Authorization to initiate the annexation of 2.8 acres of land adjacent to Lakin Park.

City Council authorize staff to initiate the annexation of 2.8 acres of land generally located west of the southwest corner of MC-85 and Cotton Lane, to be included in the Lakin Park development area. (Alex Lestinsky, Senior Planner)

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 CAR. A detailed fiscal impact will be included in future City Council reports. There is no fiscal impact associated with authorizing the staff to proceed with the state statutory requirements for annexation. Authorizing the process to move forward does not commit the City Council to approve the annexation.

This item has not been previously presented to Council. The abutting property to the east is part of the Lakin Park Planned Area Development which was adopted by Council on October 28, 2019, by Ordinance 2019-1451

Current Policy:
The city of Goodyear has an annexation policy adopted by Resolution 2001-768. In addition, Arizona State Statue regulates annexation. Below is a brief summary of the annexation process:

• Staff conducts a cursory review of the annexation proposal.
• (tonight’s meeting) Staff provides an impact analysis of the annexation proposal to City Council. The City Council will consider the proposal and make a determination on whether to authorize staff to proceed with the annexation.
  • If authorization is not provided, then no further action on the annexation will be taken.
  • If authorization is provided, staff will move forward with the state statutory requirements for annexation.
• After further staff review of the proposal, a blank petition containing the legal description and map of the annexation territory is filed with the County Recorder.
• After the blank petition is filed, there is a 30-day waiting period. A public hearing must be held within the last 10 days of this 30-day waiting period to receive public input on the annexation.
• Once the 30-day waiting period is over, the blank petitions may be signed and collected.
• Once all petitions have been collected, the annexation may be scheduled for a City Council meeting for consideration.

Details of the Request:
The request is to annex 2.8 acres of land generally located west of the southwest corner of MC-85 and Cotton Lane. The entire 4.8-acre parcel (APN 502-49-017E) is currently owned by Quantum Holdings 4 LLC, which also owns the property to the west. A portion of the parcel is already within the city’s limits, leaving the 2.8 acres remaining to be annexed.

The City’s General Plan designates this area as Business & Commerce. The existing County zoning for this property is Rural-43 (RU-43). Upon annexation, the property would be designated the equivalent zoning district which is Agricultural/Urban (AU). The city has received a request to rezone this property to multifamily within the existing Lakin Park PAD, which will be a separate action.

The property is located within the city’s municipal planning area and is contiguous to the city. Thus, this proposed annexation would meet State statutory requirements for contiguity.

The City’s Annexation Policy, adopted in 2001, provides that staff evaluate annexation requests on the following criteria:

1. The City’s ability to provide basic services in a timely manner
2. Long-term desirability for community development and economic growth
3. Likelihood of the area being developed in Maricopa County or being annexed by another city or town
4. Ability to control the quality of land uses and infrastructure standards
5. Compatibility with General Plan, infrastructure needs, and timing of development

As discussed above, the 2.8 acres is a part of a larger parcel, of which a portion is already within city limits and is a wedge between MC-85 and the Buckeye Canal making it difficult for development if not a part of the adjacent property to the east. The current property owner worked with the city on the original Lakin Park PAD zoning case and intends to apply the adjacent PAD/Multifamily district in order to provide for a contiguous developable multifamily parcel.

Streets: the property has direct access to MC-85

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 would be provided by Station 185, approximately 4.2 miles away and Station 184/181 approximately 7.25 miles away.

Water/Wastewater: 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).