A developer plans to build two industrial-type buildings totaling 56,000 square feet on a vacant site in west central Shawnee near I-435 and the county landfill.

On Monday, the Shawnee Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the final plan and plat for the project, dubbed Contractors Park, which is planned for a seven-acre plot in the 18700 Block of Johnson Drive.

That’s near the city’s public works building and a WaterOne tower, just east of Mid-America Sports Complex.

Shawnee Contractors Park plans have been pared down

• Last year, the city signed off on a rezoning for industrial uses and a preliminary site plan, which gave the development the initial go ahead.
• At that time, three buildings were planned for the site. Now there are two.
• Lauren Grashoff, deputy community development director for Shawnee, said the new plan is “substantially consistent” with the old one because its intended uses — industrial and office — hasn’t changed.

Contractors Park future uses could vary

• Thomas Nolte, an architect on the project, said a manufacturing tenant has been identified to fill up the larger proposed building, which totals 36,000 square feet.
• Multiple tenants could be accommodated in the other building, and Nolte said there has been some interest in those spaces, as well.
• Grashoff said the development and its proposed uses are compatible with existing land uses nearby.
• If the lease for the larger building changes and another type of operation uses the building in the future, city staff indicated the property owner may need to come back for a revised site plan review because of different parking requirements in the industrial land-use group.

Some modifications will be required

• Shawnee will require the project to include a westbound turn lane for the site from Johnson Drive.
• That will relieve much of the traffic congestion concerns because most traffic to Contractors Park is expected to come from I-435 east of the site.
• The developer will also need to add a five-foot sidewalk in front of the site along Johnson Drive.

Next steps:

• The planning commission has final approval authority on the site plan.
• However, the Shawnee City Council will need to review the final plat before the project can go forward. That could happen later this month.
• After that, some permits will need to be obtained, but Grashoff said some details with a proposed parking space number deviation will need to be settled first.

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