With a large turnout of supporters and opponents filling the audience Wednesday, the Santa Maria Planning Commission narrowly approved a package delivery warehouse eyed for the western edge of the city.

Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of the project planned for 1680 W. Stowell Road, with Tim Seifert and Yasameen Mohajer in favor and chairman Esau Blanco opposed as a standing-room-only audience watched.

Two others, Robert Dickerson and Tom Lopez, did not attend to the meeting since they have conflicts of interest.

Seefried Industrial Properties Inc. has applied for a 244,418-square-foot distribution facility featuring a main warehouse at 169,000 square feet, office space, a fleet service center and various support structures. 

Mohajer noted that the project will be subject to mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, operational conditions and traffic management improvements aimed at addressing various impacts.

“I also believe it’s important to consider the long-term economic and employment benefits the project would bring to Santa Maria. It’s huge for our residents,” Mohajer said.

“I am really leaning toward supporting the project even with the factors that aren’t perfect,” Seifert said.

The project’s footprint will encompass “about four football fields of warehouse space,” Blanco said.

“I have some concerns. I don’t think it’s the best location,” Blanco said, adding that he doesn’t have a problem with the operation.

The site, located 4.5 miles west of Highway 101, means the 345 delivery vans and 34 line-haul trucks daily will travel on Stowell Road. The city street passes two school campuses with several others a few blocks away. A number of residences also sit adjacent to Stowell along several blocks.

Commissioners as well as community members raised concerns about the site, with some saying it should be east of Highway 101.

The facility — reportedly for Amazon — would operate 24/7, supporting last-mile delivery operations with up to 345 delivery vans and 34 line-haul trucks daily along with employee vehicles. Delivery locations would span roughly 125 square miles, from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara.

Speakers Talk Jobs, Traffic Concerns

Union members, most decked out in orange shirts or vests, filled the audience to drive home their support while other community members urged the panel to slow down.

Michael Boyer, CEO of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the $30 million private investment in Santa Maria will bring real economic value, including generating higher property tax revenue.

“Projects like this are how communities grow stronger through private investment, job creation, infrastructure improvements and long-term economic opportunity,” Boyer added.

However, teacher Laura Henderson said the project sparked serious safety and other concerns. In addition to her classroom facing Stowell Road, she said only a sidewalk and a chain-link fence separate her students playing in the schoolyard from the busy road. 

“A high-volume delivery facility would bring constant vehicle traffic, noise, vibration, air pollution directly beside classrooms and nearby homes,” Henderson said. 

Warehouse operations would be timed with truck deliveries of packages arriving between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., with vans departing to drop off the items between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. 

The hours of operation mean the warehouse traffic would peak at different times from the school and agricultural traffic, according to studies.

However, Claire Wineman from the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, contended that the environmental document has fatal flaws by failing to address concerns.

West Stowell Road is home to number of large agricultural coolers, including Driscoll’s, California Giant and Bonipak Produce.

“What we want is safe and efficient travel through Stowell Road, especially between Blosser and Black (roads),” Wineman said. 

“Project traffic will decrease roadway safety,” she said, adding that congestion, various types of vehicles and other factors will create unique safety challenges.

The applicant’s representative, Erik Justesen of RRM Design Group, said warehouse’s operation is “inherently unique.”

“It is a package delivery business and minimizing delays and expediting shipping is at the very core of their goals,” Justesen said, adding that they seek to avoid traffic congestion by scheduling at off-peak times.

Throughout the process, discussions on the topic have avoided the package delivery firm’s name. The report refers to colors used on the structures as Prime Blue, and it appeared the applicant tried to block the name Amazon, but it shows up once.

In approving the project, planning commissioners decided the significant economic impact, such as $10.25 million in local fees and infrastructure improvements, will benefit the community.

It also will generate $3.7 million in estimated state and local property taxes. However, since purchases don’t occur at the warehouse, the project won’t boost the city’s sales tax revenue.

The warehouse project reportedly will create short- and long-term jobs with approximately 300 direct employees and 500 contract employees.