Planning commission backs zoning text amendment to regulate battery energy storage systems with expanded notice and other conditions

The Santa Maria Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council adopt a zoning text amendment to add battery energy storage systems (BESS) to Title 12 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code, with city-specific standards including an emergency response plan, a minimum separation from sensitive uses, and expanded public notice.

Planning staff, led by Frank (planning staff), presented the proposed amendment as a three-part approach: define BESS in the zoning code; list the M2 (general manufacturing) zone as the appropriate primary location; and add city‑specific standards the commission should require when an application comes forward. Staff said the ordinance is intentionally concise so that technical safety details can continue to be addressed through evolving state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulations, building code and fire code updates and through conditions imposed on individual use permits.

Key city-specific elements presented by staff include: - A requirement that any proposed front‑of‑the‑meter BESS application submit a coordinated emergency response and emergency action plan developed in consultation with local emergency…