Rochester, NY City Council Meeting with Mayor Evans- October 201, 2026

Rochester City Council’s first ZAP zoning-code hearing, held October 21, 2026, reviewed the administration’s proposed zoning code and map, beginning with Articles 1–3 and continuing through questions on Articles 4–12. The administration described changes intended to support housing and reuse, including accessory dwelling units, more medium-density residential land, removal of minimum lot sizes, pocket-neighborhood development, and allowing more existing commercial buildings in residential districts to be reused for housing. The proposal would remove off-street parking minimums in mixed-use districts while retaining them in residential districts, and introduce Transportation Access Plans for certain projects. Council also discussed sustainability provisions, public notice, equity, and the treatment of churches, childcare, short-term rentals, and other uses. Rochester’s state Pro Housing Community certification was noted as a condition for access to discretionary state funding.

No contracts, vendor selections, bids, purchase approvals, or spending votes were identified, and no vote on the zoning code was taken. Council leadership said the code would not be voted on in November and anticipated further public hearings in December, with additional review and possible amendments. Council members requested written follow-up on numerous provisions and supporting information. The discussion of Lower Street concerned how zoning might support future redevelopment or marketing of the site, potentially through an RFP, but no procurement action was approved.