Shawnee County Commission Approves Commercial Zoning Change for Housing

Four separate residential buildings are coming to North Topeka after a 2-to-1 Shawnee County Commission vote on Thursday approved a commercial zoning change.

The development will place five connected units on each of the four buildings on two parcels near the intersection of NW Hunters Ridge Terrace and Button Road at 4825 NW Button Rd, WIBW reported. Both parcels measure approximately 1.70 or 1.74 acres.

Community members previously raised concerns about the project during a Planning Commission public hearing, according to Joni Thadani, director of Shawnee County Land Use and Development.

“Those individuals expressed concern that these would be rentals. That it would be inviting people that are not necessarily married to the land or dedicated to keeping the area as nice as what it is now. One individual did contact us after the public hearing. Most of his concern had to do with density, parking, traffic, kids running around, and just having too many homes on those parcels,” Thadani told WIBW.

Walker Bassett, the real estate agent part of this development, spoke to the commission to advocate for the housing development.

Shawnee Co. Commission approves commercial zoning change, allows multi-family dwelling developmen… — WIBW 13 NEWS | Topeka, KS

“We’re locals. We’re putting projects up. You know we’re going to do this project, but yet here we are debating it for so long. You always hear the county should be easier than the city. It’s been so difficult because we don’t know what the standard is. It’s a moving goalpost. You can probably see I’m getting passionate about this because I care a lot about this subject. And we talk about our state of the county meeting. How bad do we need housing? Well, you’ve got a local here. People aren’t doing this in our county. So help us out. Don’t make this so difficult. Give us clear standards to follow,” Bassett told WIBW.

Following discussion, commissioners approved the zoning change and construction with an amendment. The developer must start building within two years, or the zone will revert to its original commercial designation. The resolution also includes some conditions for the developer to follow during the build.

Constructing the units is part of a process, as the developers are also looking for industrial revenue bonds.

Commissioners also approved a bid Thursday from SlideRite Inc. to restore and refinish the slides at the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center. The work will cost $137,800, using funds from the Gage Park sales tax.