1. Will be desirable or necessary to the public convenience or welfare:

Desert Springs Community Church has been serving the Goodyear community for almost 17 years. With the Goodyear and DSCC community growing, the church needs more space now to serve the community. Pastor Shawn Jones, stated on the project narrative “spiritual health is important and it is more than just something for people to do or a place they go… People call on Desert Springs for all types of reasons, but for most, the church has become a community to individuals with whom they celebrate times of joy and where they find friends that will respond in their time of need.”
 

2. Will be harmonious and compatible with the other uses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the selected site or sites:

Churches are specifically identified in the General Plan as a use that is compatible with and complements residential neighborhoods.  The use of this specific property as a church is harmonious and compatible with uses adjacent to and in the vicinity of the property.as demonstrated by the operations on the property over the past approximate twenty years.  A use permit was granted in 2001 for the operation of a church on this property and the property has been used for such purposes without incident or complaint.  The modifications of the property will result in the reduction of open space requiring activities that could have been conducted outside to be conducted within the auditorium that is to be constructed.

3. Is in conformance with the adopted General Plan and any adopted Area Plans:
The subject property has a Neighborhood designation by the General Plan. The Neighborhood designation allows public and community facilities that support and complement residential neighborhoods, such as places of worship.

4. Will not be detrimental to surrounding properties in the area due to:

a. Impact on the circulation system of the adjacent neighborhood:

Although the proposed development is anticipated to result in an increase of traffic onto the property, the three existing entrances into the property, which are off of three different streets (W. Hale Irwin Blvd., N. 144th Avenue, and W. Indian School Road), that are sufficient to accommodate any increased traffic flow.  Approximately 200 new parking spaces are being added to accommodate the increased need for parking spaces with the expansion.

b. Excessive noise or light generated from within the site:
The proposed expansion and expanded use of the Property will not result in the generation of excessive lighting or noise. As an initial matter, the operations of the property are not changing in terms of the services and activities being conducted on site, all of which have been occurring for years without any adverse impact.  Moreover, the underlying land use designation for the property is C-2, which allows for numerous uses that would generate far more lighting and noise than the continued, albeit expanded, operations of the church. In fact, the applicant expects some of the outdoor noise to be reduced because they construction of the additional structures will result in a reduction in existing field space and less outdoor activities.  Finally, the lighting installed with the expansion, including the lighting within the additional parking to be constructed is required to comply with the lighting standards in the City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance, which are drafted so minimize lighting from spilling over to adjacent properties.   

c. Excessive scale or height in relationship to surrounding properties:
The height of the proposed building addition and proposed auditorium will meet the height of the existing building, 30 feet, as limited by the 2003 Special Use Permit. The applicant has proposed an exception to the 2003 Special Use Permit stipulation for a tower, to be located south of the existing building and east of the proposed auditorium, away from adjacent residential properties.  Although concerns were expressed about the height of the structures on the property, all of the city’s single-family residential districts allow for a maximum height of thirty-feet.  Although the proposed tower will exceed the thirty-foot height limitation by four feet, the increase in the height of the tower will not impact the adjacent neighborhood because of its location.   

d. Hours of operation:
As described above, the Property is currently being used extensively for various services, activities and operations (the “Operations”).  The types of Operations and hours of operation, as described above, are not expected to change, although expanded facilities will allow more of the same.  Given that the Operations have been occurring for years without any adverse impact, it is reasonable to conclude that increased use of the Property will not adversely impact any neighboring property.

e. Inadequate parcel size to provide adequate buffers or mitigation to surrounding properties:
The proposed building addition and auditorium provides the required setback and landscape buffers.

f. Inconsistency with the development character or architecture of the adjacent properties:
The church expansion to the existing building and proposed auditorium will use similar architecture design, materials and colors as the existing building.

Phoenix-Goodyear Airport:
The site is subject to noise from aircraft flying to and from Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.

