COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chenin Dow, Community Development Director
DATE: May 6, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-01 Amending Title 12 of the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code Adding New Def inition for Batt ery Energy Storage Systems.
Description:
The City Council will con sider adopti ng Ordinance No. 2025-01 to adopt Zoning Text Amendments (Z2025 -0002) amending Title 12 – Zoning, to add a new definition for Battery Energy Storage Systems to Chapter 12 -2, lim iting their location to the City’s General Manufacturing District contained in Chapter 12 -17 with a Conditional Use Permit and/or Planned Development Permit, and establishing specific development standards for certain Battery Energy Storage System uses.
Environmental Notice: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2), the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Additionally or alternatively, this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, Section 15307 (Class 7, categorical exe mption for regulatory activity to assure the protection of natural resources), and Section 15308 (Class 8, categorical exemption for regulatory activity to assure the protection of the environment).
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance No. 2025 -01 amending Titl e 12, to add a new definition for Battery Energy Storage Systems to Chapter 12 -2, limiting Battery Energy Storage System facility location to the City’s General Manufacturing District contained in Chapter 12 -17 with a Conditional Use Permit, and establishing specific development sta ndards for certain Battery Energy Storage System uses.
BACKGROUND:
At its regular meeting held on April 15, 2025, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 2025-01 amending Title 12, to add a new definition for Battery Energy St orage Systems to Chapter 12 -2, limiting Battery Energy Storage Systems facility location s to the City’s General Manufacturing District contained in Chapter 12-17, with a Conditional Use Permit and/or Planned Development Permit, and establishing specific de velopment standards for Battery Energy Storage System uses.
.DISCUSSION:
The Ordinance will define and regulate the location and operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems ( BESS) facilities in the City. This constitutes the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-01. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after City Council adoption.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Ordinance No. 2025-01