Goodyear will soon see a new residential housing community, pending approval at an upcoming City Council meeting.
The Goodyear City Council originally planned to discuss the Willow at El Cidro Ranch project at its June 12 meeting, but they later removed it from the agenda.
Should the project receive final approval, BET Investment Inc., a Pennsylvania-based developer, would rezone a portion of 583 acres to facilitate the construction of the complex. BET Investment expects to resume development in the upcoming months.
The proposed Willow at El Cidro Ranch is at the southwest corner of Lower Buckeye Road and 169th Avenue, next to the future State Route 303 extension on South Cotton Lane. If it gets approval from Goodyear’s City Council, construction could start as soon as 2025.
Scott Moore, the executive vice president of BET Investments’ Arizona division, anticipates that development will commence upon obtaining rezoning approval and engineering and construction document approval. There are plans to include a pool, park area, clubhouse, and other amenities for the community.
The map of The Willow at El Cidro illustrates the plans of the three distinct districts and the roads that connect them.
At El Cidro Ranch, Willow would feature a diverse range of housing options, including single-family homes, attached and detached townhouses, and multifamily residences. In total, there would be 463 units. The project will cover 1.85 million square feet on Parcel 4, which is a portion of the larger 583-acres El Cidro planned area development.
“Usually, a multifamily site is around 15 acres. To ensure we are considerate neighbors to the existing residential area to the east, we wanted to include a single-family residential component in that location,” said Scott Moore, the executive vice president of BET Investments’ Arizona division. They decided to move to a mixed-use site because it was more suitable next to the 303.
El Cidro is a master planned community in Goodyear that’s been spearheaded by Landsea Homes Corp., which sold 102 lots to Lennar Corp. for $14 million in 2023.
In 2005, BET Investment found the El Cidro property appealing and played a role in its development.
“There is a significant amount of growth happening in that particular section of the Goodyear planning area, encompassing multiple job opportunities in retail, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing sectors,” Moore said. “That would be an ideal match for a residential area with a higher population density.”
Despite the delay, Moore is confident that the council will reintroduce and approve the proposal in August. He said the project received support from staff and citizens, pointing out the positive impact of neighborhood meetings.
BET Investments plans to work with HilgartWilson LLC, a civil engineering firm based in Phoenix, on the project. Withey Morris Baugh, PLC, is the law firm’s real estate attorney for the development.
BET Investment has developed eight additional properties in Arizona. During April, the company made a significant sale by transferring ownership of a 641,906-square-foot building to EQT Exeter for a total of $60.1 million. This transaction stands out as one of the Valley’s most significant deals in 2024.
