| ITEM #: 12. DATE: 03/23/2026 AI #:3007 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | SECOND HEARING FOR THE ANNEXATION OF LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 25 |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
Bob Young, Executive Director of Operations, Liberty Elementary School District No. 25 & Daniel Ox Auxier, EPS Group Inc.
SUMMARY
This is a public hearing to consider the annexation of approximately 16.25 acres of property, generally located along W Lower Buckeye Road, east of S Perryville Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2026-1645, EXTENDING AND INCREASING THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GOODYEAR, MARICOPA COUNTY, STATE OF ARIZONA, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 9, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 7, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, BY ANNEXING APPROXIMATELY 16.25 ACRES OF PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG W. LOWER BUCKEYE ROAD, EAST OF S. PERRYVILLE ROAD, WHICH IS CONTIGUOUS TO AND SURROUNDED BY THE EXISTING CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GOODYEAR. (Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner)
FISCAL IMPACT
Annexation of land has a fiscal impact. A brief overview of anticipated public infrastructure and services impacts is included in the staff analysis section of this report.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The application request is for the annexation of approximately 16.25 acres of property, generally located along W. Lower Buckeye Road, east of S. Perryville Road (the “Property”). See Attachment A for the proposed Ordinance No. 2026-1645 for adoption and Attachment B for an aerial exhibit of the Property. The Property encompasses what is currently two parcels, currently identified with Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel No. 502-42-868 and Parcel No. 502-42-869. The Property is owned by the Liberty Elementary School District No. 25 and is the site of Loretta Zumbro Elementary School (Liberty Elementary School No. 8), which opened in August 2025.
Directly east of the Property is Pradera Phase 3 Parcel E (zoned R1-6) and Pradera Phase 3 Parcel F (zoned R1-4), both of which are located within the city of Goodyear. Abutting the western boundary of the Property is a single-family home (zoned RU-43) and a vacant parcel to the north (zoned RU-43), both of which are located within Maricopa County.
At the September 9, 2024 Regular meeting, Council authorized staff to proceed with the annexation request.
At the April 28, 2025 Regular meeting, Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-2462 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the annexation and provision of city services to the annexation property. See Attachment C for the executed IGA. The various pre-annexation conditions and requirements included in the IGA have been completed. Thus, the city is proceeding with annexation of the Property.
At the May 19, 2025 Regular meeting, Council held a public hearing to consider the annexation, which was held within the last ten days of thirty-day waiting period. There were no public speakers for the items. No action was needed for these public hearings.
Directly east of the Property is Pradera Phase 3 Parcel E (zoned R1-6) and Pradera Phase 3 Parcel F (zoned R1-4), both of which are located within the city of Goodyear. Abutting the western boundary of the Property is a single-family home (zoned RU-43) and a vacant parcel to the north (zoned RU-43), both of which are located within Maricopa County.
At the September 9, 2024 Regular meeting, Council authorized staff to proceed with the annexation request.
At the April 28, 2025 Regular meeting, Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-2462 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the annexation and provision of city services to the annexation property. See Attachment C for the executed IGA. The various pre-annexation conditions and requirements included in the IGA have been completed. Thus, the city is proceeding with annexation of the Property.
At the May 19, 2025 Regular meeting, Council held a public hearing to consider the annexation, which was held within the last ten days of thirty-day waiting period. There were no public speakers for the items. No action was needed for these public hearings.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Current Policy:
Council adopted an Annexation Policy (Attachment D) by Resolution No. 01-768 that provides staff with guidelines for the evaluation of annexation requests. The Policy includes evaluation of the following:
A. The city’s ability to provide basic services in a timely manner
B. Long-term desirability for community development and economic growth
C. Likelihood of the area being developed in Maricopa County or being annexed by another city or town
D. Ability to control the quality of land uses and infrastructure standards
E. Compatibility with General Plan, infrastructure needs, and timing of development
This application has been reviewed using the City’s Annexation Policy as a guiding document. Additionally, staff’s analysis includes review of the appropriate Arizona Revised Statutes, the General Plan, and Zoning Ordinance.
