Afton, MN

Planning Commission

City Council

Meeting

Parks Committee

The Parks Committee reviewed the Park Dedication Fund balance of $395,482.00 and confirmed the City Council accepted the Remus Park Natural Vegetation Restoration Grant. The committee discussed updates on a pending donation request, the Herreid Park draft which remains on hold, and a park bench donation policy. Additionally, members received a presentation on the Friends of Afton/Parks 501(c)(3) and a draft Parks Mission/Strategy statement.

• Park Dedication Fund balance reported as $395,482.00 as of July 31, 2026
• Remus Park Natural Vegetation Restoration Grant accepted by City Council with annual maintenance costs of $3,400 to $5,500
• Herreid Park draft remains on hold pending historical information on the building
• Presentation scheduled for Friends of Afton/Parks 501(c)(3) by Angela Tangen and Todd Ringgenberg
• Draft Parks Mission/Strategy statement to be presented by Lori Swanson

Meeting

City Council

The Afton City Council work session will discuss amending the bed and breakfast ordinance to allow cooking in guest rooms, consider new land uses for agricultural land including agri-tourism, and review the preliminary 2027 budget with a proposed tax levy increase of 6.52%. The agenda also includes a deer hunting task force report and communications task force update.

• Discuss removing prohibition on cooking in B&B guest rooms; current ordinance § 153.108 prohibits cooking, and a recently approved B&B has a kitchen.
• Consider land use options for agricultural land, including agri-tourism uses like farm kitchens and wineries.
• Review preliminary 2027 budget: total tax levy $3,105,674, up $190,226 (6.52%) from 2026; total budget $3,594,619, up 5.24%.
• Proposed monthly sewer fee increase from $65 to $70 per sewer unit in 2027.
• Fire and ambulance service costs rise 15.5% to $431,687; police services rise 5.2% to $302,235.

Meeting

The Communications Task Force Committee is meeting to review the St. Croix Riverway Boundary Map as it relates to a possible new cell tower location and to discuss the path forward on cell connectivity. The agenda also includes a recap of previous information, including a July 27 meeting with an AT&T RF engineer who acknowledged coverage gaps in Afton and discussed the potential for a tower serving both Afton and St. Croix Beach.

• Review St. Croix Riverway Boundary Map for possible new cell tower location
• Discuss path forward on cell connectivity
• Recap previous information from July 27 meeting with AT&T RF engineer
• Potential tower height up to 150 feet, or stealth antenna up to 200 feet
• Typical minimum monthly rent to landlord is $1,500 per month

City Council

The City Council will discuss a proposed joint study of Manning Avenue by Washington County and MnDOT. Mayor Palmquist and City Administrator Moorse met with county commissioners to discuss the pros and cons of conducting the study now. No formal action is required at this meeting.

• Discussion of Manning Avenue corridor study with Washington County and MnDOT
• Meeting with County Commissioners Bethany Cox and Karla Bigham
• Pros and cons of conducting the study at this time

Meeting

The Heritage Preservation Commission will conduct a conceptual design review for a proposed addition to the south side of the house at 15945 35th Street. The architect is seeking initial feedback on the design's appropriateness for the village historic district. No formal decision is expected at this stage.

• Conceptual design review for addition at 15945 35th Street
• Proposed addition to south side of existing house
• Architect Tom Vermeland seeking HPC comments
• Concern about quorum due to commissioner recusal
• Initial Concept Review rather than Formal Design Review

Meeting

The Heritage Preservation Commission will meet to discuss old business items including the Snake Mound Project, Valley Creek Tour Project (including a tour research grant and Township Hall nomination), and the 45th Street Park/Farmhouse Project. The agenda includes approval of revised minutes from May and regular minutes from July, and reports on a Town Hall Yard Sale, AABA meeting, and FORUM National Preservation Conference.

