Santa Maria pushes final general plan, annexation and housing pipeline to meet RHNA goals
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Summary
City leaders described a general plan update, a proposed annexation of roughly 985 acres east of Highway 101, and an active pipeline of housing projects as the city aims to meet its regional housing needs allocation.
City officials said Santa Maria is in the final stages of a multi-year general plan update intended to guide growth for the next 20 years and to address the city’s regional housing needs allocation (RHNA).
Director of Community Development Shannon Dow told the audience the general plan update began in 2020 and that the city is planning for roughly 16,140 units and more than 58,000 new residents and 23,000 jobs within the updated plan area. Dow said about 5,600 units are already in the development pipeline and that roughly 19% of land inside the city limits remains vacant (about 2,700 acres). She said the annexation proposal includes roughly 985 acres east of Highway 101.
Mayor Alice Patino said the city is working to meet a RHNA allocation that includes specific unit targets across income categories, and stressed that state mandates reduce some local control over growth. “We have the political will to build,” Patino said, while also describing parking pressure and neighborhood impacts from denser household vehicle ownership.
Dow and Patino highlighted several projects already moving through the pipeline, including Blosser Ranch, Bellecrest, the Gateway mixed-use project and a Sears adaptive reuse that will contain a Veil supermarket and upper-level retail. Dow said the Pearlman Apartments received downtown permits and will provide 150 deed-restricted affordable units at Main and Broadway.
Officials said downtown revitalization includes 12 projects with about 134,000 square feet of commercial space and 1,022 new housing units envisioned in the downtown specific plan. Dow noted financing and high interest rates continue to challenge some developers and highlighted two statewide community facilities district programs (CMFA and CSCDA models) the city is promoting to help close financing gaps for infrastructure and eligible project costs.
Officials described the annexation and general plan as subject to required reviews and to LAFCO consideration before any boundary changes or new development entitlements become final.
