Rural Land Use & Housing Options

Pole-building and commercial standards

At a May 2023 EDA meeting, Suzanne supported the idea of identifying areas where pole-style commercial buildings could be allowed rather than applying one architectural approach everywhere. She agreed that those buildings could have their own architectural standards and supported drawing geographic boundaries for where the use would fit.

Barndominiums and rural housing

During the February 2025 Council discussion of barndominiums, Suzanne asked whether the structure would be the primary residence, suggested looking at eligibility for properties below the initially discussed 2.5–3 acre range, and said she did not object to steel siding if the finished building looked like a residence rather than a pole barn. She also asked to receive proposed standards early enough for Council review before the public hearing.

Existing businesses and individual circumstances

In the 2024 B-Rock matter, Suzanne emphasized the history of the existing business, its State inspection requirements, and the specific circumstances of the property rather than treating one variance request as a rule for every future case.

Manufactured housing and accessibility

When Council reviewed a manufactured-home-park expansion concept in January 2026, Suzanne asked about the required recreation/open-space percentage, whether standards could accommodate double-wide homes, whether park dedication applied, and how ADA ramps would work within setback requirements.

Earlier property-use questions

Her first Council term also contains smaller examples of the same attention to property rules. In March 2019, during an administrative lot split, she asked why the owner wanted the split; staff explained that a compliant owner did not have to justify that choice to the City.