Shawnee has advanced plans for a townhome project near downtown.
On Sept. 21, the Shawnee Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve final plans for the 57th and Barton Townhomes development, located on a vacant lot near the Shawnee 1929 Museum. Commissioners John Miller, Michael Chalfie, Genise Luecke and John Hanson were absent, while Leo Nunnink abstained.
The plan for the project includes 10 two-story attached residential townhome units arranged within one building.
While the project would have been included in the planning commission’s consent agenda, which meant it would not have been discussed, it was brought forward because the developers asked the city to allow for a seven-foot setback from a separate, existing building on the property instead of the required 10-foot setback.
The development is the second upcoming townhomes project in downtown Shawnee. Earlier this year, the planning commission approved a revised site plan for The Townhomes at 57th and King, which includes 14 two-story attached residential townhome units at the former Wonderscope property.
“This is almost a sister project one block away,” Colin Victory, city planner III with the City of Shawnee, said during the meeting.
Because the city council had already approved a request to rezone the property previously, the planning commission’s vote was the final say on the matter.
The Kansas City-based Slaggie Architects, Inc. is the applicant on behalf of the developers, 5700 Barton LLC.
The land has had several different planned projects
Each of the 10 units will have two parking spaces, one in a single-car garage and one surface parking space, which are accessed from a private residential drive off of 57th Street.
The project also includes a six-foot privacy fence along the west property line, landscaping, trees and sidewalk connections.
The site was originally platted as multiple lots in 1873. It was re-zoned from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to Townsquare (TSQ) in 1997.
Since then, it has been targeted for several projects that did not move forward, including additional employee parking for Vita Craft and a single-family home proposed in 2003 that was never built.
In 2021, the planning commission approved plans for The Cosmopolitan, a multi-family development made up of three, two-story duplexes. That also did not move forward and the property was sold.
Since the previously-approved Cosmopolitan project received support with an about 5-foot setback, city staff supported a 7-foot setback.
Commissioners had questions and praise
Because the parking spots are close to each other and the street, Commissioner David Aber asked that with the narrow road, if garbage trucks will be able to get through easily enough.
Dave Anderson, one of the members of the development team, assured Aber that they have worked out plans with the city and local garbage collection businesses. If those don’t work, they will find a new solution.
“From a developer standpoint too, we want this to be successful. They’re nice looking (homes). We’re going to be asking $2,200 (to) $2,400 a month. So we need we need to provide, as managers of our development, a system (that works). If this somehow doesn’t satisfy our tenants, we’re going to hear from them and we’re going to solve that problem,” he said.
After asking questions to the developer, Aber praised the project.
“I think this is a pretty good plan. Obviously, you put a lot of thought into it and have taken time. You can tell that from how they’ve answered my questions. I think it meets all of the Golden factors, and it will be a good addition to the area,” he said.
In agreement, Commissioner Kathy Peterson, who voted against The Cosmopolitan project in 2021, said she was satisfied.
“I think it’s going to bring another level to the town square, which we’re needing that on those in-fill projects,” she said.
Closing out the planning commission’s comments, Commissioner Bruce Bienhoff expressed optimism for the development.
“I do also like the plan. I think the the building and the plans are very nice. I appreciate the foresighted architecture on that,” he said.
Other Shawnee townhome news: Shawnee greenlights phase 2 of old Wonderscope redevelopment
