Town of Afton Administrator Violet Sanderson called into the Weekday Wake-Up on Thursday, November 5 for her monthly report. Sanderson discussed upcoming work downtown, including opening up a breezeway to the East parking lot, upcoming Holiday events during November and a discussion around updating town policy regarding allowing cargo shipping containers to be used as storage on residential property.

(0:00) Joining me live over the phone this morning is Violet Sanderson, Town of Afton Administrator (0:05) with her monthly report from Town of Afton. Violet, good morning. How are you today? (0:09) I’m great, Duke.

Thanks for having me. Hey, absolutely. Appreciate your time as always.

(0:13) Let’s talk about what’s happening in the Town of Afton and into the month of November right now. So (0:19) what’s currently being discussed by the Council and the Town and what’s being worked on right now? (0:24) So one of our main projects that we’re probably going to be working on over the winter time, (0:28) hopefully, we have basically a pre-bid walkthrough for the Los Cabos building, (0:35) having contractors come in and do a walkthrough this month and hopefully responding to (0:41) an RFP to start planning for the demolition of that building. Our hope is that some of (0:47) that can be done throughout the wintertime and early spring so we can hopefully take advantage (0:52) of having that pass-through open and available to be used next summer.

Excellent. That’s (0:58) big exciting news and so that’s coming right up. Violet, this is all part of a kind of a (1:04) downtown corridor project, if I remember right, with the hope of opening up a breezeway to the (1:09) east parking lot.

Is that correct? Any other plans on what that may be, (1:16) what will be put where the building is right now or is that still being discussed? (1:21) So really what we’re going to be doing is creating a breezeway and the planning (1:25) document so far, we’re going to keep our exterior walls to the north and the south (1:29) and then breaking down the rest of the building, doing some obviously some compaction and then (1:35) putting back some concrete with drainage capabilities in the area but really we’re (1:41) going to have it plumbed and ready and available to have public restrooms in that area as well (1:45) but really just kind of having it open right now. We do have plans to have large timbers (1:50) over the top so that way we can have some some rafters so to speak for hanging lights and other (1:58) things just to make it a little bit more inviting in that space but the plan really is to have it (2:02) be an area so we have some flexibility with how we can use it in the future. So you know in the (2:08) summertime maybe we can set up some chairs and tables so people have a more inviting space to (2:11) be able to eat if they’re grabbing something and enjoying the rest of downtown and also just kind (2:18) of a community area for people to gather when we do have some of our events downtown and and we’re (2:23) just thankful to have the opportunity to provide the space to give us some more flexibility as we (2:28) as we move forward and plan what things look like.

And then to speak to the master plan for our park (2:32) system, the Los Cabos building was previously cited in both our road roadmap for Main Street (2:40) as well as the master plan document for our our parks and specifically obviously for Starview Park (2:46) and so this is kind of phase one of that. We’re hopeful that this can bleed into the idea that (2:53) we have better connectivity to our park system downtown as well as our public parking so that (2:57) way we can have less congestion with parking downtown, encourage people to park in the back (3:02) where we do have public parking available, but then still feel like they have that connectivity (3:06) to Main Street and not have to walk all the way around on the side streets to get to our wonderful (3:11) local businesses on Main Street. Absolutely, Violet Sanderson, Town of Afton administrator (3:14) this morning on the Weekday Wakeup.

Violet, speaking of downtown, of course in November (3:19) we’re looking forward to the the annual Christmas parade of lights that’s going to take place I (3:24) believe Thanksgiving weekend again this year, right? It is. Historically we’ve operated that (3:29) parade on the Saturday which this year will be held on the 28th of November. That Saturday that (3:33) follows the Thanksgiving, you know, Thanksgiving day and it’s tradition so we’ll be lighting the (3:41) One of the things that we have planned this year as well as to extend (3:45) kind of some of the festivities we’re going to have downtown.

So the Afton Main Street Alliance (3:49) will be hosting kind of a little downtown get together. We’re going to block off the road (3:55) earlier in the day so that way we can have some caroling, some potential fire pits and for s’mores (4:02) and hot chocolate stations and give people the opportunity to come downtown and enjoy (4:07) the businesses before the parade. You know, that Saturday which is November 28th is known as Small (4:14) Business Saturday Nationwide and so we want to kind of highlight the businesses, encourage people (4:19) to shop local and so that’s kind of one of the things that we’re adding to the parade lights (4:26) this year.

