Commission approves rezoning of Arvonia Place tract for phased affordable senior housing

The City of Topeka Planning Commission voted Feb. 17 to reclassify just over 10 acres on Southwest Arvonia Place from C-4 commercial to M-2 multifamily zoning to allow a proposed two-phase affordable senior housing development.

Planning staff said the site is adjacent to large commercial uses (Lowe’s, Aldi, Sam’s Club and Walmart) and existing multifamily complexes and that the city’s housing market study supports additional residential capacity. The applicant, AMD Partners LLC, described plans for an initial 48-unit phase followed by a 96-unit second phase; staff recommended approval of the rezoning.

Matthew Danner, representing AMD Partners, told commissioners that if financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits the development would carry a restrictive covenant (typically 30 years) that requires units to be affordable and that the project’s target rents would align with income limits tied to area median income. He said the developer expects many units would be limited to households at roughly 30%–60% of area median income for Shawnee County.

Danner also described site constraints including a recorded restrictive covenant (a view corridor associated with the adjacent Lowe’s) and significant topography: engineers estimate substantial earthwork would be required to build, he said.

There was no public testimony. Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about whether the rezoning would include affordability conditions (staff said the zoning change is generic M-2 and that affordability commitments typically come with tax-credit financing and recorded covenants) and about compatibility with nearby commercial uses. Staff noted that conceptual site plans were provided to the commission as part of the presentation and that landscaping and site-plan review would address buffers.

The commission approved the rezoning. The roll-call vote recorded aye votes from Mr. Lolli; Ms. Nelson; Ms. Heron; Mr. Brooks; Mr. Kout; Mr. Neger; Ms. Pierson; Mr. Mach; and Ms. Hannan. The commission’s approval is a recommendation; the applicant must still complete site-plan review, financing steps and any recorded covenants required by tax-credit funders before construction can proceed.