• Snake Mound Project (Kate)
• Valley Creek Tour Project — Tour Research Grant (Kate)
• Township Hall Nomination
• 45th Street Park/Farmhouse Project (Tom)
• Revised Minutes of the May 13, 2026 Meeting

Parks Committee

The Afton Parks Committee will discuss the Remus Park natural vegetation restoration grant, which the City Council accepted, including annual maintenance costs of $3,400 to $5,500. They will also review a draft parks mission/strategy statement, a park bench donation policy, and a presentation on forming a Friends of Afton/Parks 501(c)(3). The Herreid Park draft remains on hold pending historical building information.

• Remus Park vegetation restoration grant accepted by City Council; maintenance cost $3,400-$5,500/year
• Park Dedication Fund balance $394,271 as of June 30, 2026
• Herreid Park draft on hold awaiting historical building information
• Park bench donation policy update from Angela
• Friends of Afton/Parks 501(c)(3) presentation by Angela and Todd

City Council

The Natural Resources and Groundwater Committee (NRGC) meets to discuss ongoing environmental projects, including creek stabilization, invasive species control, and regional trail updates. Members also review well testing results and management updates from partnering conservation organizations.

• Kelle’s Creek Bank Stabilization and Floodplain Forest Restoration in Steamboat and Carver Parks
• Well Testing for Nitrates and Coliform Bacteria in 2026
• Land Rehabilitation Project on City Property West of City Hall and City Entryway
• Afton Policy on Clear Cutting of Vegetation
• Deer Hunt in Afton

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings regarding several minor subdivision and variance applications. The body will also consider three ordinance amendments concerning sports training centers, accessory building sizes, and aircraft operations.

• Variance and minor subdivision application for 3403 Pennington Avenue South
• Minor subdivision application for 2005 Oakgreen Avenue South
• Minor subdivision application for property north of 2005 Oakgreen Avenue South (PID# 09.028.20.33.0001)
• Variance application for front yard setback at 14265 50th Street South
• Ordinance amendments regarding sports training centers, accessory building size, and aircraft take-offs/landings

Meeting

The Communications Task Force will meet with AT&T Cellular, discuss contacting other cellular providers and Starlink, and review city objectives for improving connectivity in Afton.

• Meet with AT&T Cellular
• Discuss contacting other cellular providers
• Discuss contacting Starlink
• Review city objectives for communications
• Approval of minutes from July 13, 2026 meeting

Meeting

The Communications Task Force will discuss meeting with AT&T, contacting other cellular providers, and possibly contacting Starlink. They will also review city objectives. No votes or decisions are scheduled; all items are for discussion only.

• Meet with AT&T Cellular
• Contact other cellular providers
• Discuss contacting Starlink
• Review City Objectives

City Council

The Afton City Council will discuss the proposed 2027 Fire Department budget, which requires a $57,813 (15.46%) increase in funding from Afton. Other items include a draft trail system plan for a new park, a request for a small playground at Afton Wood Park, a request for an on-street private parking space on 32nd Street, and the formation of a deer hunting/population management task force.

• 2027 Fire Department budget: $57,813 increase for Afton (15.46%)
• Draft Trail System Plan for new park at East End of 45th Street
• Afton Wood Neighborhood request for small playground at Afton Wood Park
• Request for on-street private parking space on 32nd Street
• Deer hunting/deer population management task force

City Council

The Afton City Council will review the June 2026 financial reports. The agenda includes the Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Fund Balances, and the Revenue and Expenditures report for the General Fund. No prominent transactions were noted for the month.

• Balance Sheet for June 30, 2026 showing fund assets and liabilities
• Statement of Changes in Fund Balances YTD June 30, 2026
• Revenue and Expenditures summary for the General Fund
• No significant transactions reported for June

City Council

The Afton City Council will review a Conditional Use Permit for a Bed and Breakfast at 13885 44" Street South (Resolution 2026-34). It will also continue discussion of a variance and minor subdivision for 3403 Pennington Avenue South, and consider draft ordinance amendments on accessory building size and aircraft take‑offs/landings. Additional items include engineering updates, a final plat for Afton Farms/Longview Farms, a tree donation for Town Square Park, and renewal of a retirement compensation plan.

