The Goodyear Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 3 voted to forward two related items — a minor general plan amendment and a rezone — that together create the Rio 1900 planned area development (PAD) on land currently covered by the King Ranch PAD.

Principal Planner Anne Dolmage outlined a layered land‑use approach for the roughly 1,940‑acre proposal, describing seven character areas intended to focus commercial and higher‑density uses near Cotton Lane and Estrella Parkway while preserving about 30% of the PAD as open space. Staff recommended the commission endorse the minor general plan amendment (31 acres from open space to neighborhoods) and the rezone subject to the proposed stipulations.

Staff and applicant said the Rio 1900 approvals will be tied to a water allocation of 1,900 acre‑feet per year rather than a fixed dwelling‑unit cap; the conversion of acre‑feet to unit counts will be determined at final plat and through the city’s tracking process. Deputy Director Marty Crossland and other staff said two transportation projects (Cotton Lane widening and Estrella Bridge work) are in design but did not confirm exact construction years. Developer representatives said first construction is anticipated around 2027, with the first homes delivered around 2029, and that the project will be built in phases over many years.

Brian Greathouse, representing developer Harvard Investments, told the commission the project would include donated sites and community amenities, including two 15‑acre elementary school sites and a 30‑acre city park, and highlighted new trails including a portion of the El Rio Trail and other public access. Greathouse estimated infrastructure costs for full build‑out in the hundreds of millions (applicant cited an infrastructure figure of approximately $250,000,000 for initial infrastructure work).

Residents raised multiple concerns during public comment, including whether the water allocation will support projected homes, timing for road and bridge improvements, drainage and wash corridors, and the impact of changing open‑space designations on nearby properties. Staff and the applicant said drainage and flood protections will be addressed during subsequent plat and engineering stages, and that a 100‑foot building setback and lot‑size buffering are included where new lots back up to existing Estrella homes.

The commission voted to recommend the minor general plan amendment and separately to recommend the rezone; both recommendations will be forwarded to City Council for its Dec. 15 meeting.