Lompoc seeks to expand city limits for more housing

LOMPOC, Calif.- The Lompoc City council is hoping to expand.
They are considering a proposal to add 140 acres of privately owned land near Bailey and West Ocean Avenues.

"We don't have enough housing. Housing is of a premium demand in our community. The housing that has been approved has not been built over the past 15 to 20 years," said Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne.

Mayor Osborne is advocating for the expansion in hopes to help Lompoc's financial woes.

"From a city perspective one of the ways we generate revenue is through property tax," said Osborne.

City leaders said the revenue could benefit Lompoc.

"Any city and community has a projected growth rate from which to be sustainable. As things are always increasing in cost and price the services, wages, everything needs to go with that," said City Council Member Victor Vega.

The council has appointed City Attorney Jeff Malawy to oversee the process.
His appointment could cost $100 thousand dollars or more. However, the city will not be footing the bill.

"We have a developer and a landowner that is part of the process. They have taken on that responsibility to pay these fees through the city of Lompoc, so it's not going to come out of the city general fund at all," said Vega.

The council has voiced concerns over the process and lack of support from LAFCO, the agency that must approve the expansion for it to happen.

"LAFCO should really respect their original purpose which is to look at the community itself. And see what the community desires," said Osborne.

In the past, LAFCO has rejected expansion citing environmental reasons and in hopes of preserving agricultural land.

"These are private landowners who want this expansion so it's not anyone being asked or forced to develop their land," said Vega.

Once the application process is completed it will go before the LAFCO board for approval.