| AGENDA ITEM #: 3. DATE: July 1, 2026 CAR #: 3175 CASE #: {Case#} |
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Planning & Zoning Commission ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | ZONING ORDINANCE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Christian M. Williams, Planning Manager; Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
Matthew Klyszeiko, Michael Baker International (Zoning Ordinance Update consultant)
SUMMARY:
Request to forward a recommendation of adoption to the City Council for the proposed comprehensive update to the City's Zoning Ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
- Conduct a public hearing to receive public comments on the city’s Zoning Ordinance comprehensive update.
- Recommend adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-XXXX to approve the city’s Zoning Ordinance comprehensive update. (Christian M. Williams, Planning Manager and Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner)
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct budget impact associated with the comprehensive update. Funding for tasks associated with the Zoning Ordinance update have been approved for this fiscal year.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS:
Arizona state law provides municipalities with the ability to enact zoning regulations for the development of the municipalities and to conserve and promote public health, safety, and general welfare (ARS 9-462.01). The City’s General Plan, General Plan 2035: Growing Goodyear, Planning Our Future, was ratified by voters in May 2024. In response to residents’ requests for continued high-quality development in the city, staff hired Michael Baker International to update the Design Guidelines. The updated Design Guidelines were adopted by City Council in November 2024.
Shortly thereafter, staff began working with Michael Baker International on the Zoning Ordinance update to further improve standards and support high-quality development throughout the city. Because the last comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update occurred in 1999, staff identified several items to address, including bringing the ordinance up to current standards, improving user experience, refining outdated development standards, expanding housing options, clarifying definitions, adding uses not previously included in the ordinance, and revising language to ensure compliance with state and federal law.
Together, these updates help streamline the development process while maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, the Zoning Ordinance update is a Strategic Plan item for Fiscal Year 2026 and supports the City’s intent to conserve and promote public health, safety, and general welfare by supporting the General Plan’s goal of creating a community that distinguishes itself through high-quality character and design.
Shortly thereafter, staff began working with Michael Baker International on the Zoning Ordinance update to further improve standards and support high-quality development throughout the city. Because the last comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update occurred in 1999, staff identified several items to address, including bringing the ordinance up to current standards, improving user experience, refining outdated development standards, expanding housing options, clarifying definitions, adding uses not previously included in the ordinance, and revising language to ensure compliance with state and federal law.
Together, these updates help streamline the development process while maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, the Zoning Ordinance update is a Strategic Plan item for Fiscal Year 2026 and supports the City’s intent to conserve and promote public health, safety, and general welfare by supporting the General Plan’s goal of creating a community that distinguishes itself through high-quality character and design.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The comprehensive update process began in January 2025. The first community workshop was held on April 23, 2025, at the Goodyear Recreation Center. Ten residents attended and actively engaged with the consultant and city staff throughout the event. A survey on the Zoning Ordinance was available to the public from mid-April through early July, providing the update team with insight into community interests and priorities. Highlights and informational articles about the Zoning Ordinance update were published in the May and June 2025 editions of the InFocus magazine.
The first work sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council were held in October and November 2025, respectively. Topics discussed included expanding allowances for temporary signage in multi-family zoning districts, increasing noticing requirements, reviewing permitted and use-permit uses, and creating middle-housing opportunities within single-family zoning districts. A second work session was held in March 2026, during which staff presented proposed regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and data centers. Additional topics included in the staff report were an arts district overlay and updated regulations for drive-through facilities and parking standards. Based on the feedback received during these work sessions, staff and the consultant revised the proposed regulation language. At the third work session in June, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council received an update summarizing the modifications made in response to comments from both earlier work sessions.
A final community workshop was conducted on May 5, 2026, in the Canyon Trails meeting room at City Hall. Five developer representatives attended to learn more about the proposed regulations, particularly those related to BESS and data centers.
