Lompoc is slated to house a DMV processing center for undocumented immigrant driving privilege applications later this year. The state will start issuing those cards in January 2015. A building on North H Street, which has been vacant for a very long time, will house the facility according to Mayor John Linn.
The DMV location will serve as a regional center, taking applications from a broad geographic area, including San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The specific building was chosen because if its substantial parking lot.
"My understanding from talking to the property owners is they were looking as far north as Santa Maria and as far south as Santa Barbara for a location," said Linn. "I guess they looked at many, many locations, but the parking was an issue for them because they needed a certain number of parking spaces and they wouldn't take any less."
Linn says the state has signed a five year lease on the property.