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Shawnee County approves conditional use permit for quilting-retreat facility on SW Gage Boulevard
Summary
The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners approved a conditional use permit to allow a quilting retreat and conference facility at 4621 Southwest Gage Boulevard in Mission Township, subject to a drainage report and limits on event type and attendance.
On Aug. 11, 2025 the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-63 to allow a quilting retreat and conference facility at 4621 Southwest Gage Boulevard in Mission Township.
The permit authorizes a new structure with five or six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a full kitchen and a large open workspace for sewing and quilting activities. Planning staff told commissioners the facility will host overnight retreats for up to 12 quilters for three- or four-day sessions and may host daytime quilting sessions limited to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on non‑retreat days. Joanie Fedani, director of the Planning Department, described the request as “a conditional use permit request today” and said the use must be “limited to the quilting retreats as set forth in their business plan.”
The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0 after receiving one written letter of opposition and a public comment at its July 14 hearing. Neighbors raised drainage concerns; in response, staff added a condition requiring submission of a drainage report for review and approval before development. Fedani told the commission that any issues identified in the drainage report would be reviewed by Public Works and must be satisfied prior to issuing a building permit.
Terry Iles, who submitted the letter opposing the proposal, told commissioners he supported the requirement for the drainage report and said, “I would request that they be required to comply with that and that go through the planning commission for correlation.” The applicant, Beth Esau, said she and her husband do not expect the project to worsen existing drainage problems and told the board, “we just really don't see a problem with the proposal.”
Commissioners Aaron Mays, Bill Rippon and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 to approve Resolution 2025-63. The approval includes the Planning Department’s conditions: (1) activities must be arranged by lease or contract and limited to quilting retreats and related daytime quilting sessions; (2) the property must comply with any requirements from the local fire jurisdiction and state marshal directives as applicable when applying for building permits; and (3) submission and county approval of a drainage report prior to development. Any other use would require an amendment to the conditional use permit and a new public hearing.
The property is about 9.5 acres, served by a septic system and rural water; staff said it will not connect to city sewer or city water at this time. Notices were mailed to property owners within the required distances (1,000 feet within the county, 200 feet within the city); staff reported 25 letters were sent and one letter returned in opposition. The Planning Department also coordinated with the City of Topeka, which does not intend to annex the site.
With the drainage-report condition and the use limits recorded in the resolution, the next step for the property owners is to submit the drainage report and pursue the required building permit approvals.
