Santa Maria City Council

The “Santa Maria 2045 General Plan” has been in development since 2020, and it addresses the city’s projected growth of nearly 60 thousand new residents and more than 16 thousand new housing units by 2045.

The city of Santa Maria is considering a new general plan — a document that would act as a guide on land use and planning issues through the year 2045.

The council voted 3-1 to appoint Richardo Batalla to fill the District One seat, which had been empty since Councilmember Carlos Escobedo announced his surprise resignation.

Assistant City Manager Chuen Wu says they’ll be accepting applications until March 26. But, there’s no guarantee that the city council will pick someone from that application pool.

In a phone interview with KCBX, Carlos Escobedo said he thinks people may make assumptions about the timing of his resignation.

Audience members also chanted “shame” after the Santa Maria City Council voted against creating an ad hoc committee on immigration issues.

At a Santa Maria City Council meeting Tuesday, Councilmember Gloria Soto opened her comment with disappointment. “ I was extremely underwhelmed by what I read,” Soto said in response to a new resolution expressing support for the city’s immigrant community.