Luke Air Force Base:
The site is within the 65 Ldn, high noise or accident potential zone, as defined by A.R.S. § 28-8461 and is within the territory in the vicinity of a military airport also defined by A.R.S. § 28-846. Approval will not negatively impact the flying operations at Luke AFB

Fire Department:
Emergency response times and distances are provided below:

Nearest Fire Station	Shortest path		Longest path			2nd nearest Fire Station	Shortest path		Longest path
	Mins	Miles	Mins	Miles			Mins	Miles	Mins	Miles
# 183	1.66	0.83	1.66	0.83		Station #185	5.58	2.79	5.58	2.79

Police Response:
The subject property is located within an existing patrol beat and the current level of service within the beat can accommodate the proposed use of the property.

Public Participation:
In accordance with the city’s Citizen Review Ordinance, a notice was sent to all property owners within 500 feet of the property. A Citizen Review Meeting was held on Monday, May 16, 2022 at the church, 14440 W. Indian School Road. The meeting was attended by eleven (11) persons. Four (4) of the attendees live adjacent to the property or across Indian School Road. These four attendees expressed their concerns regarding the height of the proposed auditorium, the proximity of the proposed auditorium to the adjacent residential properties, and the unknown time of the construction of the auditorium. The applicant, Dean Schifferer, spoke to the residents about how the auditorium’s height matching the height of the existing building, the existing landscape buffer and mentioned it can be landscaped more. Pastor Shawn Jones mentioned the construction of Phase II is dependent on funding from DSCC’s congregation. 

Notice for the public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council included a notice mailed to property owners within 500 of the property, a sign posted on the property, and a legal notice published in the Arizona Republic, Southwest Edition, on May 27, 2022.

To date, staff has received emails and a letter from one adjoining property owner objecting to the proposed church expansion expressing their concern that the church’s proposed auditorium will decrease their property’s value and block their backyard’s view.

The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this item at their regular meeting held on June 15, 2022. Staff and the applicant presented presentations to the Commission. Upon completion of the presentations, Vice Chairman Clymer pointed out the distance from the streets to the tower is over 150 feet. Commissioner Sambito asked about the height of the two-story homes adjacent to the subject property and the setback of the proposed auditorium from the west property line. Staff confirmed the maximum allowable height for single-family residences is 30 feet and roughly the same height of the adjacent two-story homes. Staff also confirmed the proposed setback from the west property line to the proposed auditorium is 50 feet. Commissioner Sambito inquired if concerns were expressed during the Citizen Review meeting about the time of operations occurring up to 11:00PM. Staff mentioned the city has not received complaints and no concerns were expressed about hours of operation during the Citizen Review meeting. Commissioner Sambito asked about the landscape along the west property line for the subject property and stated some of the trees has died off. Staff mentioned the property is subject to the landscape plans approved in 2003 with the site plan application for the site and that the city has a code compliance process to ensure landscape is maintained. The applicant also responded to this inquiry and mentioned the approved landscape plans call for a tree every 20 feet and some have died or been cut down. He stated some neighbors don’t like the trees and the debris they send over onto their backyards. However, the applicant plans to plant 36 new trees along the west property line with Phase I of the project, which will allow time for the trees to grow by the construction of the auditorium with Phase II.
Furthermore, Chairman Kish asked how tall a structure could be if the property was redeveloped. Staff mentioned the property as zoned, C-2 General Commercial allows for a maximum height of 56 feet and a 0-foot setback along the rear and side property lines, however, buildings adjacent to residential have additional setbacks after 30 feet, that is 1 foot for every additional foot height over 30 feet in building height. The applicant spoke to the Commission about the 50-foot setback from the west property line to the first auditorium wall and how the building is setback further, 68 feet, before the height of the wall reaches 30 feet. Commissioner Hegedus asked the applicant the type of trees to be planted along the west property line. The applicant said he is open to suggestions as a decision has not been made, but their team is looking into planting ash trees to minimize the debris sent over neighboring properties. Commissioner Hegedus asked the applicant if another location within the site has been considered for the auditorium. The applicant mentioned the location proposed is due to the pedestrian area it will create between the existing building, existing outdoor pavilion, and the proposed auditorium. Chairman Kish asked about lighting. The applicant mentioned photometric plans have been submitted for review and meet the city standards to reduce light spillage.

During the meeting, two residents spoke against the project and expressed concerns with the reduction in green space, the height of the auditorium, the proximity of the auditorium to adjacent residential properties, traffic, heat, light, security cameras, and noise.

Commissioners discussed the Special Use Permit and voted unanimously (7-0) to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council.