Lompoc council reviews 2050 general plan draft; debate centers on housing, downtown and outreach

Lompoc — At a July 21 workshop, the Lompoc City Council and planning staff reviewed the assets, issues and opportunities draft for the city’s 2050 General Plan and discussed two draft vision statements and a set of guiding principles intended to steer future policy and code changes.

Ryan Lester, a consultant with Minteer Harnish, told the council the engagement so far included a public workshop, two pop‑up events, outreach at a senior health event, and an online and paper survey. Lester said roughly 100 people provided input; the responses emphasized affordable housing, the city’s small‑town character, commercial corridors and the potential jobs growth tied to the nearby Space Force base.

The consultant described two draft vision options: one that frames 2050 as a city that “grows with its residents while maintaining its unique identity and small‑town feel,” and a second that emphasizes a lively downtown and tourism that celebrates the space industry, wineries and local events. Councilmember Bridal offered a more specific third version that named local assets such as River Park and the spaceport.

Council members broadly supported the outreach themes but pressed staff and the consultant for stronger, targeted engagement. Councilmember Cox and others questioned the sample size, noting a town population of about 45,000 and council’s earlier estimate that 77% of residents commute out of Lompoc for work. Councilmember Starbuck suggested mailing surveys with utility bills to reach commuters; Lester said budget constraints limited targeted outreach but staff could explore additional methods.

Housing and mixed‑use development drew sustained debate. Some councilors argued for a variety of housing types — including units aimed at mid‑ and upper‑income buyers — to attract workers who might otherwise live outside Lompoc. Others cautioned against assuming high‑density, stacked mixed‑use is universally feasible, noting financing and market constraints. Lester explained mixed‑use can be achieved as stacked units (commercial below, housing above) or as integrated developments with separate residential units behind commercial frontage.

Council members also disagreed on whether to prioritize downtown revival or invest across commercial corridors. Proponents said a vibrant downtown — aided by projects such as the Lompoc Theater renovation and events — creates a city identity and can draw visitors and businesses. Other members noted the city’s North Side corridors currently generate more sales tax and recommended balanced incentives to motivate private owners to improve underused properties.

Several public commenters urged practical, low‑cost outreach (including using parks and recreation events and realtors), adaptive reuse overlays to ease conversions of existing buildings, and attention to affordability and public safety. Parks and recreation commissioner Alexis Otero recommended making surveys available at parks events; resident Maria Genigama, a real estate broker, urged the city to “sell” Lompoc and to coordinate with the Space Force base to attract compatible businesses.

Lester said the next step is to prepare alternative build‑out scenarios — including no‑project and higher‑growth options — and return to council on September 21. Council members were invited to submit written comments on the draft vision and guiding principles before the next meeting.

The council did not take formal votes on the document at the workshop; the session concluded with direction to refine outreach and to produce policy scenarios for future review.