LS Commercial Seeks 2M-SF Warehouse Approval

The property is located between 167th Street and Old 56 Highway. The Gardner Township Zoning Board of Appeals has rejected LS Commercial's application to change the zoning of the property from RUR (rural district) to PEC3 (planned research, development and light industrial park district). Residents claim the development, over current farmland, encourage too many trucks that would cause pollution and traffic.

However, the planning department of Johnson County, which has final approval of the change, has recommended that the zoning be switched. Dean Palos, the county planning director, tells GlobeSt.com that the property can follow its neighboring land usage. "The property abuts the second most active airport in the state," he says. "Also, across the street is the Burlington Northern railroad tracks, and to the east is an active quarry." Licausi did not return a call for comment.

The airport, New Century AirCenter, is a former Navy base purchased by the county in 1950s and turned into an industrial park with an active airstrip, Palos says. "If it's not 100% occupied, it's close to it," Palos says. "They just opened up a new, 460,000-sf Kimberly Clark warehouse. There's also two county correctional facilities there."

He says the application will next go to the County Commission, who will vote on the planning recommendation. "If they agree with the zoning board denial, then that's it," Palos says. "However, the commission can also send the proposal back to the zoning board with questions. When it comes back, denied or approved by the board, the commission can do what it wants with the property."

Palos says there hasn't been a tenant announced yet for Licausi's development. "They clearly left us the impression that they were anxious to get going, that they have a possible prospect," he says. If approved, Licausi still must purchase the land from its owner, Moore Management LC and Moore Farm LLC.