| AGENDA ITEM #: . DATE: October 25, 2023 CAR #: CASE #: {Case#} |
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Planning & Zoning Commission ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | GENERAL PLAN 2035 GROWING GOODYEAR, PLANNING OUR FUTURE |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Senior Planner |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
Matt Klyszeiko, with Michael Baker International (General Plan Consultant)
SUMMARY:
This is the second of two required public hearings before the Planning & Zoning Commission to consider the draft General Plan 2035. The purpose of the first hearing was to give the community an opportunity to comment on the General Plan, and no action from the Commission was required at that hearing. This second public hearing will also be an opportunity for the public to comment on the General Plan. A recommendation from the Commission will be sought at this second hearing.
RECOMMENDATION:
- Conduct a public hearing to receive public comment and consider adoption of the city of Goodyear General Plan 2035; and,
- Recommend approval of the adoption of the city of Goodyear General Plan 2035. (Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Senior Planner)
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct budget impact associated with this update. Funding for tasks associated with the General Plan 2035 update has been approved for this fiscal year.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS:
Arizona law requires each municipality in the State to adopt a comprehensive, long-range general plan for the development of the municipality (ARS §9-461.05). Pursuant to State law, the General Plan shall include the municipality’s goals and development policies. It shall also include maps, any necessary diagrams and text setting forth objectives, policies and standards, and a set of required elements dependent on population.
A General Plan is effective for up to 10 years. The City’s current General Plan was ratified by voters on November 4, 2014. Therefore, a new General Plan must be adopted/updated by the City and ratified by voters prior to November 2024. As such, the city began the update process in January 2022 and has been working diligently towards a special election to be held in May 2024.
As a General Plan represents the comprehensive and long-range statement of a community’s values and priorities for the development of the community, effective public participation is critical to the process of creating or updating a General Plan. Furthering this objective, the City Council on April 18, 2022: (1) adopted a Community Outreach and Communications Plan, which represented the city’s commitment to public participation and included such outreach efforts as creation of a dedicated website, several rounds of community workshops, media releases and other digital forms of engagement; and (2) established the creation of the General Plan Committee, which is a group of volunteer citizens and stakeholders helping to facilitate the creation of the General Plan update.
The General Plan Committee held a total of nine public meetings. At their final public meeting held on August 9, 2023, the General Plan Committee unanimously voted to accept the 60-day review draft of the General Plan 2035 and recommended staff move forward with finalization of the draft in preparation of public hearings to be held before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council.
At a public meeting held on September 11, 2023, the City Council reviewed the 60-day review draft General Plan 2035 and the comments received from stakeholders and residents on the draft. The Council then took action to authorize staff to move forward with finalization of the draft General Plan 2035.
At a public meeting held on September 13, 2023, the Planning and Zoning Commission received an update on the 60-day review draft and comments received. The Commission did not have any comments, and no action from the Commission was required/taken at that meeting.
At a public hearing held on October 18, 2023, the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a hearing to receive public comment on the draft General Plan 2035. There was no public comment received at the hearing, and no Commission action was taken.
A General Plan is effective for up to 10 years. The City’s current General Plan was ratified by voters on November 4, 2014. Therefore, a new General Plan must be adopted/updated by the City and ratified by voters prior to November 2024. As such, the city began the update process in January 2022 and has been working diligently towards a special election to be held in May 2024.
As a General Plan represents the comprehensive and long-range statement of a community’s values and priorities for the development of the community, effective public participation is critical to the process of creating or updating a General Plan. Furthering this objective, the City Council on April 18, 2022: (1) adopted a Community Outreach and Communications Plan, which represented the city’s commitment to public participation and included such outreach efforts as creation of a dedicated website, several rounds of community workshops, media releases and other digital forms of engagement; and (2) established the creation of the General Plan Committee, which is a group of volunteer citizens and stakeholders helping to facilitate the creation of the General Plan update.
The General Plan Committee held a total of nine public meetings. At their final public meeting held on August 9, 2023, the General Plan Committee unanimously voted to accept the 60-day review draft of the General Plan 2035 and recommended staff move forward with finalization of the draft in preparation of public hearings to be held before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council.
At a public meeting held on September 11, 2023, the City Council reviewed the 60-day review draft General Plan 2035 and the comments received from stakeholders and residents on the draft. The Council then took action to authorize staff to move forward with finalization of the draft General Plan 2035.
At a public meeting held on September 13, 2023, the Planning and Zoning Commission received an update on the 60-day review draft and comments received. The Commission did not have any comments, and no action from the Commission was required/taken at that meeting.
At a public hearing held on October 18, 2023, the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a hearing to receive public comment on the draft General Plan 2035. There was no public comment received at the hearing, and no Commission action was taken.
STAFF ANALYSIS
As previously noted, staff began the process of updating the General Plan in January 2022. To date, extensive public outreach has occurred, including the completion of the formal 60-day review of the draft General Plan 2035 on July 31, 2023. Comments from City staff, residents, outside agencies and stakeholders were received in response to the 60-day review and will be addressed, as applicable, with the final draft General Plan 2035.
Given Council’s authorization to finalize the draft General Plan 2035, staff will present the final draft of the General Plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission on October 18 and 25, 2023 and the City Council on November 13, 2023 for public hearing, review and adoption. Then, upon conclusion of the State-mandated 180-day waiting period, the General Plan 2035 will be presented to the citizens at a special election to be held in May 2024.
It should be noted that pursuant to ARS §9-461.06, the city of Goodyear must hold two public hearings before the Planning & Zoning Commission, at two different locations. The first public hearing was held at City Hall on October 18, 2023 and was intended to provide an opportunity for public input. There was no public comment, and no Commission action was taken at that first hearing. The second public hearing will be held at the former City Hall building located at 190 N. Litchfield Road on October 25, 2023. Commission action on the item will be expected at the second public hearing.
Attached to this staff report is a summary edition, comprised of several introductory sections of the overall General Plan 2035 document, that provides an overview of the General Plan, its purpose, format and how to use the document. Also attached is the full edition of the draft General Plan 2035.
Given Council’s authorization to finalize the draft General Plan 2035, staff will present the final draft of the General Plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission on October 18 and 25, 2023 and the City Council on November 13, 2023 for public hearing, review and adoption. Then, upon conclusion of the State-mandated 180-day waiting period, the General Plan 2035 will be presented to the citizens at a special election to be held in May 2024.
It should be noted that pursuant to ARS §9-461.06, the city of Goodyear must hold two public hearings before the Planning & Zoning Commission, at two different locations. The first public hearing was held at City Hall on October 18, 2023 and was intended to provide an opportunity for public input. There was no public comment, and no Commission action was taken at that first hearing. The second public hearing will be held at the former City Hall building located at 190 N. Litchfield Road on October 25, 2023. Commission action on the item will be expected at the second public hearing.
Attached to this staff report is a summary edition, comprised of several introductory sections of the overall General Plan 2035 document, that provides an overview of the General Plan, its purpose, format and how to use the document. Also attached is the full edition of the draft General Plan 2035.
Attachments
- 1. General Plan 2035 Public Hearing Draft (Summary Edition)
- 2. General Plan 2035 Public Hearing Draft (Full Edition)