Rochester 2034
Introduction
Rochester 2034 is a 15-year comprehensive plan to improve our community leading up to our 200th birthday. The Plan covers a wide variety of topics, from housing and transportation to economic growth and historic preservation. Each topic includes Goals and Strategies that are aligned with an overarching community Vision and set of Guiding Principles. Overall, the Plan presents a blueprint for growth and development, with several main themes carried throughout:
- Positioning Rochester for Growth
- Connecting Land-Use and Transportation
- Placemaking
- Social and Economic Equity
Rochester 2034 was officially adopted by City Council in November 2019. As you review departmental sections of the 2023-24 budget, you will see Strategic Initiatives that are aligned with Rochester 2034 Initiatives and Goals. Departments are asked to identify how each of their Strategic Initiatives aligns with both Rochester 2034 and with Mayor Evans' Priorities.
For more information on the Rochester 2034 Comprehensive Plan, including a report on the progress of implementing the Plan, please visit the project website.
Rochester 2034 Initiatives and Goals
The Placemaking Plan (PMP)
PMP-1 Create a comprehensive placemaking approach that goes beyond traditional land use planning, with a particular emphasis on aligning land use and transportation planning efforts.
PMP-2 Foster growth in the City’s population and business community in order to restore the critical mass needed to support local businesses, deconcentrate poverty, grow the tax base, and address housing affordability.
PMP-3 Employ a “zoning for jobs” approach whereby greater flexibility and efficiency of land use regulations fosters emerging business trends and creative re-use of buildings while not compromising the historic character and stability of neighborhoods.
PMP-4 Protect the existing character of neighborhoods while allowing room for evolution into more vibrantly urban, inclusive, and resilient design and character.
PMP-5 Continue to elevate the importance of the pedestrian and bicyclist experience through infrastructure, policies, traffic safety enforcement, and education.
PMP-6 Improve public parks, open spaces, public facilities, and waterfront access.
PMP-7 Support capacity building and creative programs, both organic and formal, that enable more localized participation in placemaking.
Housing (HSG)
HSG-1 Implement existing housing plans, initiatives, and policies.
HSG-2 Improve understanding and monitoring of local housing and community development issues, needs, opportunities, and impacts.
HSG-3 Improve collaborative planning and coordination to promote more holistic housing policy and community development.
HSG-4 Pursue new housing development that grows the city’s population and fosters the creation of vibrant, equitable neighborhoods.
HSG-5 Pursue additional housing strategies that support innovative and equitable housing and community development.
HSG-6 Develop and implement middle neighborhoods strategies that expand homeownership and build community wealth.
Vacant Lands (VNT)
VNT-1 Strategically position vacant sites for redevelopment.
VNT-2 Turn vacant lots in areas of low housing market demand into vibrant community spaces.
VNT-3 Facilitate Community Gardening on vacant lots.
VNT-4 Create the City Hall administrative infrastructure to allow creative and flexible options for repurposing vacant lots.
Arts & Culture (AC)
AC-1 Support, grow, and sustain the creative economy.
AC-2 Support Rochester’s local arts and cultural organizations through community collaboration and joint fundraising.
AC-3 Increase access to public art and cultural resources in an equitable and culturally sensitive way.
Historic Preservation (HIS)
HIS-1 Promote and preserve Rochester’s rich history through preservation of its historic and cultural resources.
HIS-2 Promote the benefits of the NYS tax credit programs for rehabilitation of homes and businesses in historic districts.
HIS-3 Reduce barriers to rehabilitating buildings in Preservation Districts and foster enthusiasm for owning homes in these areas of the city.
HIS-4 Use local regulations and programs to supplement the State and federal government’s protection of historic resources.
Schools & Community Centers (SCC)
SCC-1 Improve conditions for students to ensure a healthy and nurturing environment for learning that is targeted at key success indicators.
SCC-2 Nurture a culture of positivity around public school options and benefits in order to encourage current residents and students and to help rebuild the city's population.
SCC-3 Reposition public facilities to serve as, or support, multi-purpose community centers.
SCC-4 Provide educational facilities and programs of the highest quality, enriching the student experience through stronger connections to their community, the arts, and the natural environment.
Public Health & Safety (PHS)
PHS-1 Continue building connections and partnerships with the community to enhance public safety efforts and impacts.
PHS-2 Incorporate preventative public safety and active design principles into the built environment through development projects and infrastructure.
PHS-3 Increase the capabilities of the RPD and RFD through collaboration, data analysis, technology, and new or improved resources.
PHS-4 Maintain and seek out accreditations and standards for the RFD that allow it to best do its job, and benefit the whole community.
PHS-5 Improve understanding of community health conditions, needs, service provision and access in the city, and use to improve access and overall community health.
PHS-6 Increase access to healthy foods and decrease the proliferation of establishments that only offer unhealthy, highly-processed, low-nutrient food.
