ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee Planning Commissioners on Monday greeted with sharp words and quick action the owner of an apartment complex after staff members said he modified a site plan without prior approval.

Construction already had begun at Prairie Lakes Apartments, in the 6700 block of Lackman Road, before the city's planning staff learned in April of a plan to use building materials that weren't approved by the Commission.

A request Monday night to allow continued use of the new materials on parts of nine buildings at the complex was denied 8-0 with Commissioner Augie Bogina abstaining.

The application was filed by Wallace Architects for the owner of the complex.

A neighbor who had worked on the project during its planning stages notified city staff in early April that contractors were using horizontal lap siding on the exterior ends of some buildings instead of stone materials that also were approved by the City Council in September of 2002.

Inspections in April by city staff confirmed the existence of the new materials in addition to altered construction plans that included allowances for the paneling, according to city staff reports.

Paul Chaffee, planning director, told the Commission that the contractors essentially were "constructing something that wasn't approved."

The applicant requested Monday that contractors be allowed to continue using the siding on ends of the buildings that face each other in accordance with the altered building plans.

Mark Cielsdorf, of the planning staff, said that the applicant contended that the sides proposed with lap siding were less visible and stone siding wasn't necessary.

"I beg to differ that you can't see those sides of the buildings," said Commissioner Thomas Beckenbaugh.

The meeting was the first for new Commissioners Beckenbaugh and Frank Woodbury.

Other Commissioners had additional objections to the proposal.

"I'm in no position to play ‘Let's Make A Deal' here because we already made a deal," Commissioner Eric Jenkins said.

In May 2003 the Commission approved minor changes to the site plan that included replacing 50 garage parking stalls with open-air spots to accommodate the elimination of one building at the complex.

That revision passed on a 6-2 vote with Commissioners Kevin Tubbesing and Charlotte Keyes weighing in against the measure.

"We weren't really overjoyed as it was with this project," said Commissioner Dan Bedora.

The owner of the complex was at the meeting but declined to make a statement when the Commission invited him to.

Denial of the request to modify exterior building materials means that the stone surface now must be used on both ends of all of the structures, as was required in the initial site plan, Chaffee said.