Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Subject: [C-L]_ Boundaries

[normangauss (normangauss]

We at Oak Creek Commons in the Central Coast Region of California are
situated on 14 acres of which 10 acres is open space covered with natural
vegetation of oak trees and grassland.  In our Mediterranean climate the
grass turns yellow in the dry hot summer and is susceptible to burning.

The previous owner of the property did not develop it, but gave the City of
Paso Robles an easement for a pipeline down the middle of a seasonal creek
channel.  A gravel road was built at the bottom of the channel and became a
popular walkway that was used many years by neighbors for strolling, trail
biking, and dog walking.

When we acquired the property, our plan was, and still is, to keep the
natural area open to neighbors just as it was before.  We have owned the
property for about 5 years and have experienced some damage including a
serious fire one summer probably started by smokers that burned a few acres.
We have to be vigilant every summer against smoking in the area (most of us
do not smoke).  We have also seen evidence of campfires that occurred before
we started construction.  We do not allow any fire on our land.

We have some trouble with trail bikes and motorcycles going up steep slopes
and causing erosion. Trash and too many cats from a neighbor "Cat Lady" are
also problems.  We also have owls which one member believes were responsible
for the disappearance of her cat. And some neighbors dump garden refuse and
scrap lumber on our land.  Because of the openness, there is a concern on
the part of some of our parents for security for their children.

So far, the City has not asked us to put in any walkways or declare any part
of this land as a park.  There is a disadvantage of not having a fence,
because no one knows for sure where our land starts.  We have to keep the
grass mowed down during the summer for fire protection.  The neighbors pay
their gardeners to mow the grass on our land because they want to be
protected against fire.  So there is some advantage to this confusion.  So
far, there does not seem to be any compelling reason to build a fence.
Besides it would be very expensive and have to be maintained.

Norm Gauss
Oak Creek Commons
Paso Robles, CA