Planning commission

**Summary of the City of Topeka Planning Commission Meeting (May 18, 2026)**

This is a recording of the City of Topeka Planning Commission's regular meeting, held virtually. It covers standard procedural items and several development-related action items.

### Key Agenda Items and Proceedings:

- **Call to Order, Roll Call, and Approvals**: The meeting opened with procedural steps. Nine commissioners were present (quorum established). Minutes from the March 16, 2026 meeting were unanimously approved. Commissioners declared no major conflicts of interest (one noted minor involvement with a project but no bias).

- **Item D1: P26/02 – Shorey Estates Subdivision No. 2 (Topeka Habitat for Humanity)**: A replat of ~4.4 acres in North Topeka (near NW Tyler and Lyman Road) to create **21 lots** for detached single-family homes. This builds on a previously approved Planned Unit Development (PUD) master plan from late 2025, allowing smaller R-2 zoned lots with variances (e.g., reduced setbacks and right-of-way widths). Stormwater is managed via easements with specific landscaping/plantings (not full detention basins). Staff recommended approval (with a condition for final stormwater plan acceptance). The applicant's consultant (Lance Onstott, PEC) and Habitat representatives were present. No major changes from prior approvals; the item focused on refinements for housing delivery and stormwater compliance.

- **Item D2: PUD26/01 (Noller-Topeka Properties LC)**: Request to amend a PUD master plan at SW 21st Street & Topeka Boulevard, incorporating additional land and changing zoning to allow automotive uses.

- **Item D3: CU26/02 (Camrond Jacobs)**: A conditional use request (details not fully expanded in the early transcript).

- **Item D4: 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program**: Presentation and discussion of the city's long-term CIP.

- **Other Business**: Report from the Special Committee on Housing and general communications to the commission. The meeting adjourned after these items.

### Overall Context:

The meeting emphasized orderly community growth, public input procedures (limited to 4 minutes per speaker), and housing/development projects. Much of the early discussion centered on the Habitat for Humanity subdivision as an affordable housing effort using creative compliance with zoning and stormwater rules. No public testimony details are highlighted in the available transcript snippet, and the video appears routine with low viewership.

The full ~1-hour video follows the agenda timestamps in the description. For a deeper dive into specific items, the agenda packet is available on Topeka Speaks.

Henry McClure

785.383.9994 

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Fw: SCLA Meeting Reminder

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From: Shawnee County Landlords Association <sclandlords@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:30 AM
Subject: SCLA Meeting Reminder

 

SCLA Members,

Sending a reminder of tonight's meeting.  6:30pm at the Golden Corral.  Ed Jaskinia, our TALK lobbyist will be our speaker.  There was a lot of legislation that affected landlords this year, so we should have a lot to talk about.  Get there early to eat.  Bring a friend.  The City has a housing survey going on right now.  I would encourage you to fill it out and make your voice heard.  Here is the link to the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/topekaks2026

Here is the ZOOM link to tonight's meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81316141872?pwd=4VqY3DyWbZBcFO1Gbgn2CtLGNgNbj1.1

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Shawnee County Landlords Association

ICSC

Based on 2026 data, attendance at ICSC Las Vegas 2026 (formerly known as the ICSC convention) is projected to be very strong, with expectations of over 30,000 to 34,000+ attendees. The event, held May 18–20, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is considered the premier commercial real estate event of the year, focusing on deal-making and networking. 

• Attendance Levels: The event is expected to draw over 30,000 participants from across the US and international markets, including retailers, landlords, brokers, and developers. 

• Industry Focus: Attendance is highly senior-level, with more than 25,000 decision-makers, including leasing directors and investors, converging for the event. 

• Significance: The conference is seen as a key indicator of the commercial real estate market, with 2026 numbers matching or exceeding previous high turnouts. [1, 4, 6, 7, 8]  

Note: For 2026, ICSC LAS VEGAS is often referred to in the context of the retail real estate industry, not to be confused with the 48th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), which is also scheduled for 2026. [4, 9]  

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1] https://vendelux.com/insights/icsc-las-vegas-2026-attendee-list

[2] https://exhibitsstudio.com/upcoming-trade-show/icsc-las-vegas

[3] https://aeiconsultants.com/event/2026-icsc-las-vegas/

[4] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505012143/en/ICSC-LAS-VEGAS-2026-Returns-with-Two-New-Co-located-Events-ICSCPROPTECH-and-ICSCWOMEN-IN-CRE

[5] https://www.webmobi.com/discovery/events/icsc-las-vegas-2026-20251127

[6] https://wwd.com/business-news/retail/icsc-las-vegas-retail-real-estate-ai-redevelopments-1238933437/

[7] https://www.visitorslist.com/icsc-las-vegas/

[8] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/decade-insights-from-attending-icsc-las-vegas-baker-katz-pw4ef

[9] https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbkx_vFezh/

Henry McClure

785.383.9994 

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Decline in 1970s: A notable drop, common in many U.S. cities due to suburban flight and economic shifts.

