After deciding to move forward on allowing buildings up to 55 feet in certain parts of Santa Maria, the City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a project proposing buildings up to that limit at the southern gateway to the city.

Although the items are not tied together, a change in the city's height ordinance was necessary for approval of the proposed Lakeview Promenade mixed-use project at the northwest corner of South Broadway (Highway 135) and Skyway Drive. Plans include buildings with residences above retail space, at a maximum building height of 55 feet. The proposed height was lowered from 57 feet in response to public hearing discussions Sept. 16.

The amendment to the current height standard allowing up to 35 feet in high density residential (R-3) zoning districts was one of six options. Those options were developed by city staff after the council continued the separate public hearings Sept. 16, to allow city staff time to develop more options on allowable heights and areas where the height limit could be applied.

Developer Greg Nester's Lakeview Promenade proposal for the former Renfrow Airport Auto Center site includes 263 condominiums, 39,447 square feet of retail space, 13,933 square feet of restaurant space, a 250-seat movie theater and 13,799 square feet of spa/fitness/physical healthcare space.

The residential portion is proposed for six buildings, and 78 of the 263 units are proposed as senior units. The buildings, which would include some residences above retail space, would have a maximum building height of 55 feet. There would be up to 966 residents.

For comparison, the seven-story Union Plaza Senior Apartments building, built in 1975, is 69 feet tall on a 2.3-acre site.

The proposed city code amendment - as introduced to the council Sept. 16 - would have allowed a maximum height of 70 feet in R-3 zoning on lots 1 acre or larger. A limit of 45 feet would have applied for lots less than an acre in size.

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In public comment earlier in Tuesday's meeting, Sherman Kemp, an Orcutt resident, said he was concerned about traffic at the intersection of Skyway Drive and Broadway and the need for more retail projects.

“How many more shopping centers do we need?” Kemp said.

The previous speaker, Charles Ott, said the project site is more suitable for strictly commercial development.

According to the traffic analysis in the environmental impact report, “no significant adverse traffic impact” would result after project buildout at nearby intersections. The analysis projects 5,491 vehicle trips and 446 evening peak hour trips.

One of the major proposed mitigation measures is a new stop light- paid for by the applicant - at the intersection of Skyway Drive and Autopark Drive, just west of the property. The light would be coordinated with the nearby stop light at Skyway Drive and Broadway.

A flashing yellow light at the existing sidewalk at the Lakeview Road and Marvin Street intersection, and a bus shelter and bus pull-out at Skyway Drive and Autopark Drive also will be funded by the applicant.

In other council action, adoption of the Mahoney Ranch South project was unanimously approved on the consent calendar - a number of items considered as a group and typically without discussion. The project proposes 1,405 residential units on 191 acres of the 319-acre property south of Betteravia Road between Black Road and the Santa Maria Public Airport property, and north of the Tanglewood community.

The council approved a 20-foot setback between the communities, and a lower density in the area bordering Tanglewood. Also approved Tuesday were plans to construct the first row of homes on the other side of Tanglewood to be the same height as homes on the other side.

The initial proposal called for two-story buildings on the other side of existing single-story homes, drawing privacy concerns from Tanglewood residents.

Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 739-2219 or at jramos@santamariatimes.com.

October 8, 2008