Commission backs 20 enclosed garages near Richie House despite design concerns

The Topeka Planning Commission on Tuesday approved, 5-1, a conditional use permit (CU2603) to allow 20 enclosed garages for personal vehicles in a downtown parcel near the historic Richie House.

Planning staff said the site, in the Water Tower District of the downtown plan, is zoned D1 and that the conditional use would provide interim garage storage compatible with longer-term goals for higher-density housing, retail and restaurants in the area. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions in the staff report to help the project transition into the nearby residential neighborhood, including additional landscaping, a residential buffer on the north property line and exterior building materials to be provided at the building-permit stage.

During questioning commissioners pressed staff on the lack of a formal historic-review process (staff said a previous state historic buffer was repealed) and on how the exterior materials would be reviewed. The applicant, who also identified involvement with a nearby 250-unit apartment project, said the garages are intended primarily to serve those apartment residents and that the design will include facades and setbacks to reduce visibility from the Richie House. He described planned drainage measures, French drains and landscaping, and said internal walls would be constructed to meet fire-safety expectations.

Bob Totten, executive director of the Shauny County Historical Society, told commissioners the society had attended the neighborhood meeting and said their primary concern is increasing neighborhood population and the nearby homeless encampment on city property; he said the society had no formal position on the garages but welcomed the added setback and landscaping requirements discussed by staff.

Opposition at the hearing was limited. Commissioner roll call shows Miss Pearson voting "nay" while the other five commissioners voted to approve the staff recommendation. The permit approval includes the staff-recommended conditions; any future changes to use or expansion would require an amendment and return to the commission for review.

The commission's decision will be transmitted to the governing body as part of the normal review schedule.