Council forms Lompoc Theater Project ad hoc committee to help resolve permitting issues

The City Council voted to establish an ad hoc committee to help move the Lompoc Theater Project toward permit approval.

Councilmembers said the theater project has long been a priority for downtown revitalization but that project review has stalled amid complex plan-review and historic‑building considerations. Council directed the committee to work with the project team and city staff to identify code, design and procedural steps needed to complete plan review and to report back to the full council. The council emphasized the committee’s role is advisory and not to direct staff to override formal code or safety requirements.

The council appointed Councilmembers Bridge and Ball to the ad hoc committee and set the committee’s charge to continue until the permit process for the theater is completed. The city attorney advised that because the group will have a defined task with an end point (permit completion) the body qualifies as an ad hoc committee under the Brown Act; staff said they will return with any needed procedural language and bring meeting notices and agendas where applicable.

Ending: The ad hoc committee will meet with staff and the theater proponents, and staff will return to council with proposed meeting procedures and an expected timeline for completing outstanding plan‑check issues.