Goodyear council approves Cotton Lane widening, establishes special cost‑recovery area

The Goodyear City Council on June 22 authorized a special public improvement project area and a frontage‑based cost‑recovery plan to fund the Cotton Lane widening from Estrella Parkway to the Cotton Lane bridge.

Deputy Director of Engineering Logan Hopp told the council the project will widen the existing two‑lane section to four continuous through lanes, add pavement, curb and gutter, signing and markings, drainage improvements and utility relocations. Construction is planned to begin in August and last about eight months, with one travel lane maintained in each direction during work.

"The total proposed cost recovery across all of the parcels is $9,539,000," Hopp said, explaining the city will cap owner assessments at maximum probable costs and collect payment when parcels develop. Hopp said 13 benefited parcels were identified; 12 share a common ownership and one parcel (Parcel 9) has different ownership and a smaller frontage assessment.

Council members pressed staff on zoning, sequencing with nearby projects and temporary traffic impacts. Hopp said the parcels are within Solstice Foothills with mixed commercial and residential underlying districts, and that the Cotton Lane project will start before a related Australia Bridge project to reduce a current traffic pinch point.

After discussion, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026‑2530 to establish the special public improvement project area and authorize cost recovery. The motion passed unanimously, 7–0.

Councilmembers and staff noted that the city will update individual assessments after construction if actual costs are lower than the maximum probable estimates; payments are due at final platting or permitting, not at the time of construction.