PLANNING & ZONING AND THE PUBLIC
City of Goodyear's Planning and Zoning Commission gets a D- when it comes to its voting attendance this year. And we've got the exclusive on a plan to streamline the public process for permitting.
Planning and Zoning.
It’s the people’s last stop before development projects go to Goodyear City Council.
Last night, at a contested Goodyear City Council meeting, members of the council made it very clear that they view Planning and Zoning as “just a recommendation” board. Nothing more.
Last week, Planning and Zoning shot down the “rezone of approximately 11.37 acres west of the southwest corner of Estrella Parkway and Van Buren Street.” The development would become a “Final PAD with underlying MF-24 (Multi-Family) zoning for the anticipated development of a 3 & 4-story (50 feet high) 284-unit apartment complex at a density of 25 dwelling units per acre by Leon Capital Group.” Source
Residents voiced concerns at Planning and Zoning last week about this apartment complex behind Culver’s. And they showed up in force at the Goodyear City Council meeeting last night… where council OPPOSED the Planning and Zoning decision and ended up APPROVING the controversial rezone in a 6-1 vote.
Prior to all of this, residents also attended community meetings to speak out against the project.
In the end, the people lost.
Here is the recap of Councilmember Wally Campbell’s monologue. This is important because it confirms what we all were wondering.
BREAKING NEWS: More thought-provoking is what we caught at the end of last week’s Planning and Zoning meeting.
As the city grows, it’s looking at a way to cut the number of actions requiring public input. They call it “standardizing.”
Less public input. And the city council’s authority to overrule P&Z decisions.
While it urges residents to “get involved”, the City is on a commuications blitz to remind the public that the Planning and Zoning Commission, or as I refer to as P&Z, simply make “recommendations” to the council.
Pictured: September 2023 InFocus Magazine
This comes at a time when more and more residents are hoping P&Z to be an ally in having a voice about the future of this growing Goodyear.
Pictured: Goodyear Planning and Zoning Meeting - September 13, 2023
City growth is up. Citizen complaints are up. And public attendance at P&Z meetings is up. Many people are looking to fellow citizens to help put a stop - or at least a pause - to the rapid growth of apartments and warehouses.
But how helpful is the Planning and Zoning Commission for these wishful residents? Let’s take a look.
In this month’s meeting is the absence of the P&Z Commission Chair. In fact, just after the lack of votes due to a vacant seat, the chair has the 2nd least amount of votes in 2023.
Chairman Kish has missed three meetings this year.
We notice Kish’s campaign filing for City Council is no longer on the Goodyear website.
NOTE: January through September of this year, 203 votes have been possible across all seven P&Z seats in regards to development proposals. These votes do NOT include the routine votes on meeting minutes, adjournment, etc. These are the number of votes specifically available in relation to rezoning, use permits, approval of apartments and warehouses, etc.
Due to absences and an unfilled seat, ONLY 126 votes have been cast for 2023 development proposals. That’s 62%. A grade of D-.
And the votes cast are mostly complimentary of City Staff recommendations.
The next time you drive through the city and see all the growth, you will know 2023 project proposals passed through Planning and Zoning with a 72% approval rating from the commission.
This year alone, Goodyear Planning and Zoning has “recommended” the rezoning of 1037 acres in our All-America City.
Furthermore, Use Permits most always get the green light.
The Use Permit to recommend a McDonald’s drive-through 150 feet behind a residents’ home passed through P&Z on a 3-2 vote. Despite the affected homeowners and neighbors making a plea against the drive-through, the Use Permit came to life at Goodyear City Council where the board approved it on a 5-2 vote.
Circling back to that comment about standardization from Goodyear’s Christopher Baker, Director of Development Services.
He will be going to Goodyear City Council in a worksession at the end of October to discuss removing the public process for Use Permits.
The move will bundle Use Permits and Special Use Permits into project proposals to streamline the permitting process. For instance, development proposals for future fast food restaurants and banks will include Use Permits rather than have them separated out for additional review by P&Z and City Council.
Hear Baker talk about this: Begin this video at the 2:01:06 mark.
When asked, Mr. Baker told me more about this policy move, writing, '“Yes, it is something that progressive Citys’ do to keep up with development trends, create standards ensuring high quality and appropriate mitigation for any nuisances that may be generated, ensure equal protection, and have a clear path towards project approvals. We are also researching what are the general practices of other jurisdictions in PHX area.” September 18, 2023.
You can find out more about development projects in the works in Goodyear, Arizona through the city’s website here.
JEN’S TWO CENTS
If you don’t speak up now, Goodyear will continue on this path, and there’s no looking back.
With all of these approved projects, the pressure is now on for school districts to pass their Bonds in the November election. Many local schools are nearing capacity.
Sign up for notifications from the City of Goodyear about upcoming meetings here. The “Other Public Meetings” will include Planning and Zoning notices. Before each meeting, you can review the agenda and accompanying documents to see what Planning and Zoning will hear and consider.
Being an informed resident is a straightforward possibility in Goodyear, Arizona.
On September 12th, Goodyear’s Council Subcommittee interviewed and chose recommendation of Jeremiah Smith for the vacant seat on Planning and Zoning. I have confirmed we’ll see his appointment at the next Goodyear City Council meeting on October 16th.
Considering this seat has been open for several months, and the city ONLY considered residents from a narrow section of town, I thought the seat would have been filled last night. But that’s not the case. I’m waiting to hear from Goodyear’s city clerk office to find out why the delay.
