Council approves Pearlman Apartments downtown permit after weeks of review; residents and carriers raise health, parking and coverage concerns

The Santa Maria City Council voted Aug. 5 to approve downtown entitlements for the Pearlman Apartments, a six‑story, 100% deed‑restricted affordable housing project, with a condition that the developer re-contact 14 tenants at the adjacent Union Plaza building and offer relocation assistance so those tenants’ written decisions are on the record.

The Pearlman project, presented by Shannon Dow, the city’s director of community development, and Brad Vernon of the Vernon Group, is described in project materials as 150 deed‑restricted units at an average affordability level of 60% of area median income, with 78 vehicle parking stalls within a podium and 15 long‑term bicycle parking spaces. The planning commission had earlier recommended approval with additional conditions including façade treatments facing Union Plaza, a mural, relocation of an elevator to the northeast corner to improve alley access, and early notification/application assistance for Union Plaza residents.

During the hearing a large number of Union Plaza residents and representatives objected to the project’s location and design on grounds that included loss of views, inadequate parking, potential safety issues for children and seniors, and harm to the long‑standing Union Plaza facility. Laurie Lee, project manager at Union Plaza, told the council that Union Plaza “has proudly served Santa Maria's elderly and disabled for 50 years” and opposed the Pearlman project at this location.

Several speakers raised concerns about radio‑frequency (RF) exposure from rooftop antennas on Union Plaza. Jeff Lee, a Union Plaza board member and self‑described RF specialist, told the council he had reviewed project documents and had invited David Everett, RF spectrum manager for Vandenberg Space Force, to survey the site. Lee said he found no RF assessment in project materials and argued that Title 47, section 1.1307(b), requires RF exposure evaluations when occupancy changes could raise exposure. “Failure to conduct an assessment could violate federal regulations and expose both city and developers to liability,” Lee said.

AT&T also addressed the council. Dan Rivetto, AT&T director of external affairs, told the council that AT&T’s south‑facing antenna sector on Union Plaza (centerline height stated at 71 feet) would be blocked by the proposed building, which the applicant described as 71 feet tall with elements up to 83 feet. Rivetto said the obstruction could create a “significant gap” in wireless coverage that serves busy commercial areas and critical facilities, including the Santa Maria Town Center, City Hall, Fire Station 1 and county offices; he asked the council to deny or continue the permit to allow the developer, city and wireless carriers to explore solutions.

Dow advised the council that telecommunications siting and RF emissions are governed by the Federal Communications Commission and that federal law prevents state or local governments from regulating the placement or modification of wireless facilities based on environmental RF effects. She told the council an RF study is not required by the city to approve entitlement, and that any site‑specific RF assessment or relocation of carrier facilities would fall to the carriers and/or developers during subsequent design and permitting stages. Dow also noted the project relies on the downtown specific plan environmental review and is eligible for specified state incentives and fee protections under SB 330 contingent on SDA timelines.

Council members asked about parking, loading and emergency access. Developer Brad Vernon said planning commission feedback prompted changes including an elevator relocation to the northeast corner and a designated trash staging/loading area in that corner for move‑ins and deliveries. Vernon said 78 on‑site parking stalls are provided within the podium and that the development agreement calls for access to a nearby city‑maintained lot across the street; he said city staff and the developer are discussing additional improvements for that shared lot.

After public comment and council discussion, a motion to approve the downtown permit passed on a roll call vote: Council Member Aguilar Hernandez, Aye; Council Member Soto, Aye; Council Member Flores, Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Escobedo, absent; Mayor Patino, Aye. The council’s motion included the explicit condition that the developer re‑contact the 14 affected Union Plaza tenants and document whether they accept relocation offers before finalizing entitlements.