A Wichita developer on Thursday requested rezoning for a big-box store on the northeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway  less than a day after planning commissioners said they would frown on such a request.

“It’s the perfect area to develop because of the proximity off of (U.S.) Highway 40 to Topeka,” Christian Ablah said Thursday. “The two roads that intersect here can handle a big development at this site.”

Ablah, of Wichita’s Classic Real Estate Inc., requested rezoning for 105 acres from its current agricultural use. Under his request, just more than half would be rezoned for commercial purposes, the rest for “light industrial” uses like those on Wakarusa Drive near 15th Street. The land is owned by Jack Graham of rural Lawrence.

Ablah said a big-box store already was lined up for the site, but he wouldn’t give details.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission on Wednesday approved rezonings for a 92-acre development for the intersection’s southeast corner, including 32 acres of commercial land. Commissioners said that was probably the end of commercial development at the intersection.

They also ordered planners to develop an “area plan” for the remaining three corners (including the northeast portion) of the intersection within six months.

That order came after three commissioners opposed the southeast corner’s commercial rezoning, saying an area plan should be approved first.

Commissioner John Haase stuck to that position Thursday, saying other intersections, such as Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, would have benefited from such comprehensive planning. Instead, fierce battles have been waged over proposed development on that intersection’s north side.

“We need to learn from our mistakes,” Haase said. “Before the first shovel of dirt is turned, we ought to determine how those areas are planned out and how they integrate with the adjacent areas.”

Commission Chairman Tom Jennings on Thursday said he wanted to see the area plan before considering rezoning requests for the intersection. While not commenting on the Ablah request, he said he thought the commission was done with commercial developments at the intersection.

“I think that’s probably a reasonable assumption,” Jennings said. “I try never to say never.”

Ablah declined Thursday to comment on the planning commission’s actions.

“Our application is in and we’re ready to move forward,” he said.

The planning commission should hear the request Dec. 18.