• Conditional Use Permit for Bed and Breakfast at 13885 44" Street South – Resolution 2026-34
• Variance and Minor Subdivision Application for 3403 Pennington Avenue South (continuation to Aug 18)
• Draft Ordinance Amendment on Accessory Building Size
• Draft Ordinance Amendment on Aircraft Take‑Offs and Landings
• Afton Farms/Longview Farms Final Plat – Resolution 2026-35

City Council

The City Council is asked to vote on whether to accept a grant from the Washington Conservation District for the Remus Park Vegetation Restoration Project, which would convert Brome grass to native vegetation. The grant requires a city match of $3,400 to $5,500 per year for maintenance. The packet also includes public comments requesting a lower speed limit on Valley Creek Trail.

• Motion on grant for Remus Park vegetation restoration project with annual maintenance cost of $3,400–$5,500
• Public comments submitted requesting lowering speed limit on Valley Creek Trail to 35 mph due to safety concerns

Meeting

The Communications Task Force met to discuss Comcast's Mn BEAD funding and Afton's build-out plan, a Washington County monopine tower, and potential future fiber-to-the-home providers.

• Comcast meeting to discuss Mn BEAD funding and build-out plan
• Washington County monopine tower height incompatibility with cellular build-out
• Verizon, ATT, and T-mobile contacted by Washington County regarding tower
• Discussion on bringing in two fiber to the home providers for next meeting
• Meghan Shea from Comcast to act as liaison

Parks Committee

The Parks Committee will review a proposal to create a separate 501(c)(3) public charity that would solicit private donations for the city’s parks department. The memorandum outlines the legal structure, required IRS classifications, and potential concerns such as organizational independence, conflicts of interest, and compliance with disqualified‑person rules. The committee will consider whether to proceed with forming the supporting organization and how to address the identified issues.

• Proposal to form a 501(c)(3) supporting organization for the parks department
• Discussion of IRS classification under Section 509(a)(3) Type I relationship
• Review of potential conflicts of interest for city‑appointed board members
• Consideration of compliance with disqualified‑person rules (Section 4946)
• Evaluation of governance structure and oversight requirements

Meeting

The Heritage Preservation/Design Review Commission will hear updates on the Township Hall Project, including its federal nomination, grant status, and clean‑out progress. The commission will also receive a status update on the MNHS Legacy Grant application and an update on the HPC Scavenger Hunt planned for Strawberry Fest.

• Township Hall Project – federal nomination update
• Township Hall Project – grant status update
• Township Hall Project – clean‑out of the Town Hall update
• MNHS Legacy Grant Application – update
• HPC Scavenger Hunt at Strawberry Fest – update

Meeting

The Internet Connectivity Task Force will hold its regular meeting, approve the agenda and minutes, recap the previous meeting, and hold a discussion with a Comcast representative about broadband service options. No formal decisions or votes are listed on the agenda.

• Recap of the June 15, 2026 meeting
• Discussion with Comcast representative

Planning Commission

The commission will hold public hearings on two Conditional Use Permit applications: one for a bed‑and‑breakfast at 13885 44" St S and another for an arts and crafts studio and retail business at 3343 St. Croix Trail South. It will also consider a variance and minor subdivision request to split the property at 3403 Pennington Avenue South into one additional lot. New business includes draft ordinance amendments to increase the maximum size of storage sheds to 300 sq ft and to address take‑offs and landings of aircraft in the city.

• Conditional Use Permit for a bed‑and‑breakfast at 13885 44" St S (Rural Residential district)
• Public hearing for Conditional Use Permit for an arts & crafts studio and retail business at 3343 St. Croix Trail South
• Variance and Minor Subdivision application to subdivide 3403 Pennington Avenue South into one additional lot
• Draft ordinance amendment to allow storage sheds up to 300 sq ft and remove door‑size cap
• Draft ordinance amendment to address aircraft take‑offs and landings in Afton

Meeting

The Afton Planning Commission held public hearings and recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a bed and breakfast at 13885 44th St S, and a variance and minor subdivision at 3403 Pennington Ave S. They also discussed draft ordinance amendments regarding accessory buildings and aircraft take-offs/landings, providing feedback on the former. The meeting was procedural with no public comments on the hearings.

