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Proposed Rezoning Could Transform Santa Maria Suburb
City planners have advanced a rezoning application covering 48 acres near Betteravia Road that would shift the area from agricultural use to mixed residential and light commercial development.
How we reported this
The Santa Maria Planning Commission voted 5-2 on July 2 to forward a rezoning request for 48 acres along Betteravia Road in the city's northwest edge to the full City Council.
The move arrives as Santa Maria's housing inventory sits at 1.8 months of supply, the lowest level recorded since 2022, according to data from the Santa Maria Valley Association of Realtors. Local builders have submitted 1,200 new unit applications in the first half of 2026, up from 870 during the same period last year.
Residents in the adjacent neighborhoods of Preisker Park and the area around the Santa Maria Public Library have already begun organizing meetings to review traffic studies tied to the proposal.
Impact on nearby landmarks
The parcel sits two blocks from the Santa Maria Fairpark grounds and directly across from the former site of the Betteravia Farms packing facility, which closed in 2023. City documents show the new zoning would allow up to 320 multifamily units and 45,000 square feet of retail space.
Median sale prices in the surrounding census tract reached $498,000 in June, a 9 percent increase from the same month in 2025. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a member briefing for July 14 to discuss how the added density could affect commercial leases near the Town Center mall.
Next steps for residents
The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the rezoning at 6 p.m. on July 21 in Council Chambers at City Hall. Property owners within 500 feet of the site received mailed notices last week. Those wishing to submit comments must file them with the Community Development Department by July 18.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.