Afton Town Administrator Violet Sanderson recapped the town’s previous action on cargo containers in Afton. “Back in 2022 or 2023, the town council at the time had voted and approved for cargo shipping containers to be utilized in the general commercial and mixed commercial/industrial zoning districts,” Sanderson said, noting that prior to that change, “they were prohibited in every zone except for mixed commercial/industrial.”

The issue resurfaced after local homeowners asked the town to revisit residential restrictions. “We did recently have a petition that came to the town that Planning and Zoning did review earlier at this week’s meeting,” Sanderson stated. “It was a petition that was signed by about 63 community members asking for P&Z to review and make a recommendation to the Town Council to allow for cargo shipping containers to be accessory structures in the residential districts.”

Sanderson explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council are assessing how to approach the request while evaluating community sentiment. “These community members are calling for P&Z and the council to kind of look at options that we might have for allowing those in residential districts,” she said.

Public feedback will play a defining role in any potential ordinance changes. “Obviously we want to hear from the public and understand: Is that something that you want to see in your neighbor’s backyard? Is that something you’d like to have in your backyard?” Sanderson remarked. “And if so, what sort of regulations would we want to put in place so aesthetically we don’t just all end up with shipping containers in our backyard?”

Discussions surrounding the petition and potential standards for residential storage containers are slated to continue at upcoming town meetings.