• Recommended approval of CUP for bed and breakfast at 13885 44th St S, with condition that cooking cannot occur in guest suite
• Recommended approval of minor subdivision at 3403 Pennington Ave S to split 2.1-acre lot into two 1.04-acre parcels
• Recommended approval of variance from slope and setback requirements for new home on Parcel B at 3403 Pennington Ave S
• Provided feedback to Council to increase accessory building size limit to 320 sq ft and roof height to 15 ft
• Discussed draft ordinance to prohibit take-offs/landings of crewed powered aircraft, except emergencies

Meeting

The Afton City Council adopted Ordinance 01-2026, restricting deer hunting firearms to shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns, after a public hearing where residents expressed safety concerns about rifles. The Council also approved a conditional use permit for a candle-making arts studio at 3343 St. Croix Trail S, approved an additional $26,956 for the 2026 micro surface project on 50th Street and Pennington Ave, and referred draft ordinance amendments on accessory buildings and aircraft take-offs to the Planning Commission.

• Adopted Ordinance 01-2026 limiting deer hunting firearms to shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns (5-0 vote)
• Approved conditional use permit (Resolution 2026-31) for arts and crafts studio and retail business at 3343 St. Croix Trail S
• Approved $26,956 additional cost for 2026 micro surface project on 50th Street and Pennington Ave South, total $276,407
• Referred draft ordinance amendments on accessory building sizes and aircraft/drone take-offs to Planning Commission for public hearing
• Directed staff to seek funding opportunities for the Putnam pedestrian bridge, which remains closed

City Council

The City Council is meeting to discuss potential changes to the use of rifles for deer hunting. A resident has submitted a request for the city to maintain current regulations for safety reasons.

• Discussion of potential changes to rifle use for deer hunting

City Council

The City Council will hear Fire Chief Rob Corey and District Accountant Nicole Runge present the proposed 2027 Lower St. Croix Valley Fire District budget. The proposal calls for a $130,000 (14.54%) increase in the overall fire district levy and a $57,813 (15.46%) increase in Afton’s share. Council members will discuss the budget items and consider ways to reduce the projected increase. Fire Board members will attend, with Kevin Johnson joining remotely.

• Overall fire district levy increase of $130,000 (14.54%) for 2027.
• Afton’s allocated levy increase of $57,813 (15.46%).
• Major cost additions: expanded ambulance duty pay (+$55,000), crew compensation (+$47,000), audit & accounting fees (+$8,000), insurance (+$10,000), equipment/uniforms (+$12,000), ambulance replacement contribution (+$13,000), ambulance training (+$4,000), dues & subscriptions (+$5,000), ambulance provision aligned with higher billings (+$28,000).
• Reductions offsetting costs: removal of full‑time chief extra compensation (-$51,000), cleaning staff reduction (-$4,000), ambulance vehicle & equipment maintenance reduction (-$3,000).
• A $67,500 reduction would be needed to keep the increase within a 5% limit.

Meeting

The Public Works Committee is meeting to discuss speed limits and infrastructure concerns. The body will review trail erosion, pavement cracking, and the Putnam Bridge.

• Speed limits on Valley Creek Trail, 42nd Street, and Oakridge Trail South
• Valley Creek Trail shoulder erosion and warranty items
• Cracking at the north end of Afton Creek Preserve approaching Odell
• Putnam Bridge

Parks Committee

The Afton Parks Committee will review the draft plan for Herreid Park that was postponed from the May meeting. It will also hear the current Park Dedication Fund balance of $391,901 and consider a donation request. Additional items include a continued discussion of the park donation policy, the 2026‑2027 priority parks focus, and a proposal for a modest neighborhood park on the Aftonwood parcel.