Details of the Request:
There is one application request for consideration:
The land use designation for the Property under the City’s General Plan is Neighborhood, which provides areas for residential neighborhoods and includes community facilities such as schools and places of worship. The existing County zoning for the annexation area is Rural-43 (RU-43). Upon annexation, the property would be designated the city equivalent zoning district of Agricultural Urban (AU). The use of the annexation property for a school would be permitted under the AU zoning district and a rezone will not be necessary.
The property is located within the city’s municipal planning area and meets State statutory requirements for annexation.
Streets: The Property is located adjacent to W. Lower Buckeye Road and has been improved as an arterial street, which includes two lanes in each direction. Liberty constructed the infrastructure improvements needed to support the school.
Public Safety: The Property is located within an existing Police patrol beat and the current level of service within the beat can accommodate the development of the property. Fire services will be provided by Station 188, which is located approximately 2.2 miles away from the site and Station 184, located 3.8 miles northwest of the site.
Water/Wastewater: Liberty constructed all water and wastewater infrastructure needed to support the operation of the school. Upon annexation, the property would be served by the city of Goodyear. The property is already included in the city’s Integrated Water Master Plan (IWMP).
STAFF FINDINGS:
This annexation request is compatible with the General Plan and will allow the city to ensure its infrastructure and services standards are met. The proposed annexation for an elementary school in the area supports “complete neighborhoods” that support the needs of the residents in the vicinity and the overall Goodyear community (General Plan Goal LC-4).
Council adopted an Annexation Policy (Attachment D) by Resolution No. 01-768 that provides staff with guidelines for the evaluation of annexation requests. The Policy includes evaluation of the following:
A. The city’s ability to provide basic services in a timely manner
B. Long-term desirability for community development and economic growth
C. Likelihood of the area being developed in Maricopa County or being annexed by another city or town
D. Ability to control the quality of land uses and infrastructure standards
E. Compatibility with General Plan, infrastructure needs, and timing of development
This application has been reviewed using the City’s Annexation Policy as a guiding document. Additionally, staff’s analysis includes review of the appropriate Arizona Revised Statutes, the General Plan, and Zoning Ordinance.
Details of the Request:
There is one application request for consideration:
- Annexation of approximately 16.25 acres of property, generally located along W. Lower Buckeye Road, east of S. Perryville Road.
The land use designation for the Property under the City’s General Plan is Neighborhood, which provides areas for residential neighborhoods and includes community facilities such as schools and places of worship. The existing County zoning for the annexation area is Rural-43 (RU-43). Upon annexation, the property would be designated the city equivalent zoning district of Agricultural Urban (AU). The use of the annexation property for a school would be permitted under the AU zoning district and a rezone will not be necessary.
The property is located within the city’s municipal planning area and meets State statutory requirements for annexation.
Streets: The Property is located adjacent to W. Lower Buckeye Road and has been improved as an arterial street, which includes two lanes in each direction. Liberty constructed the infrastructure improvements needed to support the school.
Public Safety: The Property is located within an existing Police patrol beat and the current level of service within the beat can accommodate the development of the property. Fire services will be provided by Station 188, which is located approximately 2.2 miles away from the site and Station 184, located 3.8 miles northwest of the site.
Water/Wastewater: Liberty constructed all water and wastewater infrastructure needed to support the operation of the school. Upon annexation, the property would be served by the city of Goodyear. The property is already included in the city’s Integrated Water Master Plan (IWMP).
STAFF FINDINGS:
This annexation request is compatible with the General Plan and will allow the city to ensure its infrastructure and services standards are met. The proposed annexation for an elementary school in the area supports “complete neighborhoods” that support the needs of the residents in the vicinity and the overall Goodyear community (General Plan Goal LC-4).
Attachments
- Attachment A - Ordinance No. 2026-1645 with Exhibits
- Attachment B - Aerial Photo
- Attachment C - Intergovernmental Agreement
- Attachment D - Annexation Policy
- Staff Presentation