Rochester City Council to Engage Public on New Zoning Plan

Rochester City Council will conduct an extensive public engagement review process this fall as it formally reviews the Evans Administration’s proposed Zoning Alignment Project (ZAP). ZAP will overhaul the City of Rochester’s zoning code. City Council’s public review of the legislation will include district-specific community-based meetings with neighbors, official public hearings with the Evans Administration, additional hearings seeking input from residents as required by law and an open-to-the-public work session with a land-use consultant.

“The City of Rochester’s Zoning Alignment Project has been in the works for five years, and now it’s time for us to engage our citizens as the ball moves to City Council’s court,” said City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr. “Zoning overhauls like this only happen about once every 20 years, so it is crucial that we collectively get this right. That means conducting an extensive review of the new zoning code with our citizens, reaching out directly to neighbors in key areas, conducting public hearings with the Evans Administration and engaging citizens as widely as possible. The Zoning Alignment Project will be a lasting piece of this Council’s legacy, and I am excited to work with our residents and my Council colleagues to make our zoning code reflective of the ways folks actually live in Rochester.”

Each of the Rochester City Council District representatives – Vice President LaShay D. Harris (South), Michael A. Patterson (Northeast), Mary Lupien (East) and Bridget A. Monroe (Northwest) – will host an initial public, district meeting in the coming weeks regarding the ZAP legislation currently before City Council.

These meetings will be held in each respective Councilmember’s district, and will offer residents an opportunity to voice their opinion on ZAP. Additional meetings will be scheduled,as well. No registration is required to attend any of these hearings regardless of where you live. Specific dates and times for the initial District Meetings are as follows:

• Northwest – Mon, Sept 28 from 6-8PM at the Edgerton R-Center (41 Backus St)

• Northeast – Tues, Sept 29 from 5:30-7:30PM at the Public Market (280 N Union St)

• South – Mon, Oct 5 from 6-8PM at New Life Fellowship (330 Wellington Ave)

• East – Tues, Oct 13 from 5:30-7:30PM at the Ryan R-Center (530 Webster Ave)

Following these initial District Meetings, City Council will host official public hearings with the Evans Administration on Oct 21 and 22 from 5-8PM in City Council Chambers. These hearings will be open to attendance by the public and available on the City Council YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend in person.

City residents who are unable to make any of the many public meetings can fill out this Public Input Survey, email Council@CityofRochester.Gov, fax (585) 428-6347 or attend City Council’s regular Speak to Council and Public Hearing session on Nov 12 at 6PM. The work session will be held on Oct. 8 in City Hall Room 208A.

For more information on the City Council ZAP process, City residents can call the City Council office at (585) 428-7538 or email Council@CityofRochester.Gov.