MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 6:00 pm
A redesigned shopping center at 84th and Adams streets got a green light Wednesday from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission.
Commissioners unanimously approved Prairie Village North, which calls for 600,000 square feet of mostly retail space on the northeast corner of the intersection and another 285,000 square feet of mostly office on the southeast corner. It also includes more than 1,000 dwelling units.
Retail space would include two big box stores bookending smaller retail uses in a town center concept.
Developer Steve Champoux hired a nationally known planning consultant to help redesign the center after an earlier design that included a Wal-Mart Supercenter was threatened with a mayoral veto.
Champoux has agreed to voluntarily limit the size of the big box stores to 175,000 square feet, a size Wal-Mart has said is too small for a supercenter.
Champoux, who said he plans to submit a formal site plan later, said construction won’t start until he lands an anchor tenant.
He said he has talked with several national retailers but has not signed any contracts.
“We’re hoping to attract some good tenants,” said Champoux.
Despite much controversy surrounding Champoux’s earlier version of the project, the only person who showed up to oppose Prairie Village North Wednesday was Assistant City Engineer Randy Hoskins.
Hoskins said the Public Works Department is opposed to two “right in, right out” driveways along 84th because they will slow northbound traffic and present hazards.
But Mike Eckert, a planner with Civil Design Group, said the driveway accesses are needed to help traffic flow through the center. He also pointed out that several other major shopping areas, including 27th Street and Pine Lake Road, 27th and Superior streets and 48th and O streets, have similar access.
The Planning Commission agreed with Eckert and approved an amendment granting the request.
The plan now goes to the City Council for final approval.
Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.