Goodyear Farms v. City of Avondale

MEYERSON, Presiding Judge.

This appeal concerns the constitutionality of Arizona’s annexation statute. A.R.S. § 9-471(A)(l) (Supp.1984). We hold that this statute is unconstitutional in violation of the equal protection clauses of the United States and Arizona constitutions because it provides that only property owners may sign annexation petitions.

I. FACTS

In 1981, the City of Avondale adopted an annexation ordinance and therein annexed certain property contiguous to its boundaries. Petitioners-appellants Goodyear Farms, Litchfield Park Properties and Litchfield Park Service Company…