RESOLUTION introduced by City Manager Brent Trout, in accordance with Section 18.60.010 of the Topeka Municipal Code (TMC), approving a Conditional Use Permit to allow for a "Parking, Surface Lot in Association With A Principal Use" for use primarily by employees of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on property zoned "C-2" Commercial District and "M-1" Two-Family Dwelling District and located at the southwest corner of SW 10th Avenue and SW Garfield Avenue in the City of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. (CU18/01) (Council District No.6)

Voting Requirements: 

Approve the resolution (6) votes of the Governing Body. 

Amend or Reject the resolution (7) votes of the Governing Body. 

Remand back to Planning Commission (6) votes of the Governing Body.

(Approval would allow the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library to partially re-construct and utilize an off-site parking lot primarily for use by library employees on a site that included the recently-demolished Medical Plaza Building located at 1001 SW Garfield Avenue.)

The Governing Body has the following voting options:

1. Approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation (6) votes of the Governing Body.
2. Amend the Planning Commission’s recommendation (7) votes of the Governing Body.
3. Refuse to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation (7) votes of the Governing Body.
4. Remand back to the Planning Commission for further consideration, with a statement specifying the basis for the decision to deny (6) votes of the Governing Body.

In order to address key issues of the project, recommended site and landscape plans provide for the following features:

• Allows expansion of a parking lot in a manner compatible with surrounding use and development

• Provides landscaping that satisfies the City's requirements, including landscape buffers as required adjacent to residential use
• Accommodates expanded public right-of-way to provide for future improvements to SW 10th Avenue
• Closes the existing north-south alleyway segment, via re-plat concurrently in process, which will eliminate mid-block access onto a traffic-congested portion of SW 10th Avenue while still providing continued alleyway access in service to adjacent residential area to the south

Staff recommends the Governing Body move to approve the resolution.

The proposed project will not have an impact on the City's budget.