Attachment B
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
ADOPTING THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA 2045 GENERAL PLAN
UPDATE, REPLACING THE EXISTING ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN,
AND MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65300, et seq. requires the City of Santa Maria (“City”) to adopt and maintain a General Plan that contains certain elements, describes its long-term goals, and develop policies and programs to achieve those goals; and
WHEREAS, in November of 2019, the City Council approved a Professional Services Contract with Raimi & Associates to prepare a comprehensive update to the City’s General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City has sought to proactively engage the public in the update to the General Plan, including visioning workshops, pop -up events, online surveys, social media posts, community open houses and office hours, 13 Technical Advisory Committee meetings, joint study sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council, and hearings and briefings with the Planning Commission and City Council throughout the duration of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the Community Vision Statement, Guiding Principles and Areas of Change and Stability on April 6, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City Council selected the Preferred Land Use Alternative for the General Plan Update on December 5, 2023; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) (California Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations, §§15000, et seq.), the City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the Santa Maria General Plan Update; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update contains the State-mandated elements of Land Use, Conservation and Open Space , Safety, Noise , Environmental Justice, a nd Circulation as well as optional Economic Development, Public Facilities, and Recreation and Parks Elements; and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Element of the General Plan Update includes Figure LU-3, Land Use Policy Map, incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update, including Figure LU -2, General Plan Land Use Map, identifies the Planned Annexation and Sphere of Influence boundary Attachment B
adjustment area for future application to the Santa Barbara County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO); and
WHEREAS, Existing Conditions Report s, which are not an official part of the adopted General Plan, were prepared in support of the General Plan Update and contain background information relevant to the General Plan Elements; and
WHEREAS, the existing Housing Element adopted by the City Council on December 5, 2023 (2023-2031 Housing Element o f the General Plan) will remain in full force and effect following adoption of the General Plan Update; and
WHEREAS, each Element of the General Plan Update contains the diagrams, data, analysis, standards and policies required by State law; and the degre e of specificity and level of detail for each Element of the General Plan Update reflects local conditions and circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update and its Elements comprise a logical, integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of goals, policies and objectives; and
WHEREAS, the city released the Public Review Draft General Plan on August 14, 2025, and invited comments on it from August 14, 2025, through September 28, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan Update is in the public interest because it plans for future growth through orderly development, ensures adequate public services and facilities are available to the public, and supports fiscal sustainability by encouraging economic prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the city received comments on both the Public Review Draft General Plan Update and the Draft EIR and has provided those comments to the Planning Commission for consideration as part of the public hearing process; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission is responsible for reviewing updates to the General Plan and forwarding a recommendation to the City Council on the adoption or amendment; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the EIR for the Project and the General Plan Update; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2026, the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Maria made its recommendation in writing that the City Council make findings to adopt the City of Santa Maria 2045 General Plan; and
WHEREAS, on May 5, 2026, a duly noticed public hearing was held for the purpose of making findings to adopt the City of Santa Maria 2045 General Plan; and Attachment B
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Maria made no substantial modification to the City of Santa Maria 20 45 General Plan that had not been previously considered by the Planning Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. Based on the entire record before the City Council and all written and oral evidence presented, including the Council Agenda Report , and the information contained in the General Pl an Update and EIR, the City Council make s the following findings:
1. All of the Elements of the General Plan Update provide for and promote overall goals, objectives and policies that are consistent with each other, integrated, and internally consistent; and
2. The General Plan Update ’s Elements are compatible with each other, including the Housing Element, and will not conflict with, nor affect the implementation of, policies and programs in the various Elements therein; and
3. The General Plan Update ’s amendments to the General Plan are reasonably related to the public health, safety and welfare because they guide and accommodate land uses, housing , and circulation infrastructure in accordance with current law, community need, and future demand.
SECTION 3. The City Council approves an application to LAFCO pursuant to the Cortese/Knox/Hertzberg Local Reorganization Act of 2000, commencing with section 56000 of the California Government Code , to amend the City’s Sphere of Influence and Annex the territory identified as “Planned Annexation” in Figure LU-3 (Land Use Policy Map) of the General Plan Update Land Use Element.
SECTION 4. Based upon the entire record before the City Council and the findings set forth herein, the City Council of the City of Santa Maria approves and adopts the City of Santa Maria 2045 General Plan included as Attachment D to the Council Agenda Report dated May 5, 2026, incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 5. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make m inor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
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Attachment B
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria held this 5th day of May 2026.
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
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Department Director
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City Manager