Good morning

**As of October 24, 2026, here is a summary of recent and notable Topeka Planning & Development activity** focused on commercial, multifamily, industrial, mixed-use, incentives, and items of interest to commercial brokers/developers. Sources checked include City news/Weekly Reports, Topeka Speaks Planning Commission, DGM reports, the Tyler EP&L portal (public access limited without login), local news (WIBW, CJ/Capital-Journal, KSNT), and related pages. No fully public recent permit search was available without credentials on the new portal or maps; DGM monthly reports appear current only through earlier 2026 (e.g., February).

### Flagged Items
- **Data center (Forbes Field / SW Topeka Blvd & ~77th St area)**: Highly relevant and active. MTAA President Curtis Sneden presented to City Council on October 13, 2026, on a proposed facility. Nonbinding letter of intent (signed ~late August 2026) with an unnamed developer for an initial two ~150,000 sq ft buildings (expandable to four) on 30–40 acres, plus substation. Power needs ~70–80 MW; closed-loop water system. Developer responsible for access/utilities. Site remote (nearest residence >0.5 mile). Purpose includes unlocking ~400 acres of non-aeronautical airport property for future industrial use. Shawnee County has a data center moratorium expiring February 17, 2027; City also has related restrictions. Application expected post-moratorium (spring 2027 or later). Transparency concerns raised (developer name undisclosed; City Manager noted it was new information). City has stated it will not extend additional water service for data centers. Planning Commission has been reviewing related text amendments (ACZR26/05 on data centers and energy storage systems, discussed September 21, 2026).

- **37th & Gage / Eveningside area**: Shovel-ready commercial/mixed-use land (listings reference ~19–36 acres) owned by 37th & Gage LLC (sole member Dana K. Anderson, MaceRich co-founder). Graded (hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of dirt moved); utilities available; CID potential noted for incentives. Marketed for sale or partnership (retail/multifamily/mixed-use preferred). Adjacent/new Dollar General construction underway (expected open ~early October 2026). Planning Commission item A26/02 (August 17, 2026) was an annexation request involving St. Peters and Paul Orthodox Christian Church and 37th and Gage LLC. Prior related multifamily concepts (e.g., workforce housing) have been discussed historically.

- **California Crossing**: CID established via Ordinance 20633 (published February 2026). Generally southeast of SE California Avenue & SE 29th Street. 1.5% CID sales tax (collection scheduled to start ~July 1, 2026, or as soon as permitted; up to 22 years or until pay-as-you-go costs covered). Estimated project cost ~$6,084,121 plus financing (interior/exterior improvements, parking, lighting, signage, landscaping, etc.). No special assessments.

### Recent Planning Commission Activity (October 19, 2026 Meeting)
Next Governing Body hearings are typically the following month; agendas at topeka.gov.
- **PUD26/07 Amoco Station by Haag Oil Company**: Request to rezone from C-2 Commercial to PUD (C-2 uses) primarily for a reduced rear-yard setback (25 ft to 10 ft). Site around 5977 SW 29th Street (near Wanamaker). Staff recommended approval with conditions. Neighbor (Foxcross Properties) objected. Status pending post-PC.
- **ACZR26/04**: Text amendments to zoning code (definitions, use tables, dimensional standards, specific use requirements, amendments process, and related sections).
- **CPA26/02**: Update to Land Use & Growth Management Plan 2040 (limited scope: reflect implementation since 2015, incorporate housing study objectives by reference, align Future Land Use Map). Public hearing held. Staff memo from Director Dan Warner (October 5, 2026).
- Housing Committee report and public comment. Prior September 21 meeting also covered ACZR26/05 (data centers/energy storage) and continued text/plan discussions.

### Other Notable Projects / Updates
- **Topeka Senior Villas (1511 SW Arvonia Place)**: Affordable senior (55+) multifamily by AMD Partners LLC / Topeka SV LLC. Previously rezoned to M-2 (February 2025 PC approval). Phase 1: ~48-unit, three-story, ~50,469 sq ft building (potential second phase to ~96 units total). Under construction. Shawnee County approved ~$15M taxable multifamily housing revenue bonds (October 2026) for construction/equipping/furnishing, plus cooperation on up to 10-year property tax exemption (PILOT). Target affordability often 30–60% AMI with LIHTC.
- **Downtown / Project View (“The Hutch”)**: 192-unit apartment RHID by Flaherty & Collins (~$50M). RHID and related parking/property deals approved earlier in 2026.
- **Lauren’s Bay (SW 47th & Wanamaker area)**: Long-stalled subdivision; lots sold at 2026 tax foreclosure auction to builders (e.g., Diamond Homes/Dultmeier, Drippé Homes, Skill Pro Group). Ongoing RHID/CID processes to address specials/taxes and enable horizontal infrastructure reimbursement and home construction. Multiple prior Council actions on incentives.
- **Portal / Permitting**: New Tyler EP&L Community Development / Developer Permitting and Licensing portal launched ~September 2026 (https://cityoftopekaks-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home). Handles many permits, licenses, inspections, and planning applications. Some contractor items still transitioning; public recent-application search limited without login. Building permits map (maps.topeka.org/BuildingPermits/) remains available for GIS view of issued permits.
- **Housing context**: City needs ~4,200 residential units over 20 years (~210/year) per recent analyses/Housing Market Study updates. Residential Development Forum scheduled November 6, 2026 (Topeka Area Builders Association). Land Bank continues transferring lots for affordable housing. Text amendments ongoing around multifamily/duplex standards and commercial/mixed-use housing.
- **Incentives**: City has updated TIF/CID/RHID policies (standardized fees, transparency, affordable housing focus; community-impact questions proposed). Multiple active or recently advanced districts.

**Most recent official updates**: Planning Commission packet/agenda for October 19, 2026 (Topeka Speaks); Weekly Reports through mid-October 2026 (road projects, bids, portal launch, Residential Forum, MTPO Transportation Plan open house); DGM reports (latest accessible around February 2026 or November 2025—permit volumes mixed year-over-year, commercial down in some months). No major new commercial site plans, plats, or high-valuation permits with public details surfaced in the last few days beyond the above. For the absolute latest applications or valuations, check the Tyler portal (login may be required) or contact Planning (785-368-3728 / planning@topeka.org) or Development Services (785-368-3704). 

Sources include topeka.gov, topekaspeaks.org, WIBW, Capital-Journal/CJOnline, KSNT, and related public documents.

Henry McClure
785.383.9994 

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