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Record of Proceedings

City of Topeka Planning Commission Meeting Summary - May 19, 2026

Planning Commission — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
BodyTopeka, Kansas
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, May 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good evening and welcome to the City of Topeka Planning Commission meeting.

0:13

We are commissioned appointed by the mayor and city council to plan for the orderly growth and development of the community to hold public hearings and to make recommendations to the governing body on planning items.

0:24

Please note that the governing body rules state that public hearings are for planning cases shall be conducted solely by the planning commission.

0:32

No additional public hearings will be conducted by the governing body.

0:36

Tonight's cases are tentatively scheduled to be heard by the governing body next month.

0:42

Agendas can be found at Topeka.gov.

0:45

Some of tonight's cases involve public hearings.

0:48

For those cases, the procedures follow the procedure will be as follows.

0:52

First, the planning department staff will summarize the case.

0:55

Next, we will hear from the applicant or the representative.

0:59

Then we will receive public testimony.

1:01

Comments are limited to four minutes.

1:04

For agenda items that do not involve public hearings, public comment is allowed provided the person has signed up on Topeka speaks or has notified staff prior to 3 p.m.

1:14

today.

1:14

Comments are limited to four minutes.

1:17

Finally, at the end of the regular business, the commission will entertain general comments regarding matters related to commission business, provided the person has signed up on Topeka speaks or has notified it notified staff prior to 3 p.m.

1:32

today.

1:33

Comments are limited to four minutes.

1:35

Colleen, take the roll, please.

1:57

Can you hear me?

2:01

Okay.

2:02

So I will take the role.

2:05

Dan, you want me to take the roll?

2:07

Yeah, go for it.

2:09

Okay.

2:14

Commissioner Brooks.

2:16

Here.

2:18

Commissioner Bowling.

2:20

Present.

2:22

Commissioner Hannon.

2:24

Here.

2:26

Commissioner Heron.

2:28

Here.

2:30

Commissioner Lawley.

2:32

Here.

2:34

Commissioner Mock.

2:36

Here.

2:38

Commissioner Nager.

2:40

Here.

2:42

Commissioner Nelson.

2:44

Here.

2:46

Commissioner Pearson.

2:48

Here.

2:51

That's nine commissioners present.

2:53

We certainly have a quorum.

2:57

Okay.

2:58

We will move on to approval of the minutes.

3:05

I'll move to approve.

3:07

I'll second.

3:11

All right.

3:13

Um.

3:15

Mike, will you be taking the do I need to defer to Colleen's or Mike working or I will do that again?

3:23

Okay.

3:30

Commissioner Brooks.

3:31

Aye.

3:33

Commissioner Bowling.

3:34

Aye.

3:35

Commissioner Heron Hannon.

3:37

Hi.

3:39

Commissioner Heron.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations████████████████████████24%
Short Term Rentals████████████████████████24%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Housing And Development███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Transportation Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Topeka Planning Commission Meeting Summary - May 19, 2026

The Topeka Planning Commission met on May 19, 2026, to consider three action items and the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). All items were approved unanimously (9-0). The commission also received a report from the Special Committee on Housing and heard staff updates on upcoming meetings and a recent zoning case.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public testimony was heard during the meeting. The public comment period at the end of the meeting had no speakers.

Discussion Items

  • P2602 – Shorey Estates No. 2 Replat: A replat of 4.4 acres creating 21 single-family lots with reduced setbacks and narrower rights-of-way, consistent with a previously approved PUD master plan. Staff and the applicant presented. The stormwater management plan will be finalized before city council consideration. Approved 9-0.

  • PUD2601 – Laird Nolar PUD Expansion: A proposal to add about three acres for a vehicle storage lot at 21st and Topeka. Staff recommended conditions including enhanced landscaping along the south boundary and lighting compliance. Commissioners asked about stormwater, impact on a nearby historic district, and lighting standards. The applicant confirmed they will meet city standards. Approved 9-0.

  • CU2602 – Short-Term Rental Conditional Use Permit: A request for a short-term rental at 1171 SW Medford Ave, which is within 500 feet of another short-term rental, triggering the need for a CUP. Staff recommended approval with a 24-month expiration and possible extension. The applicant stated it is his personal home and he plans to move out of state. Discussion included the expiration of the nearby rental (October 2027) and that granting this CUP would allow both to operate concurrently. Approved 9-0.

  • CIP 2027-2036: The planning commission is required to find the CIP consistent with the comprehensive plan. Staff presented highlights, including a sidewalk project (Southwest McVicker), bridge replacement, and the accelerated interchange at 29th and the turnpike. Commissioners asked about the South Kansas Avenue median planters removal, the Dreams program funding allocation, and the cost of repairing seven city-owned parking garages. Staff agreed to provide follow-up information and noted the CIP would go to the governing body the next evening. Approved 9-0.

Report from Special Committee on Housing

  • The committee met on May 13, 2026, and discussed upcoming city parking suggestions, a recap of the public hearing on the duplex tax amendment, and a future meeting with manufacturing companies to explore increasing housing availability.

Staff Communications & Future Agenda

  • Staff announced a June meeting with at least one or two action items and a discussion on the off-street parking text amendment.
  • The rezoning case for SE 25th Street (Kalupi) was approved by the governing body.

Key Outcomes

  • All three action items and the CIP were approved unanimously (9-0).
  • Staff will provide additional details to commissioners on the parking garage repair costs and the Kansas Avenue median project.
  • The housing committee will continue discussions in June.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the City of Topeka Planning Commission meeting. We are commissioned appointed by the mayor and city council to plan for the orderly growth and development of the community to hold public hearings and to make recommendations to the governing body on planning items. Please note that the governing body rules state that public hearings are for planning cases shall be conducted solely by the planning commission. No additional public hearings will be conducted by the governing body. Tonight's cases are tentatively scheduled to be heard by the governing body next month. Agendas can be found at Topeka.gov. Some of tonight's cases involve public hearings. For those cases, the procedures follow the procedure will be as follows. First, the planning department staff will summarize the case. Next, we will hear from the applicant or the representative. Then we will receive public testimony. Comments are limited to four minutes. For agenda items that do not involve public hearings, public comment is allowed provided the person has signed up on Topeka speaks or has notified staff prior to 3 p.m. today. Comments are limited to four minutes. Finally, at the end of the regular business, the commission will entertain general comments regarding matters related to commission business, provided the person has signed up on Topeka speaks or has notified it notified staff prior to 3 p.m. today. Comments are limited to four minutes. Colleen, take the roll, please. Can you hear me? Okay. So I will take the role. Dan, you want me to take the roll? Yeah, go for it. Okay. Commissioner Brooks. Here. Commissioner Bowling. Present. Commissioner Hannon. Here. Commissioner Heron. Here. Commissioner Lawley. Here. Commissioner Mock. Here. Commissioner Nager. Here. Commissioner Nelson. Here. Commissioner Pearson. Here. That's nine commissioners present. We certainly have a quorum. Okay. We will move on to approval of the minutes. I'll move to approve. I'll second. All right.

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