Scaled-back office park wins first approval

Some neighbors argued to leave land as it is.

By CHRISTIE APPELHANZ

The Capital-Journal

Plans for a southwest Topeka office park received preliminary approval Monday evening after the developer scaled back the size of the development to ensure it wouldn't create more demand for parking than was available.

The Topeka-Shawnee County Metropolitan Planning Commission's zoning and platting committee approved the planned unit development for the office park in an area between S.W. Summerfield and S.W. Fairlawn about 250 feet south of the intersection of the two streets.

The plans proposed Monday called for four two-level office buildings for professional use, such as health care, totaling 83,200 square feet. The development was to have 209 parking spaces, two monument signs, wall signage and a landscape package.

But committee members raised questions about whether 209 parking spaces was enough to support such a project. The city's PUD regulations require four parking spaces per 1,000 square feet, which would mean the offices needed 333 spaces.

"You can't put that much building with that much parking and have it work," said planning commissioner Phil Morse. "We can't lie."

The 5-acre site is currently undeveloped, and two neighborhood residents told the committee they want it to stay that way.

"My seven-year-old daughter asked, 'Why does there have to be offices in a neighborhood?' and I don't have an answer," said David Drum, 3641 S.W. Red Hawk Court.

He asked if the offices had to be built that lighting be kept to a minimum and roof lines be as low as possible.

The commission approved the request after Topeka engineering firm Bartlett and West, which is handling the project for Southwest Topeka Realty Partnership, agreed to reduce the office space to 62,700 square feet in the four buildings. That would bring the parking ratio to one spot per 300 square feet of office space.

Mike Engler, Bartlett and West vice president, said the company couldn't add more parking because the neighborhood association had been promised green space, and the developer didn't want to violate that agreement.

The Topeka City Council will consider the office park plan at its Dec. 14 meeting.

The committee Monday also:

- Approved the preliminary plat for Harris Subdivision at 403 N.W. Lyman.

- Approved the preliminary plat for Shideler Plaza Subdivision No. 4 along the west side of S.W. Arvonia Place between S.W. Huntoon and S.W. 17th.

- Approved the preliminary and final plats for Shamir and Hiral Subdivision at 3802 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

- Approved amending the district zoning classification at the southeast corner of S.W. 23rd from commercial to planned unit development.

- Approved amending the district zoning classification at 1808 N.W. Central Ave. from single family to two family.

- Approved amending the district zoning classification at the southeast corner of S.W. 8th and S.W. Clay from multiple family to planned unit development.

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