ROCHELLE — Rochelle Community Development Director Michelle Pease presented an update Monday on the city’s comprehensive plan, focusing on expanding housing options as the community continues to grow. The plan provides a framework for development through 2040 and is expected to be updated every five to seven years. Pease said Rochelle has added only three single family homes in the past three years, while recent multifamily projects have added about 90 units. Housing demand is outpacing supply, with young workers, families and older residents facing limited options. Employers have also cited housing as a challenge when recruiting workers. The city has land available for future residential development, but attracting developers and making projects financially feasible remains challenging.
“The key word is diversification, so we wanna be able to attract a young person to move to our community, raise their family here, and then age in place here. So it’s a diversity of that housing stock for us,” Pease said.
The updated plan will continue to address housing, commerce, industry and transportation as Rochelle plans for future growth.