Another really cool event that’s going to take place obviously it’s not a Town of Afton (4:30) event but that will be hosted at the Civic Center is the Festival of Trees that will take place the (4:34) before the 28th. So I think that’s kind of something exciting and one of the things that (4:39) Afton Main Street Alliance is also doing is a Light Up Main Street contest and you can register (4:46) for that as a business decorating your business on Main Street and you can register with that (4:53) through I believe they have links on their Facebook and Instagram pages online and registration for (5:00) that does close on the 20th but that’s one of the things that we’re hoping people will do on the (5:03) 28th is come downtown, look at the businesses, be able to vote for who they feel should win, (5:10) who did the best lighting up of Main Street and so we just invite everybody to come down for that. (5:15) Love it.

Certainly that time of year and a lot of those events happening again in the coming weeks (5:19) in the Town of Afton. Violet Sanderson, Town of Afton Administrator on the Weekday Wake Up. (5:23) Violet wanted to also bring this up and get some thoughts on this.

I know there’s been a discussion (5:29) regarding cargo shipping containers in residential districts, maybe using (5:33) those containers for storage but allowing to be used at a residential area. Maybe give us (5:38) some background on what the discussion is here and what may or may not happen with it. (5:42) Yeah, absolutely.

So back in 20, I can’t remember if it was 2024 or 2023, the town council at the (5:49) time had voted and approved for cargo shipping containers to be utilized in the general commercial (5:55) industrial zoning districts. And so we have been operating under that, providing the guidance, (6:02) the permitting and process for that and the allowability in those zones. We did recently (6:08) have a petition that came to the town that planning and zoning did review at last week’s (6:14) meeting or earlier this week’s meeting.

And it was a petition that was signed by about 63 community (6:20) members asking for PNZ to review and make a recommendation to town council to allow for cargo (6:27) shipping containers to be accessory structures in the residential districts. And that was something (6:32) that the council at the time when we revisited the idea of even allowing shipping containers in (6:36) the town of Afton, which they were prohibited in every zone except for mixed commercial industrial (6:41) previously to the change that was done in 22-23. And so these community members are calling for (6:50) PNZ and the council to kind of look at options that we might have for allowing those in residential (6:54) districts.

Now, obviously, we want to hear from the public and understand like, you know, is that (7:00) something that you want to see in your neighbor’s backyard? Is that something you’d like to have in (7:03) your backyard? And if so, you know, what sort of regulations would we want to put in place so (7:08) aesthetically, we don’t just all end up with shipping containers in our backyard? Sure, sure. (7:13) All right, well, I’m sure there’ll be more discussions on that. And and more more.

(7:19) Yeah, discussions as mentioned on what the future may be for that, including here on the weekday (7:23) wake up. So, Violet, anything else that you’d like to mention while we have you on the air today? (7:28) Just to add two other housekeeping items from the town of Afton, obviously, our no dig order (7:33) went in effect as of November 1. And so that is an ordinance in place with the town of Afton (7:37) that does not permit any digging within our right of ways. And obviously, we have that in place for (7:42) protection of our infrastructure as things get colder and things can start to freeze.

That’s why (7:46) that’s why that’s in place. So the no dig order is now in place. So no digging within our right (7:52) of ways on your own property that’s different.

And then it’s that time of year where we’re all (8:00) just kind of sitting and waiting for the snow to get here. And so during this snowy time of year, (8:04) we also have an ordinance in place that doesn’t allow for overnight parking on the side streets (8:08) or on the side of the road. So we just want to remind all the residents of that to make (8:12) sure that any, you know, maybe anything you had stored in the right of way this summer and fall, (8:18) it’s time to make sure that gets moved so it doesn’t obstruct our ability to move snow this (8:22) winter.

Perfect. Town of Afton Administrator Violet Sanderson this morning on the weekday (8:26) wake up. Violet, thank you so much for your time.

We appreciate it. Yeah, thanks. Thanks for having (8:30) me, Duke.

Have a great day. It’s all part of the weekday wake up this morning on SVI Radio.