Topeka Planning Commission Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Topeka Planning Commission met on January 27, 2026, to approve the December 2025 minutes, elect officers for 2026, and consider three action items: a zoning text amendment to allow more residential uses in commercial and mixed-use districts, an update to home occupation regulations, and a revision to the commission's bylaws regarding public comment procedures. All action items passed unanimously. The commission also received a report from the special committee on housing regarding ongoing work on parking requirements and a future meeting with the Kansas Association of Realtors.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the December 2025 meeting minutes – motion and second, unanimous vote (8-0).
• Election of 2026 Chair: Commissioner Heron nominated and elected unanimously.
• Election of 2026 Vice Chair: Commissioner Nelson nominated and elected unanimously.
• Special committee housing appointments: Commissioners Brooks, Bowling, and Heron (as chair) volunteered; former Commissioner Kalk proposed as at-large member (subject to his acceptance). No formal vote needed; appointments left to the chair’s discretion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received during the meeting.

Discussion Items

Text Amendment ACZR2601 – Zoning Code Changes for Residential Uses in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts

• Staff presented proposed amendments to allow duplexes by conditional use permit in C3 and C4 commercial zones, and to permit three- and four-family dwellings, as well as multifamily on the ground floor, by right in C3, C4, and X1 districts. Currently, ground-floor residential is restricted in these zones.
• The proposal also modifies special use requirements for ground-floor dwellings in D1, X3, and other downtown areas, limiting the restriction to a core retail area (Kansas Avenue between 6th and 10th, and between Gordon and North streets) while allowing conditional use permits elsewhere.
• Staff noted that the change responds to limited retail demand and underutilized commercial properties, citing examples like the Arvonia land north of Lowe’s (zoned C4) which recently required a rezone for multifamily development.
• Commissioners discussed the effect on historic districts (landmark review still applies), dimensional standards (unchanged), and financing opportunities (opening access to residential mortgages). There was no opposition; the motion passed unanimously (8-0).

Text Amendment ACZR2602 – Home Occupation Code Update

• Staff proposed exempting home occupations that involve no visitors (employees or customers) from needing a permit, clarifying that home offices and internet-based businesses without client visits are not regulated. In-home daycare and short-term rentals remain separate permit types.
• Discussion centered on enforcement criteria and the line between occasional visitors and regular business activity. Staff explained that enforcement is complaint-driven, and the update aligns with state-level considerations. The motion passed unanimously (8-0).

Planning Commission Bylaws Update (Second Reading)

• The commission voted to adopt revised bylaws that require members of the public to sign up (via Topeka Speaks or by contacting staff by 3:00 p.m. on the meeting day) to speak on non-public-hearing agenda items. Public hearings for zoning cases are unaffected.
• The change mirrors city council rules and was approved unanimously (8-0).

Key Outcomes

• All three text amendments and the bylaws update were approved unanimously by the commission (8-0).
• The special committee on housing reported that it is considering reductions in parking requirements for multifamily dwellings and enhancing administrative authority; a meeting with the Kansas Association of Realtors is scheduled for February 18, 2026.
• The next regular planning commission meeting will occur in February 2026, with zoning items and additional reviews on the agenda.