Two Santa Maria planning commissioners thought last week’s meeting drew the biggest crowd they’ve experienced at a hearing. The only item on the May 6 agenda occupied the bulk of the nearly three-hour discussion.
Following three study sessions that date back to 2024, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved a project that would bring a package delivery warehouse to the city.
“It’s creating the needed employment opportunities while also helping reduce the need for many of our residents to leave town and commute to other jobs,” Commissioner Yasameen Mohajer said.
The project doesn’t require approval from the City Council, but the applicant will need building permits after the appeal period ends, according to the city.
Seefried Industrial Properties Inc. plans to construct the shipping facility on a parcel that’s about as large as four football fields. There’ll be 12 truck bays for deliveries to the warehouse and space for vans to load up before delivering products to consumers. The company intends to start construction this summer, according to the city.
The 32-acre site is located at 1680 W. Stowell Road on land zoned for heavy commercial manufacturing. North of the parcel is agricultural land, City Principal Planner Frank Albro said at the meeting. To the west is a Santa Barbara Humane shelter and cooling facilities for Driscoll’s and Bonipak Produce.
Part of the project includes infrastructure upgrades to West Stowell. The street will be widened on the south side, gaining a bicycle lane and a center left-turn lane.
Still, one common complaint listed by public commenters was traffic. At peak operation, 34 trucks will be delivering packages daily between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., plus 72 vans will be flowing in and out every 20 minutes.
Albro noted that the community’s typical congestion times during work and school hours are different than the warehouse’s. The peak agricultural traffic flow won’t align with that of the warehouse either.
Jose Cardona, a teacher at Santa Maria High School, expressed worry about students walking home next to trucks. Cardona wondered how the off-peak travel to and from the warehouse would be enforced.
“Santa Maria High School has a staggered schedule, so half of the students enter an hour later and leave an hour earlier. This also doesn’t account for students that play sports and stay after,” Cardona said. “So we’re expecting these students to walk home next to these semi-trucks, which I think is very dangerous.”
Other locals were worried about environmental issues. President Claire Wineman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties said the organization raised concerns that were “improperly dismissed.”
“The [environmental impact report] fails to adequately analyze impacts to traffic safety as well as agricultural operations and land use,” Wineman said.
While the report—conducted by a third party—determined that the project may pose significant environmental impacts, it also incorporates mitigation strategies to reduce the threats to less than significant levels, Albro said.
The city planner added that the project would generate 300 permanent jobs and 500 contracted positions. Multiple union members said it could mean working closer to home than they ever had before.
Danny Zaragoza, the secretary treasurer for Local 220, spoke in favor of hiring locals and increasing entry-level opportunities at the site.
“The salaries or the hourly wages for this project were going to range anywhere from $26 to over $50 an hour,” Zaragoza said. “So those are livable wages, or I like to say they’re mortgage-paying wages.”
Listeners gave Zaragoza a round of applause as he returned to his seat.
Commissioners Mohajer and Tim Seifert voted to approve the project. Chair Esau Blanco voted against it, citing concerns about long-term impacts on the community. Tom Lopez and Robert Dickerson were absent due to conflicts.
This article appears in May 14 – May 21, 2026.