A street in a mixed-use development under construction in southwest Santa Maria will bear the name of the late Daniel “Dan” Blough.
Blough, who died in February at age 68, worked as a contractor and land developer in Santa Maria and served on the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission representing the Fifth District
“This would have meant the world to Dan. He would have been emotional, too, I guarantee it,” his widow, Peggy Blough, said. “Even though he could be intimidating, he was a very caring and very giving man, and he was very devoted to the city of Santa Maria.”
The development, known as Betteravia Plaza, sits on West Betteravia Road east of the new Santa Maria Police Department. The project includes retail and office space along with apartments.
The Santa Maria City Council on Tuesday night voted to approve the name change from Hickok Drive to Dan Blough Drive for the road that will run parallel to Betteravia and connect to Blosser.
The name change would not affect any existing addresses but would be implemented in future property addresses, according to David Beas, a city engineer for Santa Maria.
The development was the last project that Dan Blough had approved through the Santa Maria Planning Commission and City Council, and it is currently under construction.
Landowner Steve Zimmerman requested the name change and the traffic committee agreed with the proposal, Beas said.
The council unanimously approved the name change.
“Yes, he was very intimidating. After I got over that he was vey kind. He was just the most wonderful man,” Councilwoman Etta Waterfield said, adding that Blough’s wealth of knowledge as “one of the best universities in the wold.”
“Santa Maria is more of a beautiful city because of Dan,” Mayor Alice Patino said, adding that Blough loved Santa Maria. “Anything he did was in the best interest of Santa Maria.”
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.