Rochester Hills adopts 2025 Master Plan focusing on walkability, neighborhood preservation and implementation

Rochester Hills City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt the city’s 2025 Master Land Use Plan, a comprehensive update that staff and consultants said was guided by more than 2,000 public participants and built to inform zoning and capital planning.

Planning consultant Jill Bame and staff described the plan as a blueprint for future land use that does not directly change zoning but provides guidance for zoning updates, capital improvements and ordinance amendments. The plan consolidates future land-use categories, emphasizes pedestrian safety and walkability, preserves open space and proposes new implementation steps including updated design standards, gateways and a street-scape master plan. "The master plan is our blueprint for the city's future," a staff presenter said.

Council discussion focused on next steps for implementation—updating ordinances, issuing design‑standards requests for proposals, and aligning zoning with the plan’s recommendations. Councilmembers praised the planning department and consultants for extensive outreach and accepted staff’s recommendation to adopt the plan.

The resolution adopts the online and PDF materials that make up the plan and directs staff to begin implementing action items and ordinance changes as outlined in the document.