By Madeline Ackley | Your Valley
For Goodyear homeowners looking to obtain a zoning variance to renovate their homes, or expand their property line, the associated fee from the city might be more expensive than the project itself — that is until Goodyear City Council voted to modify its building and development fees in July.
“I want you to know, as a mayor, I was shocked,” at the cost of the fees, Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord said at the July 12 city council meeting. “We definitely were unbalanced somewhat,” she said.
The residential zoning variance, for instance, was changed from $6,522 to just $500. The reason for the high cost? The fee was miscalculated, according to city finance director Doug Sandstrom.

Pinal Partnership’s McFarland talks lobbying, projects
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Pinal Partnership.) By Noah Cullen | Pinal Partnership Craig McFarland, former Casa Grande mayor and current president and CEO of