Topeka's population over the last 100 years (approx. 1925–2025) shows strong growth in the mid-20th century followed by stabilization and slight recent decline.

Decennial Census Data (1920–2020)

Here is the official U.S. Census data for city proper (not metro area):

Year	Population	Change from Previous Decade	% Change
1920	50,022	—	—
1930	64,120	+14,098	+28.2%
1940	67,833	+3,713	+5.8%
1950	78,791	+10,958	+16.2%
1960	119,484	+40,693	+51.6%
1970	125,011	+5,527	+4.6%
1980	115,266	-9,745	-7.8%
1990	119,883	+4,617	+4.0%
2000	122,377	+2,494	+2.1%
2010	127,473	+5,096	+4.2%
2020	126,587	-886	-0.7%

Recent Annual Estimates (2020–2025)

Year	Population (Estimate)	YoY Change	% Change
2020	126,587 (Census)	—	—
2021	~126,162	-425	-0.34%
2022	~125,426	-736	-0.58%
2023	~125,354	-72	-0.06%
2024	125,467	+113	+0.09%
2025	125,795	+328	+0.26%

Key trends and context:

• Peak growth era: The 1950s–1960s saw explosive expansion (over 50% in the 1950–1960 decade), driven by post-WWII economic boom, suburban development, and Topeka's role as state capital and regional hub.
• Decline in 1970s: A notable drop, common in many U.S. cities due to suburban flight and economic shifts.
• Recent pattern: Peaked around 2010–2015, then modest decline or stabilization. The city has lost roughly 1,000–2,000 residents since the 2020 Census but shows signs of flattening.
• Overall 1920–2020: From 50,022 to 126,587 — more than 2.5x growth over the century, though most of that occurred before 1970.
• Metro area note: The broader Topeka metropolitan statistical area (including surrounding counties) is larger, with ~233,000 residents as of 2025.

This matches the recent data you shared earlier, which aligns closely with official Census estimates. Topeka remains Kansas's 5th-largest city. 

Summary of the Topeka Development Corporation Board Meeting (May 19, 2026)

This is a recording of the Topeka Development Corporation (TDC) Board of Directors meeting held on May 19, 2026, hosted on the City of Topeka's YouTube channel. The meeting starts with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call (all 10 members present), and approval of the April 14, 2026 minutes.

Main Agenda Item: Update on the Sale of Hotel Topeka to Endeavor Hotel Group LLC

The core discussion focuses on approving a second amendment to the purchase and sale agreement for Hotel Topeka. Key points include:

• Extension requested: +30 days for the inspection period (to June 14, 2026) and closing (to July 14, 2026). The prior agreement had expired on May 14.
• Purpose: Allows more time for Endeavor to finalize agreements with Shawnee County, particularly the Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) process. This is critical for accessing capital markets (private activity bonds) and a point-of-purchase retail sales tax exemption on ~$6M in improvements (worth ~$540K at 9%).
• Background: The contract technically terminated on May 14, but the amendment would relate back and protect the buyer’s $100K earnest money. Braxton Copley (TDC project manager) and Roy Arnold (President/CEO of Endeavor Hotel Group) presented the update.

Redevelopment Plans Presented

Roy Arnold shared concept plans and updates on the project:

• Branding: Rebranding as a Wyndham Grand (upscale segment). Signs (including a large monument sign with digital display on Southwest Topeka Blvd.) are approved and in production.
• Improvements:
  • Lobby, bar/lounge, atrium, and restaurant updates with brighter, more energetic design.
  • Full exterior painting, roof repairs for drainage, window resealing, parking lot/sidewalk replacement, landscaping, and lighting enhancements.
  • Estimated ~$750K in immediate exterior work, which they want to accelerate with the sales tax exemption.
• Operations & Marketing: Staffing reviews done; business plans in progress. Focus on collaborating with Stormont Vail and the convention center for joint marketing, focus groups with past clients, and attracting a mix of corporate, healthcare, and larger events (while retaining some local/animal-related events). Emphasis on cohesive campus marketing and economic viability (food/beverage and room revenue balance).

Discussion and Outcome

Board members asked questions about timelines, marketing strategies, past client engagement, and balancing event types. There was general support and recognition of administrative delays with the county IRB process, but confidence it would proceed. The board was urged to approve the extension to keep the deal alive.

The meeting continues beyond the provided transcript segments into formal consideration of the amendment (Item 6). The video is a straightforward, professional public meeting recording with minimal production elements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMZ6wvzl7is

want to watch