• Park Dedication Fund balance reported as $391,901
• Review of the Herreid Park draft (moved from May meeting)
• Continuation of discussion on the park donation policy
• Priority Parks Focus 2026/2027 – tree replanting, trail work, native planting
• Park request from Aftonwood Neighborhood for a low‑impact family park

City Council

The Natural Resources and Groundwater Committee will review updates on several ongoing projects, including the Kelle’s Creek bank stabilization and floodplain forest restoration in Steamboat and Carver Parks, the 2025 Resilient Communities Project, and land rehabilitation west of City Hall. The committee will also receive reports on regional trail plans, well‑testing for nitrates and coliform bacteria, and upcoming natural‑resources outreach activities. No formal approvals are scheduled; the meeting is for information sharing and planning.

• Kelle’s Creek Bank Stabilization and Floodplain Forest Restoration in Steamboat and Carver Parks – project update
• 2025 Resilient Communities Project – presentation update
• Land Rehabilitation Project on city property west of City Hall and City Entryway – volunteer planting events
• Regional Trails planning: Battle Creek to St. Croix River and Stillwater to Afton
• Well testing for nitrates and coliform bacteria in 2026 – sample kits ready, collection dates scheduled

Meeting

The commission held a public hearing and voted to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit for an arts & crafts studio and retail business at 3343 St. Croix Trail South. The commission also reviewed a draft ordinance amendment to increase the maximum size of storage sheds from 160 to 300 square feet and remove the door‑size cap, and agreed to forward the draft to the Planning Commission for feedback. Staff presented a draft amendment concerning aircraft take‑offs and landings, noting concerns and a recommendation to prohibit them, but no action was taken.

• Conditional Use Permit approved for arts & crafts studio at 3343 St. Croix Trail South
• Draft ordinance amendment to allow storage sheds up to 300 sq ft and eliminate door size cap
• Draft ordinance amendment on aircraft take‑offs and landings with staff recommendation to prohibit

Planning Commission

The Afton Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a Conditional Use Permit to convert the former Barber Shop at 3343 St. Croix Trail into an arts and crafts studio and retail business. The commission will also consider draft ordinance amendment language on accessory building size limits for lots under 5 acres and draft amendment language on aircraft take‑offs and landings in Afton. An update on City Council actions from the May 19, 2026 meeting will be presented.

• Conditional Use Permit application for 3343 St. Croix Trail – arts and crafts studio and retail use
• Draft ordinance amendment on accessory building sizes for lots less than 5 acres
• Draft ordinance amendment on take‑offs and landings of aircraft in Afton
• Update on City Council actions from the May 19, 2026 Council meeting
• No remote Zoom participation; meeting livestream available via Vimeo link

Meeting

The Afton City Council adopted Resolution 2026-28 to approve a preliminary plat for four lots on a 94‑acre parcel at the east end of 10th Street, and Resolution 2026-29 to approve a conditional use permit for shared driveways on the same parcel. The council also approved a draft amendment increasing allowed shed size to 300 sq ft. It awarded the 2026 micro surface road project to Fahrner for $249,000 and extended the solid‑waste contract with Highland Sanitation for one year, now ending June 30, 2027. Finally, the council revised the Minnesota Paid Leave Policy premium contributions to .44% for employees and .22% for the city.

• Approval of preliminary plat for 4 lots on 94 acres at east end of 10th Street (Resolution 2026-28)
• Approval of conditional use permit for shared driveways on the same 94‑acre parcel (Resolution 2026-29)
• Award of 2026 micro surface project to Fahrner for $249,000
• One‑year extension of solid‑waste contract with Highland Sanitation, now expiring June 30, 2027
• Revision of MN Paid Leave Policy premium contributions to .44% employee, .22% city

City Council

The Afton City Council will meet to approve routine claims and transfers, discuss a proposed rezoning for a 94-acre property, and consider a contract extension for waste services. The meeting will also include reports on public safety and infrastructure.

• Preliminary Plat of 4 Lots and Conditional Use Permit for Shared Driveways on 94 Acres at East End of 10th Street
• One-Year Extension of Contract with Highland Sanitation for Solid Waste and Recycling Services
• Draft Amendment to Firearms Discharge Ordinance
• 2026 Crack Fill and Micro Surface Road Maintenance Projects
• Public Input on any issue of city responsibility