AGENDA ITEM #: 6.
DATE: December 3, 2025
CAR #:
CASE #: P25-00221 |
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Planning & Zoning Commission - AMENDED ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: |
AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE RELATED TO INTERPRETATIONS OF DESIGN GUIDELINES, DEFINITIONS, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND MIDDLE HOUSING
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| STAFF PRESENTER(S): |
Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner |
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| SUMMARY: |
| This is a staff-initiated request to amend Articles 1, 2, 8 and 9 of the Goodyear Zoning Ordinance. This proposed amendment adds and amends definitions, allows accessory dwelling units outside the 65-decibel contour line within the vicinity of a Public Airport, modifies regulations related to the administration of the Design Guidelines Manual, and creates a Middle Housing Overlay District to allow middle housing on properties within such districts. |
| RECOMMENDATION: |
- Conduct a public hearing to consider a request to amend Articles 1, 2, 8 and 9 of the City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance.
- Recommend approval of a request to amend Articles 1, 2, 8, and 9 of the City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance, as set forth in the draft of Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX (Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez, Principal Planner).
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| FISCAL IMPACT: |
| There is no direct budget impact associated with the approval of this Zoning Ordinance text amendment. |
| BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS: |
| The City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance regulates the development of all land within the city. Regulations set forth in the Zoning Ordinance may be amended when deemed necessary to best serve the public interest, health, comfort, convenience, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the city. The current Zoning Ordinance was originally adopted by the City Council in May 1999 and has been the subject of a number of amendments since that time. The purpose of this text amendment is to comply with recently adopted state legislation and to amend definitions related to single-family residential districts. The amendment to the Goodyear Zoning Ordinance, Attachment A, in addition to both amending and adding definitions related to the city’s compliance with state legislation and single-family residential districts, will bring city standards into conformance with the adoption of House Bill 2928; the adoption of House Bill 2447; and the adoption of House Bill 2721 during the 2024 legislative session. |
| STAFF ANALYSIS |
Current Policy:
The following policies contained within the city of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance are applicable and relevant to this requested text amendment:
- Article 1-2-2 (Zoning Administrator – Enforcement, Interpretation and Conflict) establishment of a Zoning Administrator for interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance.
- Article 1-4-2 (Administration of Manual) provides for the applicability of the Design Guidelines Manual.
- Article 2-2 (Definitions) defines certain words and terms used throughout the ordinance.
- Article 8-2(C) (Accessory Dwelling Unit) provides standards for accessory dwelling units.
- Article 9 (Special Districts) provides unique areas within the city additional regulations and approval processes.
Details of the Request:
This request for text amendment as identified in Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX is to modify certain definitions and standards related to the administration of Design Guidelines Manual, middle housing opportunities through a Middle Housing Overlay District, and expansion to Accessory Dwelling Units allowances. To achieve this intent, the text amendment proposes the following revisions:
- Article 1-2-2 (Zoning Administrator – Enforcement, Interpretation and Conflict) gives the Zoning Administrator the ability to publish Zoning Interpretations to clarify standards and publish interpretations that do not change the uses permitted in a zoning district or change terms of the zoning ordinance; and,
- Article 1-4-2 (Administration of Manual) gives the Zoning Administrator the ability to make interpretations of the Design Guidelines Manual and publish interpretations as Addendums to the Design Guidelines Manual; and,
- Article 2-2 (Definitions) Changes definitions to “Boardinghouse or Lodging house”; “Dwelling, Two Family”; “Dwelling, Three Family”; “Dwelling, Four Family”; “Family”; “Single Housekeeping Unit”, and adds definitions for “Building Code”; “Duplex”; “Triplex”; “Fourplex”; “Middle Housing”; “Middle Housing Central Business District”; and,
- Article 8-2(C) (Accessory Dwelling Unit) clarified that accessory dwelling units are permitted within the vicinity of a public airport, outside of the 65 decibels noise contour line; and,
- Article 9 (Special Districts) creates Section 9-3 to create a Middle Housing Overlay District and identifies a Middle Housing Central Business District to allow the new development of middle housing.
Evaluation Criteria:
As previously noted, Section 1-3-1 (Amendments) of the Zoning Ordinance provides evaluation criteria for text amendments. The criteria and accompanying staff analysis (italics) are provided below:
A. Documentation indicating inconsistencies in terms of the Ordinance or problems and/or conflicts in implementation of specific sections of the Ordinance that will be resolved by the amendment
The amendment is intended to bring the city’s definitions and standards related to accessory dwelling units, design guidelines, and middle housing regulations into conformance with those standards established by Arizona Revised Statues and to clarify definitions related to single-family residential districts. Ordinance No 2025-XXXX has been prepared in compliance with Arizona House Bills 2928, 2447, and 2721. Currently, the city permits accessory dwellings units, however, they are not permitted within the territory of the vicinity of a public airport, and with this text amendment, and in compliance with A.R.S. they will be permitted within the vicinity of the airport, but outside of the 65 decibels noise contour line (HB 2928). Currently, the city has adopted design guidelines that may not be objectively interpreted , this Ordinance allows the Zoning Administrator to make objective interpretations of the Design Guidelines Manual and publish Addendums which allows city staff to clarify standards to comply with new legislation requiring objective standards (HB 2447). Additionally, the city has middle housing zoning districts, but with new legislation requirements will permit middle housing in its Central Business District which has been identified as Civic Square and GSQ Regional Center and a mile surrounding this District per state statute (HB 2721).
B. Whether amendment is needed to respond to changes in the law, statutory or case law
This text amendment is in response to inconsistencies between changes in state law. The purpose of the amendment is to bring city standards into conformance with state law and to clarify definitions related to single-family residential districts.
C. Whether amendment is needed to address zoning and/or development issues or to improve processes for addressing such issues
With this text amendment, inconsistencies with state law will be rectified.
D. Whether amendment will promote implementation of goals and objections of the City’s General Plan
In General Plan Goal ID-2: A range of housing types, price points, and sizes meet the needs of all ages, incomes and lifestyles.
E. Any other factors related to the impact of the amendment on the general health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the City and the general public
The text amendment should not have any adverse impacts on the general health, safety or welfare of citizens or the general public. The proposed text amendment brings Goodyear into compliance with state laws and clarifies definitions related to single-family residential districts.
Public Participation:
This Zoning Ordinance text amendment requires public hearings before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council. Notice for these public hearings included a full-size legal notice published in the Arizona Republic West Valley Edition on November 14, 2025. Information on this text amendment was also posted to the current development applications section of the city’s website.
A public notice that this rezoning request would be considered and reviewed at a public hearing to be held before the City Council on December 15, 2025, appeared in the Arizona Business Gazette - Republic Edition on November 14, 2024.
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