Zoning Board of Appeals

Visit the Boards & Commission Application portal to learn more about the application process and view a list of current vacancies across Boards & Commissions.

The 1965 Laws of Minnesota, Chapter 462, authorizes the municipality to administer planning and zoning activities, establish a Zoning Board of Appeals, enact official controls, and provide penalties for violation thereof. Chapters 104 and 105 of the Minnesota Statutes authorize minimum standards and criteria for the management of “Shoreland” and “Floodplain” Areas within the City of Rochester.

The City of Rochester Planning and Zoning Commission will propose and make recommendations on plans and policies to guide the future development of City lands, ensuring a more equitable, healthy, efficient, and attractive place for present and future generations.

• Nicholas Abbott - Commissioner
  • nick.abbott@damascusway.com
• Daniel Bucknell - Vice Chair
  • dannyebucknell@gmail.com
• Allison Matthews - Commissioner
  • aksmatthews@gmail.com
• Bailey Perreault - Chair
  • baileyvanommeren@gmail.com
• Loring Stead - Commissioner
  • stead.loring@gmail.com
• Nicolas Yost - Commissioner
  • nicolas.bc.yost@gmail.com

Meeting Dates (subject to change):  the First and Third Wednesdays of the Month.  The board generally meets once each month on the first Wednesday; if enough applications are submitted, a second meeting will be held on the third Wednesday.

View the Meetings page for more meeting details. 

View meeting agendas, minutes and videos. 

Zoning Administrator: There is hereby established the office of Zoning Administrator. It shall be the duty of the zoning administrator to enforce the ordinance in accordance with its administrative provisions.

The Planning Director, as provided for in RCO, Chapter 20.16, or his authorized representative shall serve as the zoning administrator.

Zoning Board of Appeals: There shall be a zoning board of appeals consisting of seven members, one of whom shall be a member of the commission. All members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the council's approval. Members shall serve for a term of three years, except the commission representative, who shall serve for a term of one year. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. The board shall choose a chair from among its membership and determine its rules of proceeding, a copy of which shall be filed with the zoning administrator.

Planning and Zoning Commission: There shall be a Planning and Zoning Commission, organized under Chapter 20 of the Rochester Code of Ordinances. The Commission shall have advisory and decision-making powers regarding the administrative procedures identified in the ordinance.

City Council: The City Council is organized under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, and shall have various decision-making powers as identified in the ordinance.

In order to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the community, the Common Council adopted an ordinance supporting the creation of the Zoning Board of Appeals:

1. For the purposes identified in chapter 462 of the Minnesota Statutes, which relate to municipal planning (sections 462.351 through 462.365);
2. For the purpose of implementing the policies set forth in Rochester’s Comprehensive Plan;
3. For the purpose of encouraging innovation in land development by removing regulatory barriers to the consideration of new or unique ideas that are consistent with the purposes and policies referenced;
4. For the purpose of encouraging patterns of land use that will reduce the need for personal vehicular travel and in turn reduce vehicular energy consumption and emissions by encouraging the use of alternative modes of transportation through improved public access to transit, sidewalks, trails and bicycle facilities, improved internal site design for non-motorized modes, and by locating work, home, shopping and service land uses in relation to each other such that trip consolidation is feasible and modal substitution can occur;
5. For the purpose of minimizing the adverse environmental impacts of development;
6. For the purpose of improving the design, quality and character of new and mixed-use development to support an active living environment; and,
7. To create a system of land use regulation that is designed to find equitable solutions to the land use conflicts that routinely arise as development occurs, so as to provide for the orderly development of land within Rochester and to conserve the value of land and buildings.

The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is an independent body consisting of citizen volunteers appointed to the Board by the Mayor with approval of the City Council. The Board consists of seven (7) members, with one (1) member also being a member of the City Planning and Zoning Commission. Members shall serve for terms of three (3) years.