This page describes UMNA's efforts to enhance the future of Cobbs Hill Park including extending historic landmark site status in the Park and the potential of developing a Cobbs Hill Park master plan.
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The coalition prepared an application information package in support of extending Landmark Site Status was delivered to the City Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The public hearing before the City Planning Commission has been scheduled for Monday, June 23, 2025. A copy of the application, hearing agenda and a list of instructions on how to comment on this application are all listed below.
Submit written comments by email, mail, or deliver them to City Hall.
Mail: Zoning Office c/o Planning Commission, 30 Church St. Rm. 125B, Rochester, NY 14614
Written comment submission deadline: close-of-business, the business day before the hearing by 5:00 P.M.
Written comments must include the project address and the commentor's, first name, last name, address, and contact information.
Speak at the public hearing.
Location: City Hall, City Council Chamber, 30 Church St. Rm. 302-A, Rochester, NY 14614.
Comments may not exceed 3 minutes in length or 10 minutes for neighborhood associations.
On May 7, 2025 the Rochester Preservation Board (RPB) approved the application to extend Landmark Site status to those portions of Cobbs Hill Park that are not currently covered with a unanimous vote.
The City Planning Commission will hear public comments and review the application at it's meeting on June 23, 2025.
The Landmark designation standards that the City Planning Commission will consider are as follows:
The proposed designation will be in harmony with the City's Comprehensive Plan and overall planning program of the City.
The proposed designation will not adversely impact the growth and development of the City.
The proposed designation will not adversely impact any scheduled public improvement or renewal project.
On March 5, 2025 the Rochester Preservation Board (RPB) held a public hearing on the application to extend Landmark Site status to those portions of Cobbs Hill Park that are not currently covered. (Application and staff report are below.)
At the public hearing the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association, the ABC Streets Neighborhood Association, the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee, the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance, the Cobbs Hill Historic District Committee, the Park Meigs Neighborhood Association, the Landmark Society of Western New York all spoke in favor of the application. Each speaker addressed a different element of the application. One individual resident of Rochester spoke in opposition to the application. A city employee charged with overseeing the management of Cobbs Hill Park also spoke at the hearing.
RPB members asked questions. One or another of the co-applicants rose to respond to those questions. Staff for the RPB offered guidance on various elements of the exchange.
Following the public hearing the RPB deliberated in open session but without participation with the public. The RPB took two votes following their deliberations.
In the first instance the board voted unanimously to sponsor the application in accordance with zoning code section 120-193A(4)(a)[2]. This approval allows the applicant to make the landmark designation proposal, despite the applicant not being the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Preservation Board, or the property owner. Although this was more of a technical matter the board could have quashed the application with that vote.
In the second instance, the Board voted to "hold" the landmark designation for further review. They requested a set of relevant characteristics that would more specifically define what was to be protected so future Rochester Preservation Board members would have a clearer guidance.
UMNA adopted a goal a to pursue ideas supporting Cobbs Hill Park in the 2024 UMNA Work Plan
Email:
Incidental exchanges around these topics led representatives of the, the Nunda Boulevard Neighborhood Association, and the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association to gather informally at to chat about Cobbs Hill Park and share ideas about how to help support the Park. Some of those present happened to also be active in the. Megan Klem from the was engaged as a resource but did not participate in the initial informal conversations. Later, some of these neighbors and a relevant array of City representatives shared ideas and perspectives. From the outset it was clear, broad public engagement around any ideas affecting the Park would be essential and warmly welcomed.
