The SP district is designed and intended to provide greater urban design flexibility through the adoption of a General Plan-Specific Plan. Such flexibility allows the City to assemble a set of land use specifications and implementation programs tailored to the unique characteristics of each area. All City zoning districts may be made a part of the specific plan; however, the implementation of each zone must be consistent with the adopted General Plan-Specific Plan. Until the formal adoption of a General Plan-Specific Plan by the City Council, the SP district shall act as a development holding zone in which no development activity shall be allowed until a specific plan is adopted. (California Government Code Section 65450 et seq.)
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
(a) 
A specific plan shall include a text and diagram or diagrams which specify all of the following in detail:
(1) 
The distribution, location, and extent of the uses of land, including open space, within the area covered by the plan;
(2) 
The proposed distribution, location, and extent of intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste, disposal, energy, police, fire, recreation, government offices, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to support the land uses in the plan;
(3) 
Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, where applicable;
(4) 
A program of implementation measures including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to carry out subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section;
(5) 
The specific plan may address any other subjects necessary or desirable for implementation of the General Plan.
(b) 
The specific plan shall include a statement of the relationship of the specific plan to the General Plan. The specific plan should demonstrate implementation of the goals, policies and objectives outlined in the Santa Maria General Plan.
(c) 
No specific plan may be adopted or amended unless the proposed plan or amendment is consistent with the General Plan.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
The specific plan shall designate all land uses, and the geographic boundaries of each land use, allowed in the specific plan area. Each land use shall be consistent with the adopted specific plan and corresponding zoning noted in the plan. If the General Plan-Specific Plan has not been formally adopted by City Council, then the SP zone shall hold the land uses and not allow development until formal specific plan adoption.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
Unless otherwise redefined in the specific plan, all zoning Code provisions (Title 12) of the Municipal Code shall apply to development under the specific plan. Each specific plan may designate optional development standards, which are independent of the City zoning provisions and other adopted specific plans, to be applied within the defined specific plan area.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
The City Council grants all approvals of specific plans in the City. Each specific plan shall be adopted by resolution, for General Plan consistency, and by ordinance, for zoning consistency.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
An adopted specific plan shall be amended by resolution and ordinance of the City Council and may be amended as often as deemed necessary by the City Council.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
An adopted specific plan may be repealed in the same manner as is required to be amended.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)
Successful legal challenge of the specific plan provisions, all or part, shall not be considered an invalidation of the City General Plan and zoning provisions authorizing the specific plan.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1 (Exh. 2), eff. 10/3/90)