Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goodyear council approves Panda Express drive-through in Cottonflower Marketplace
Summary
The Goodyear City Council approved a use permit for a 1.2-acre Panda Express drive-through at Cottonflower Marketplace, with council and staff noting ADOT's Loop 303 extension will alter access and staff to monitor changes.
The Goodyear City Council on Oct. 28 approved a use permit for a Panda Express drive-through proposed at the north end of Cottonflower Marketplace, a 1.2-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Yuma Road and Cotton Lane.
Principal planner Ann Dalmich told council the site plan includes two drive-through lanes that merge to a single pickup window, capacity for about 16 vehicles, 41 parking spaces and four bicycle spaces, and that the proposed building height would be about 23 feet. She said the site is zoned planned area development and drive-through restaurants require a use permit when any drive-through lane falls within 500 feet of a residential district. Staff recommended approval subject to stipulated conditions.
The project will interact with Arizona Department of Transportation work: ADOT plans a Loop 303 extension that will alter local driveways, including closing the eastern driveway into Cottonflower Marketplace and converting the west driveway to limited (three-quarter) access, which staff said would leave the plaza with right-in/right-out access in some locations and a new southbound frontage road connection. Dalmich said ADOT’s extension is expected to begin in early 2025 and take about three years to complete; Panda Express is likely to be built before those improvements are finished.
Council members asked for periodic updates from staff about ADOT’s access plans and how changes could affect safe ingress and egress to the shopping center. Council member Stipp thanked staff for the presentation and asked staff to request details from ADOT; council member Hampton and others expressed the same concern about left-turn access and circulation once the state project is in place.
The council moved and approved the use permit with the stipulations recommended by staff; the motion passed 6-0. The applicant was not present at the hearing.
Next steps: staff will implement the stipulations and process building and sign permits when Panda Express submits final plans. Council requested staff updates about ADOT’s access plans as they become available.
