, shopping near their homes, space for parks and recreation, and places they can work without commuting out of town.
Proponents of a no new land policy say the community doesn’t need new land today. Probably true. But a General Plan isn’t about today … it’s about the next 30 years. It’s about making sure that the next generation gets to live in a great, well planned community.
We encourage the City Council to select a planning model for their staff to study that explores several future scenarios and, ultimately, to select the approach that gives Santa Maria the best chance of being the premiere city on the Central Coast to live, work, and play!
Sincerely,
Glenn Morris
President/CEO
Co-Signers:
Paul Cook, President/CEO
CoastHills Credit Union
Board Chair, Santa Maria Valley
Chamber
Sue Anderson, President/CEO
Marian Regional Medical Center
Kevin Walthers, PhD,
Superintendent/President
Allan Hancock College
Antonio Garcia, Superintendent
Santa Maria Joint Union High School
District
Darren McDuffie, EdD,
Superintendent
Santa Maria-Bonita School District
O.T. Wendel, PhD, Sr. VP
A.T. Still University
Teresa Paredes, Owner
Maya Restaurant
Chair, SMVC Hispanic Business Group
Jason Buchanan, Adviser
HUB International
Chair, SMVC Business/Government
Roundtable
Cherag Patel, General Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites
Chair, SMV Tourism Marketing District
cc: Alex Posado, Interim City Manager
Chuen Wu, Community Development Director
Dana Edy, Planning Division Manager