The initial draft sections of the Zoning Ordinance update—specifically the proposed regulations for BESS and data centers—were released in early March at the time of second work session. Remaining draft sections were released through April 22. Staff received, reviewed, and incorporated feedback until the public hearing draft was finalized on June 12. During the seven to fourteen weeks the draft was available for public comment, staff met with existing customers and various regional organizations to discuss the update and receive input. Most comments focused on BESS and data center standards, as the City currently has no adopted regulations for these uses; the update will codify how they are permitted and the standards they must meet. All comments received were evaluated and incorporated into the final document.
Since publication of the public hearing draft on June 12, staff and the consultant have further revised the document to address additional feedback from the development community, correct scrivener’s errors, and provide necessary clarity and flexibility. The document showing tracked changes is included as Attachment A. The final Zoning Ordinance, incorporating all revisions, is included as Exhibit A to Attachment B.
The proposed Zoning Ordinance update fulfills the primary goals of the project. It expands opportunities for housing diversity, clarifies definitions, updates existing uses and development standards, and introduces new uses. In addition, the ordinance has been reorganized and modernized with tables and graphics to improve usability and overall reader experience.
CONCLUSION
The comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update aims to protect our residents’ health, safety, and welfare by establishing land use classifications, dividing the city into districts, and imposing regulations on land use, building dimensions, and open space among other regulations. Accordingly, staff recommend the Planning and Zoning Commission forward to the City Council a recommendation to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-XXXX, Attachment B. Staff will present the final Zoning Ordinance to the City Council at a public hearing on July 6, 2026. If adopted, the Zoning Ordinance will become effective 30 days thereafter.
The first work sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council were held in October and November 2025, respectively. Topics discussed included expanding allowances for temporary signage in multi-family zoning districts, increasing noticing requirements, reviewing permitted and use-permit uses, and creating middle-housing opportunities within single-family zoning districts. A second work session was held in March 2026, during which staff presented proposed regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and data centers. Additional topics included in the staff report were an arts district overlay and updated regulations for drive-through facilities and parking standards. Based on the feedback received during these work sessions, staff and the consultant revised the proposed regulation language. At the third work session in June, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council received an update summarizing the modifications made in response to comments from both earlier work sessions.
A final community workshop was conducted on May 5, 2026, in the Canyon Trails meeting room at City Hall. Five developer representatives attended to learn more about the proposed regulations, particularly those related to BESS and data centers.
The initial draft sections of the Zoning Ordinance update—specifically the proposed regulations for BESS and data centers—were released in early March at the time of second work session. Remaining draft sections were released through April 22. Staff received, reviewed, and incorporated feedback until the public hearing draft was finalized on June 12. During the seven to fourteen weeks the draft was available for public comment, staff met with existing customers and various regional organizations to discuss the update and receive input. Most comments focused on BESS and data center standards, as the City currently has no adopted regulations for these uses; the update will codify how they are permitted and the standards they must meet. All comments received were evaluated and incorporated into the final document.
Since publication of the public hearing draft on June 12, staff and the consultant have further revised the document to address additional feedback from the development community, correct scrivener’s errors, and provide necessary clarity and flexibility. The document showing tracked changes is included as Attachment A. The final Zoning Ordinance, incorporating all revisions, is included as Exhibit A to Attachment B.
The proposed Zoning Ordinance update fulfills the primary goals of the project. It expands opportunities for housing diversity, clarifies definitions, updates existing uses and development standards, and introduces new uses. In addition, the ordinance has been reorganized and modernized with tables and graphics to improve usability and overall reader experience.
CONCLUSION
The comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update aims to protect our residents’ health, safety, and welfare by establishing land use classifications, dividing the city into districts, and imposing regulations on land use, building dimensions, and open space among other regulations. Accordingly, staff recommend the Planning and Zoning Commission forward to the City Council a recommendation to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-XXXX, Attachment B. Staff will present the final Zoning Ordinance to the City Council at a public hearing on July 6, 2026. If adopted, the Zoning Ordinance will become effective 30 days thereafter.
Attachments
- Attachment A - Zoning Ordinance Public Hearing Draft with Track Changes
- Attachment B - Draft Ordinance No. 2026-XXXX