The Viroqua Public Record: April 23, 2026
Viroqua's Housing Board talks short-term rentals, tiny homes, and ADUs on April 23 - your input matters!
Your plain-English guide to what's happening at City Hall
The Big Takeaway
Viroqua's Housing Advisory Board is meeting Thursday, April 23 to dig into three housing topics that could reshape what gets built — and rented — in town: short-term rentals (think Airbnb-type properties), accessory dwelling units (ADUs — small secondary homes on existing lots, like a cottage behind your house), and tiny homes. If you've had opinions about vacation rentals changing the feel of your neighborhood, or you've wished you could build a small unit for an aging parent or adult kid, this is the meeting where those rules are being shaped. All three items are still in the discussion and brainstorming phase, which means public input right now carries real weight.[1]
Money Watch
No specific dollar figures or budget items are on this agenda. That said, the policies being discussed — particularly around ADUs and tiny homes — could have a meaningful impact on housing costs and property values over time. More housing options generally mean more supply, which can help keep rents and home prices from climbing as fast. Worth watching even if there's no price tag attached yet.[1]
Coming Up
Housing Advisory Board
Meeting at Viroqua City Hall, Lower Level (124 W Decker Street). Can't make it in person? Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 860 6285 3933). There are two public comment periods — one near the start and one before adjournment — so you'll have a chance to speak up.
The board will be brainstorming how to communicate and roll out the short-term rental and ADU ordinances. If you're a property owner wondering how new rules might affect you, this is the time to ask questions.
Tiny home ordinance discussion is on the agenda with "next steps" language, suggesting the board is moving from concept toward something more concrete. No vote expected yet, but the direction could become clearer after this meeting.
A Comprehensive Plan process update is also on tap. The Comprehensive Plan is essentially the city's long-range blueprint for growth, land use, and development — so any housing policy changes will eventually need to fit within that bigger picture.[1]
The Quick Rundown
Short-Term Rental & ADU approval updates: The board will get a status report on where the STR and ADU ordinances stand in the approval pipeline. These have been works-in-progress for a while, and this agenda item should clarify what's been officially approved versus what's still being refined.[1]
Brainstorming session on STR and ADU communication: This is the "how do we actually explain this to people?" conversation — figuring out what property owners, renters, and neighbors need to know, and how to get the word out once rules are finalized.[1]
Tiny home ordinance discussion: Still in early stages. The board is exploring whether and how to allow tiny homes within city limits, which would require figuring out zoning, minimum size standards, and where they'd be permitted.[1]
Comprehensive Plan update: Chair Sonya Newenhouse and the board will hear where the city's broader planning process stands. This is background context for all the housing work — the plan sets the framework that individual ordinances have to fit into.[1]
One More Thing
This seven-member board — chaired by Sonya Newenhouse and including Aaron Parker, Tanya Forkash, Shaynn Davey, Tanja Birke, Chris Rozeske, and Shauna Anderson — is tackling three different flavors of "how should people live in Viroqua?" all at once. Short-term rentals, granny flats, and tiny homes each come with their own passionate fan base and skeptics. It's a lot of housing philosophy for a Thursday evening, and the two public comment windows suggest they're expecting to hear from you.[1]
Sources
The Viroqua Public Record is an independent community summary of public meetings. It is not affiliated with the City of Viroqua.