Wheatland business owner, council debate parking on Sixteenth Street after restaurant opens

Oliver Ashenhurst, who recently opened a restaurant on Sixteenth Street in Wheatland, asked the Wheatland City Council on an evening meeting why parking is restricted immediately in front of his business and whether the town could allow customers to park there.

Ashenhurst said the location has generated complaints about customers parking, employees parking across the street and occasional overnight parking. “I would like to know the reasons why parking is not acceptable, on Sixteenth, southbound in that location specifically,” he said, adding: “The safety of people getting out of vehicles right there is—I've seen it probably 2 or 3 times now. People open the door right into traffic.”

Council members and staff described competing obligations: safety and traffic engineering versus supporting a local business. A council member told the meeting that the district 2 traffic engineer, Brooke Allen of the Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT), advised that although the state owns the roadway, parking inside Wheatland city limits should meet local criteria such as curb and gutter, street lighting and crosswalks before the town allow parking in that spot.

Council members said those criteria aim to preserve at least 10 feet of clear travel width on the roadway, citing a state statute that bars parking that leaves less than 10 feet of the roadway for moving traffic. The council discussed how parking at that site—on a slope and near a hill—could create a safety hazard when passengers step directly into the travel lane.

Speakers and council members proposed several potential responses: (1) pursue immediate, low-cost mitigation and enforcement strategies; (2) seek engineering or traffic guidance from YDOT and the district traffic engineer; (3) ask the restaurant operator to use and signpost on-site or rear-alley parking where available; (4) solicit property-owner arrangements for overflow parking on nearby lots; and (5) gather quotes for any work needed to meet the town’s parking criteria.

Ashenhurst said his Friday night dinners can serve up to about 55 customers and that the business currently has roughly 20 parking spaces at the front. He and others discussed available overflow behind the building accessed by an alley and the possibility of arranging use of adjacent private lots.

Several residents spoke in favor of finding a solution that supports local businesses. Holly Allison, a Wheatland resident and commercial tenant on Sixteenth Street, said the community should try to be “business friendly” and urged the council to pursue practical options. Council members responded that they are sympathetic to the business but must reduce town liability and ensure any street parking meets safety and engineering standards.

The council said staff would continue conversations with Ashenhurst, with YDOT and with other property owners to assemble options and bring back recommended next steps, including at least three contractor quotes where work is required. The town also discussed an upcoming meeting between town staff, YDOT representatives and the restaurant owner to explore solutions.

No change to parking signage or a formal ordinance was adopted during the meeting.