City prepares to update Land Use and Growth Management Plan

Planning commission weighs new zoning rules for data centers

Zoning updates proposed for downtown and NOTO Arts & Entertainment District

Commission considers easing alcohol zoning rules for small businesses

Commission debates relaxing rules for small indoor recreation venues

Proposed code change targets large truck services at convenience stores

Topeka looks to clarify zoning for tiny home villages

Unhosted short-term rentals may require local managers

Zoning amendment could allow larger detached garages on large lots

City staff proposes implementing standards for new RV parks

1. City prepares to update Land Use and Growth Management Plan

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Planning Commission reviewed proposed revisions to the city's Land Use and Growth Management Plan, primarily focusing on updates to future land use maps and rural lot subdivisions. The amendments aim to encourage mixed-use development and the adaptive reuse of vacant commercial properties for multifamily housing. Planners also clarified the "80/20 rule," a policy designed to limit dense, urban-style residential subdivisions in the extra-territorial jurisdiction outside city limits to preserve rural infrastructure.

2. Planning commission weighs new zoning rules for data centers

TOPEKA, Kan. — As a massive Compass Data Centers project is under review by the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners, the Topeka Planning Commission reviewed proposed zoning definitions to regulate potential future data centers within city limits. The city, currently under a moratorium for data center applications, is considering a tier system based on megawatt usage and footprint. Under the early draft, hyperscale facilities exceeding 50 megawatts would require a conditional use permit in limited districts, with anticipated standards addressing noise, water usage, aesthetics and fire hazards. The commission heard extensive public testimony regarding the environmental and infrastructure impacts of data centers, emphasizing the need for stringent city regulations.

3. Zoning updates proposed for downtown and NOTO Arts & Entertainment District

TOPEKA, Kan. — City planners are proposing text amendments to expand allowable land uses in downtown Topeka and the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. The changes would permit secondhand and pawn shops by right in the X1 zoning district, opening doors for more antique stores in NOTO. Additionally, the proposal would allow a broader range of light industrial uses in the D3 downtown district, aiming to encourage the adaptive reuse of older industrial buildings bordering the city center where retail demand is low.

4. Commission considers easing alcohol zoning rules for small businesses

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Planning Commission is reviewing an amendment that would make it easier for unconventional businesses, such as florists or indoor golf simulators, to serve alcohol in C2 commercial districts. The proposed change would permit drinking establishments by right if the alcohol sales are an accessory to the principal business, if the establishment is under 2,000 square feet or if it constitutes no more than 40 percent of a multi-tenant building. Live outdoor entertainment would still be prohibited under the proposed administrative standards without a conditional use permit.

5. Commission debates relaxing rules for small indoor recreation venues

TOPEKA, Kan. — Small indoor recreation businesses, such as simulated golf lounges or small arcades, may no longer need to navigate a lengthy conditional use permit process in C2 districts. A proposed text amendment would allow Type 2 indoor recreation facilities by right, provided the business occupies no more than 50 percent of a multi-tenant commercial building. Planners noted the change intends to differentiate low-impact, small-scale entertainment venues from large standalone facilities like bowling alleys.

6. Proposed code change targets large truck services at convenience stores

TOPEKA, Kan. — Following a Maverik truck stop proposal that drew neighborhood opposition, city staff introduced a text amendment to regulate convenience stores that include large truck fueling stations. Currently, convenience stores with fuel pumps are permitted by right in several commercial districts, regardless of whether they cater to large semi-trucks. The proposed change would classify businesses with large truck service components as truck stops, requiring developers to obtain a conditional use permit when building in C2 or C4 commercial zones near residential areas.

7. Topeka looks to clarify zoning for tiny home villages

TOPEKA, Kan. — City planners are seeking to clarify zoning codes to explicitly allow multiple tiny homes on single lots. While the city's current building codes do not prohibit tiny homes built on-site, the proposed text amendments would introduce new definitions for detached two-family and multifamily dwellings. This change would formally allow tiny home villages in M2 and M3 multifamily zoning districts, subject to site plan reviews covering unit separation, landscaping and parking requirements.

8. Unhosted short-term rentals may require local managers

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Planning Commission reviewed a proposed zoning update that would require unhosted short-term rentals, categorized as Type 2, to maintain a local property manager or owner representative. Planners noted the addition would ensure a local contact is readily available in case of emergencies or neighborhood complaints. The commission also discussed maintaining the current 500-foot separation requirement between Type 2 short-term rentals, which can currently only be bypassed via an approved conditional use permit.

9. Zoning amendment could allow larger detached garages on large lots

TOPEKA, Kan. — Residents with large properties may soon have an easier time building expansive detached garages or workshops. Currently, the city limits detached accessory structures to 90 percent of the primary dwelling's footprint, prompting frequent variance requests from owners of large parcels. A proposed text amendment would increase the accessory building limit to 130 percent for lots between half an acre and three acres, and remove the footprint limit entirely for lots exceeding three acres.

10. City staff proposes implementing standards for new RV parks

TOPEKA, Kan. — In response to an uptick in recreational vehicle (RV) living, the Topeka Planning Commission discussed implementing design standards for RV parks, which are currently allowed by right in C4 and industrial districts without specific guidelines. Proposed regulations could require conditional use permits and mandate standards for RV pad setbacks, paving and density. Staff noted the lack of current guidelines leaves the city vulnerable to haphazard development and unresolved stormwater management issues if an RV park is proposed in heavy commercial areas.

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