The city of Shawnee has approved next steps for Heartland Logistics Park, an industrial project on the southeast corner of 43rd Street and Clare Road.

The Shawnee planning commission approved a proposed final site plan and final plat for the first building on the site, which could accommodate up to five business tenants.

At this point, development plans for the industrial park are general, and not specifically designed for a tenant. As of earlier this month, developer Eric Buer of Blue Shawnee LLC had not identified business tenants to occupy the proposed site.

This first building is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Previously called Project Homeland, the development is slated for construction to begin in the first quarter of 2020.

City staff and the planning commission cleared up some open items for the site plan and final plat on Feb. 3. Those items included parking, access points to the site (especially for the city’s fire department), and public infrastructure improvements for streets, stormwater and streetlights.

Stephanie Malmborg, deputy community development director, said the developer will need to clarify some information for the fire department in terms of accessing the property in the event of a fire. Regardless, she said it appears there is enough room on the site for fire trucks to have access.

Public infrastructure improvements will not include adding curb and gutter. Kevin Manning, the city’s transportation manager, said the site area is too flat to work well with curb and gutter. As such, the proposed drainage system will comprise of an infiltration basin.