Community Beautification (BFN)
BFN-1 Continue and expand community beautification efforts.
BFN-2 Continue and expand existing efforts to decrease the accumulation of litter in the community.
Natural Resources (NR)
NR-1 Invest in infrastructure, policy, and advocacy efforts that protect and enhance Rochester’s water resources.
NR-2 Provide ongoing upgrades and modernization of water distribution, storage, and treatment systems and facilities.
NR-3 Protect and expand Rochester’s urban forest.
NR-4 Promote and protect Rochester’s natural resources as assets for attracting residents, businesses, and tourists.
NR-5 Protect natural resources and promote long-term sustainability through increased environmental awareness and education.
Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PR)
PR-1 Reclaim the Genesee River and the City parks and recreation system as foundational assets that help achieve cross-cutting community goals.
PR-2 Enhance parks and recreation planning capacity.
PR-3 Ensure high quality maintenance, operations, and safety of parks and trails.
PR-4 Increase community awareness, pride, and engagement with our parks and recreation system.
PR-5 Extend the reach of our parks and recreation system through innovative programming and strategic infrastructure investments.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CC)
CC-1 Mitigate and adapt to climate change through coordinated planning, plan implementation, and performance monitoring.
CC-2 Use City authority, facilities, policies, operations, and investment to help achieve climate action planning goals.
CC-3 Work with property owners and community development partners to improve building energy performance and sustainability.
CC-4 Develop broad outreach campaigns and community programs that educate people and support them living more sustainable lives.
Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens (UAG)
UAG-1 Support urban agriculture as a valid reuse option for vacant land and vacant buildings.
UAG-2 Facilitate community gardening on City-owned vacant lots.
UAG-3 Explore innovative urban agriculture initiatives.
Transportation (TRN)
TRN-1 Expand and strengthen Rochester’s multi-modal planning, policy, programming, and infrastructure maintenance.
TRN-2 Improve quality, connectivity, accessibility, and safety in order to achieve a fully accessible network for pedestrians of all ages and people with disabilities.
TRN-3 Develop a “minimum grid” dedicated bicycle network and work to increase bicycle mode share.
TRN-4 Implement a high-frequency transit network and work to grow its impact and reach.
TRN-5 Achieve safe, multimodal streets and eliminate traffic injuries and deaths through strategic traffic calming, community outreach and education, and enforcement.
TRN-6 Develop transportation demand management (TDM) and transportation access policies and initiatives that help encourage people to reduce drive-alone trips, particularly for workers and large employers.
Economic Growth (ECN)
ECN-1 Attract businesses to Downtown Rochester.
ECN-2 Support existing and help/incentivize new neighborhood businesses.
ECN-3 Support entrepreneurship as the foundation of business development.
ECN-4 Continue to support and attract job-generating economic development.
ECN-5 Improve opportunities for historically disadvantaged businesses through business development programming and by providing access to contracting opportunities with the City of Rochester.
ECN-6 Establish a culture of collaboration among Anchor Institutions and other regional partners in order to better drive positive economic change locall
ECN-7 Focus on market research, data, and analysis to drive economic development decisions and programming.
Workforce Development (WRK)
WRK-1 Help build the capacity of workforce development programs and encourage collaboration to better serve program participants.
WRK-2 Work with partner organizations to build connections between workforce programs and employers to help bridge the gap between training and employment.
WRK-3 Focus workforce development efforts on vulnerable populations.
WRK-4 Provide support for individuals starting their own businesses.
Tourism (TOU)
TOU-1 Expand opportunities to attract new visitors to the city.
TOU-2 Enhance the visitor experience.
TOU-3 Increase tourism dollars spent within the city.
City and Neighborhood Promotion (CNP)
CNP-1 Support neighborhood efforts around branding and promotion.
CNP-2 Continue to promote the City of Rochester as a premier place to live, work, and visit.
CNP-3 Work with the Rochester City School District to promote innovative school programming and successes.
Smart City Innovations (SC)
SC-1 Implement the Dig-Once/Right-of-way Management Program.
SC-2 Increase access to high-speed internet and cellular technologies.
SC-3 Improve Transportation Systems using Smart Technologies.
SC-4 Improve municipal technology to better serve the city, residents, stakeholders, and others.
Implementation and Stewardship of Rochester 2034 (IMP)
IMP-1 Implement Rochester 2034 through City Code and procedures.
IMP-2 Use Rochester 2034 to inform City budgets and programming.
IMP-3 Implement Rochester 2034 through collaboration and organization.
Building Community Capacity (BCC)
BCC-1 Build the capacity of community organizations and associations.
BCC-2 Continuously improve City Hall public outreach and communication of City services.
BCC-3 Improve City Hall systems to make them more inclusive and accessible.
BCC-4 Increase resident engagement in City decision-making processes.
BCC-5 Increase youth engagement and empowerment.