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PLANNING INFORMATION |
This web page is designed to provide you information and resources that help answer many of the questions that are presently answered by City staff.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Planning Division Introduction General Plan Zoning Planning Permits |
Subdivisions CEQA Maps & Publications (with some plans available online) Status of Projects |
The Planning Division serves the community by providing information and assistance to the public about past, present and future development in the City of Santa Maria. Planning staff supports the City Planning Commission and City Council for land use and zoning related applications. Planning, Building, Engineering, Parks, Fire Marshal, and Police Beat Coordinators review and comment on proposed projects to ensure that the public health, safety, and general welfare are protected. The Planning Division maintains public records about project applications, prepares CEQA documentation, and assists with economic development, revitalization, and code compliance activities of other City departments.
The Governor's Office of Planning and Research connects you with several State publications, including the Planners Book of Lists and General Plan Guidelines, which are OPR publications, and Planning, Zoning and Development Laws. These resources provide the operational context of planning in California. Many publications may be obtained by using an Adobe Acrobat Reader, which may be downloaded for free.
ZONING
Zoning specifies the details of development (building height, setbacks, parking requirements, etc.,) allowed in the City of Santa Maria. Zoning also specifies what uses are "allowed," "conditionally allowed," or "prohibited." If you would like to review copies of the following summaries, you may do so by choosing one from the list below.
PLANNING PERMITS:
While the General Plan looks at where the community wants to be in the future, current-planning activities, like zoning and subdivision codes, implement the General Plan. Planned Development (PD) and Conditional Use (U) Permits take a look at proposed building(s) or proposed uses in existing building(s) to determine how that building/use "fits" in with the community and the surrounding neighborhood.
SUBDIVISIONS (Title 11 of the SMMC):
Subdivision regulations identify the processes for the legal division of land. This may involve a lot-line adjustment (not creating any new lots), parcel map (creating fewer than five (5) lots), and subdivision map (creating five (5) or more lots). Recorded maps are public records and permit the legal transfer of real estate to others. Subdivisions of land (and "air spaces") also allow the further development of individual lots (or air space condominiums), consistent with the zoning ordinance and General plan.
California Laws provides you with a link to all State codes. Check the box for the Government Code and search 66410. The Subdivision Map Act sections are 66410 through 66499.
CEQA - The California Environmental Quality Act
Adopted in 1970, CEQA is California's version of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). CEQA requires all projects to undergo environmental review before being approved by a decision-making body. Almost all planning projects relating to the future use or development of property in the state are subject to CEQA.
Environmental Review consists of an Initial Study and a determination about the significance of impacts on the environment that result from the development of the project. Additional study may be required as a part of the environmental review process. These expanded studies are often called Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), Negative Declarations (NDs), or Mitigated NDs.
CEQA requires that decision-makers have enough information about the project impacts to make a reasonable decision on the project. CEQA also requires that significant impacts on the environment be reduced to the maximum extent reasonably feasible. Often, the environmental document recommends mitigation measures, which are imposed on the development as conditions of a project approval.
MAPS AND PUBLICATIONS:
The Community Development Department maintains several maps and documents.
MAPS
The City zoning map is available online. For more information, e-mail: planning@ci.santa-maria.ca.us and the City staff will reply to your questions.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
The Community Development Department maintains development lists, annual reports, and other tracking/status lists on the archived list page
PAPER PUBLICATIONS
Larger documents (general plan elements, specific plans, and some EIRs) may be kept on file at Poor Richards Press in Santa Maria. The people at Poor Richards Press are able to photocopy their "file copy" and deliver the product to you much quicker (and cheaper) than we could at the City. You may inquire about the documents directly with Poor Richards Press in Santa Maria. You may also call Poor Richards Press in Santa Maria at 805.928.7334 and discuss placing an order. The available documents are listed below.
STATUS OF PROJECTS:
The Community Development Department maintains two development-tracking lists. The lists generally describe Major Residential Projects and the Commercial/Industrial Projects. The development list updates occur twice each year and are typically completed in February and August. Paper copies of each list cost $5.00 each and may be ordered from the Community Development Department. Note that the color maps will not be in color on the paper lists obtained from the department.
For your convenience, the City has archived previous Project Lists back to 1999, which chronologically follow the most current report. Additionally, the Non-Residential construction history is available back to 1986.
You may direct inquiries about the status list to: Bill Shipsey, Planner III.
Volume I-City Council Actions
Volume II-DEIR and Amendment to the DEIR
Volume III-Economic Analysis and Traffic Study
Hidden Pines Specific Plan
North Preisker Ranch Specific Plan
West Main Specific Plan
Blosser Southeast Specific Plan
Blosser Southwest Specific Plan
Mahoney Ranch Specific Plan
West Stowell Specific Plan
Entrada Este Specific Plan