The Santa Maria Community Development Department is preparing a comprehensive update to the city’s General Plan, a document that creates the master plan for Santa Maria’s growth for the next 20-30 years.

The city is anticipated to grow by 30,000 to 40,000 residents during that time, meaning the community must identify where and how to build thousands of additional housing units, and where to build new parks, schools and other development.

The Policy and Plan Development phase is underway with the completion of draft Policy Frameworks for each of the nine elements of the city’s updated General Plan.

The Policy Frameworks are a step in the General Plan Update process prior to drafting General Plan Elements. The frameworks highlight key direction for each General Plan Element, including goals, policies, and implementation activities to achieve that direction.

During the public review period — Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, March 2 — community members can go over the draft Policy Frameworks for the General Plan and offer comments.

All of the frameworks, as well as a form for providing feedback, are available at the project website.

Following are upcoming public meetings where community members can learn more and offer their thoughts:
• Planning Commission Study Sessions: Feb. 6 and Feb. 20, 1:30 p.m. in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library
• Office hours with planning staff:
◦ Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1-2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.
◦ Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Community Development Department Conference Room.

Comments may also be submitted within the public review period to Dana Eady, Planning Division manager, by email at deady@cityofsantamaria.org, or mailed/delivered to the Santa Maria Community Development Department, 110 S. Pine St., Rm. 101, Santa Maria, CA 93458, by Sunday, March 2.