The Rochester Master Plan will be directly informed and created by the input we receive from town residents of all ages, business owners, local officials, community groups! The project team listens to everyone’s ideas, identifies areas of consensus, and provides a road map to make your community goals real. Your ideas – combined with current information – will directly influence this plan and the future of Rochester.

The final document will show the nine required elements for the master plan. Each of these will be supported by data, images, maps, and most importantly, your input. This document will be an easy to use guide for the town to steer towards the completion of discovered action items, manage growth, and preserve the character of Rochester.

Master Plans have 9 required “Elements.” You can think of these as chapters. They are: Vision, Land Use, Economic Development, Housing, Open Space & Recreation, Natural & Cultural Resources, Services & Facilities, Transportation & Circulation, and Implementation.

According to Massachusetts General Law, a Master Plan has nine required "elements" (or "chapters"). We post drafts of each element here as they are created, and welcome comments on any section.

1. The Statement of Goals and Policies sets out Rochester's vision for the future. It presents community values, goals, and the land use objectives that will meet these goals.
2. The Land Use Element describes Rochester's current and future land use patterns, including proposed locations for various types of activity, such as residences, businesses, and recreation, and the preferred relative intensity of development across the town’s diverse built landscapes.
3. The Housing Element creates a plan to meet the town's housing needs, which are identified using demographic and market information.
4. The Economic Development Element identifies strategies for growing the town's economy by building upon local strengths and bringing new and compatible opportunities to Mattapoisett.
5. The Natural and Cultural Resources Element is an opportunity for Rochester to highlight and take stock of its natural, cultural, and historic resources.
6. The Open Space and Recreation Element describes existing open space and recreational facilities in town and aligns plans for future recreation and open space with project population needs.
7. The Services and Facilities Element identifies existing and anticipated needs for public infrastructure and services.
8. The Circulation and Transportation Element provides an inventory of existing and proposed transportation infrastructure and services across all modes including private cars, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian routes.
9. The Implementation section provides a blueprint and schedule for making the master plan a reality.

The best way to get involved with the Master Plan is to interact with the project team, explore data and past plans, and participate in virtual meetings and online exercises to provide your honest feedback. Please visit the “Stay Connected” section of the Rochester Master Plan website to find links to all our engagement options.

A virtual workshop is a 2- to 4-week period during which the project team will seek information from the public regarding specific topics online through a web page, virtual meetings, and online activities you can complete at your own pace! These online interactions will be posted to the Rochester Master Plan website (here). Dates will be posted as advance as possible to ensure accessibility.

Your input is valuable in creating the Rochester you wish to see. Soon after each meeting whether virtual or in person a synopsis of the events will be posted on the site to keep you updated on the conversations occurring. At anytime you can use the public comment forum to submit thoughts and ideas you may not have been able to share at the time of the meeting.

Please contact Helen Zincavage or a member of the project team to discuss your needs and what accommodations we can provide to ensure your engagement is successful. We do request an advance notice of 5 business days to prepare and gather all necessary tools and staffing.