Planning commission approves Hyundai dealership at East Battles Road after debate over flood‑control review

The Santa Maria Planning Commission approved a plan development permit (PD2025-002) and conditional use permit (U2025-0003) to allow construction of a 19,000-square-foot Hyundai dealership and 14-bay service center at 957 East Battles Road.

The dealership is proposed for the northwest corner of East Battles Road and Shepherd Drive on a 4.5-acre site. Greg Vine, the city’s associate planner, told the commission the building would be 26 feet tall, include a showroom facing Battles Road and a service center to the north, provide 311 total parking spaces (84 spaces conditioned for service/employee/customer parking to meet municipal code and 227 for vehicle display), and operate roughly 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday with shorter weekend hours. The project includes a retention basin on the north side of the property, new perimeter landscaping, a three-space executive canopy on the west side and a one-car podium along Battles Road. Outdoor repair and outdoor storage of inoperable or partially dismantled vehicles are prohibited on the site.

Staff said the project qualifies for a Class 32 categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act because the site is under five acres and…