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Goodyear council approves 267-acre I‑10 Citrus Gateway general‑plan amendment, 7‑0
Summary
The council voted unanimously to amend the Goodyear 2035 general plan to change about 267 acres near I‑10 from 'neighborhoods' to 'business and commerce,' citing flight‑path and water‑service constraints; council members said traffic and design details will be handled in later rezoning and site‑plan hearings.
The Goodyear City Council on Dec. 16 voted 7‑0 to adopt Resolution No. 2024‑2438, approving a major amendment to the city’s 2035 general plan that reclassifies about 267 acres at the southwest corner of North Citrus Road and West Roosevelt Street from neighborhoods to business and commerce.
Principal Planner Guadalupe Cortez told council the site—bounded roughly by North Citrus Road, West Roosevelt Street and North Perryville Road and adjacent to a county island—is limited for residential development by Luke Air Force Base flight‑path restrictions and by the absence of nearby Goodyear water service. The change would allow business‑park, commercial and light‑industrial zoning where residential uses had formerly been planned.
The applicant’s attorney, Wendy Riddell, said the proposal includes measures to limit impacts on nearby residents, including a frontage road, landscape islands and setbacks. “We understand the concern about semi trucks. It is a problem that exists today,” Riddell said, and she said the rezone application and site‑plan process will allow the developer and city to propose mitigation measures.
Residents who spoke at the hearing urged the council to prevent semi‑truck access on Roosevelt Street, citing safety for school bus stops and nearby yards. Resident Myra Martinez said entrances and exits on Roosevelt would place buses and children in danger; Salmo (Alma) Olivares asked the council to avoid semis driving close to homes and to preserve neighborhood character.
Council members repeatedly emphasized that tonight’s action was procedural—changing the general‑plan designation—not a final decision on zoning, access or roadway details. Council Member Stipp said the amendment “moves the general plan amendment forward” and that the specific roadway and design questions will be addressed during rezoning and site‑plan hearings and additional neighborhood meetings. Staff noted Planning & Zoning held hearings on Dec. 4 and Dec. 10 and forwarded a recommendation of approval.
Council discussion cited two factors behind the change: the Luke overflight constraints that limit residential density on the parcel and state water‑policy changes that make residential subdivision impracticable on the site. Council members asked for clearer maps at the next hearing to help visualize streets, bus stops and buffers. Staff and the applicant committed to further neighborhood outreach when the rezoning and site‑plan materials are submitted.
The council’s approval of the general‑plan amendment directs staff and provides an effective date for the change; it does not itself approve zoning, site plans, or construction. Those items will return in later hearings where truck routing, building heights, screening and traffic mitigation will be considered.
