Santa Maria Planning Commission - May 6, 2026 Public Hearing

The City of Santa Maria Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 6, 2026, to consider the Stole Road package delivery warehouse project, a 245,000 square foot distribution facility proposed at 1680 West Stole Road. The meeting included a detailed staff presentation on the project's scope, environmental impact report (EIR), traffic analysis, and mitigation measures. The project involves significant infrastructure improvements, including road widening, signal timing optimization, and concrete roadway hardening funded by the developer. The EIR identified some significant impacts, particularly related to vehicle miles traveled (VMT), but included mitigation measures such as travel demand management and electrification of the delivery fleet. Public comments were mixed, with supporters emphasizing job creation, economic benefits, and infrastructure investment, while opponents raised concerns about traffic safety, noise, environmental impacts, and the quality of jobs. After extensive discussion, the commission voted to certify the EIR and approve the plan development permit with conditions, including a correction to a mitigation measure. The project is expected to create approximately 300 permanent jobs and 500 contracted positions, with an average compensation of $29 per hour, and contribute over $10 million in local fees and infrastructure improvements.