Current Design Guidelines:
Effective November 18, 2024
Purpose
The City of Goodyear prides itself on quality development. The City’s existing design guidelines were adopted on November 18, 2024. Understanding the amount of rapid growth the city has experienced in the past decade, Goodyear has updated the city-wide design guidelines to guide quality development outcomes in the built environment. Overall, the city hopes to maintain flexibility while still guiding high-quality development to maintain the quality of life and design that all Goodyear Residents enjoy.
What are Design Guidelines?
The Design Guidelines serve as a starting point for creative design, emphasizing that property owners in Goodyear should aim for innovation while aligning with the city's overall character and neighborhood identity. Collaboration with City staff, community groups, and local businesses is encouraged before significant design investments. These guidelines influence the design of both residential and non-residential development, promoting an envisioned design quality throughout the city. They are not meant to restrict design freedom but rather to encourage thoughtful, well-integrated features that complement the City's Zoning Ordinance and maintain a high-quality appearance and lifestyle in Goodyear.
Other Documents
El Rio Design Guidelines and Planning Standards:
May 23, 2016
The El Rio Design Guidelines and Planning Standards document was prepared pursuant to an Intergovernmental Agreement between the cities of Avondale, Buckeye, and Goodyear as well as the Maricopa County Planning and Development, and Flood Control District of Maricopa County to provide a consistent set of goals and policies for development across jurisdictional boundaries within the Gila River corridor. On May 23, 2016, the Goodyear City Council approved Resolution No. 16-1761 which adopted the “El Rio Design Guidelines and Planning Standards: A Guide for Land Management and Implementation of the El Rio Watercourse Master Plan.” This document also has been adopted by the City of Avondale, City of Buckeye, and Maricopa County which will be consulted whenever development of any property within the study area boundary is proposed.
These guidelines and standards supplement existing local codes, ordinances, and regulations and are not intended to replace, supercede, or modify local land-use regulations or development standards. However, they will be used in the review and evaluation of any proposed change to the General Plan, rezoning of individual properties, and future development plans for properties located within the study area boundary. In Goodyear, the study area includes lands on both sides of the Gila River from the confluence of the Agua Fria River and Gila River (roughly at the Litchfield Road alignment) to Perryville Road. On the north side of the river, the study area extends north from the river to MC85. On the south side of the river, the study area extends south from the river for a distance of about one mile.
Questions regarding the El Rio Design Guidelines and Planning Standards document may be directed to the City of Goodyear, Development Services Department, Planning and Zoning Division by calling 623-932-3004, option 2 or by email at planning@goodyearaz.gov.
Click on the links below to view the document by chapter:
Executive Summary
Cover Page and Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Background
Chapter 2 – Character and Vision
Chapter 3 - Land Development Guidelines
Chapter 4 – Open Space, Paths, Trails and Edge Treatments
Chapter 5 – Landscape Guidelines
Chapter 6 – Signage Guidelines
Chapter 7 – Economic Development
Chapter 8 – Pilot Projects
El Rio Story Map
A unique partnership of cities, agencies, nonprofit groups and other organizations has developed an interactive online story map that takes viewers on a journey through history and explores the challenges the lower Gila River is facing and what collaborative landscape-scale restoration efforts are being done.
Users can scroll through detailed information that’s presented in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format, while learning about the area’s history as it relates to how invasive vegetation has changed the function of the river.
This story describes the numerous challenges on the river, including invasive vegetation, fire and flooding, and the impending arrival of a beetle that could increase fire risk and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. The site also provides in-depth information about efforts to address these challenges, taking the viewer on a journey with photos, maps, and key information on how the river plays an important role not only in our history, but also today and for future generations.
Check out the “Healing the Lower Gila River” story map prepared by the Lower Gila River Collaborative and hosted on the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at the following link: http://bit.ly/LGRCStoryMap
