Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: design review

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

RoseWind Cohousing is a "lot development" model, so we have a procedure in 
place for the construction of each individual home (the first part of what is 
pasted below) and then some guidelines for subsequent changes (the second part, 
below):


PROCESS FOR NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION:
For new home construction there are two meetings.  
The first is optional, but recommended, while planning is in the early stages. 
At this time the owner can meet with one or more members of the AR Committee 
and be reminded of basic RW and City requirements for setbacks and such, noting 
the building envelope, neighbors¹ solar access rights,  parking and driveway, 
drainage,  planned fences, house height, building relationships, topography, 
etc.  

The second, required,  meeting is with the AR committee and any interested 
RoseWind Members to review the preliminary plan.   The meeting is held at 
RoseWind.  

A. Two weeks before the required meeting RoseWind members are notified.  Copies 
of  floor plans, a site plan showing the location of the building(s) on the lot 
and relationship to location of neighbors¹ homes or building envelopes, and 
exterior elevations,  are made available for viewing in Port Townsend and in 
Seattle (as long as there are members living in Seattle) .  At the option of 
the member,  copies can also be sent to each member or brought to the monthly 
meeting for preview by the group at breaks. The owner is recommended to confer 
specifically with near neighbors about concerns or questions they may have. 

B. The lot corners are staked.  The building envelope is staked.  The outline 
of the 
building is staked and flagged and it is connected with tape if possible or 
lines 
painted on the ground so it is easy to see where the building will actually be.

C. The AR meeting is held, and the following is checked:
        1)  Reminder that propane tanks have setback requirements. 
        2)  On-site parking plan 
        3)  Make sure lot lines and building envelope are correctly understood. 
Hear any requests for setback changes, and determine if we can support the 
request to the City. 
        4) Fences, if any

        5) Impact on neighbors--driveways, house height,  relationship of house 
placement to neighbors,  neighbors¹ solar access                

        6) Construction matters--where construction dirt and materials will be 
stockpiled, construction vehicle access, any sensitive areas to protect 
(plants, sewer lines, etc) .   If the commons or a neighbor¹s  property is 
requested for use during construction, a plan is agreed upon, usually including 
an agreement to  restore such ³borrowed² land to its original or better 
condition. The owners are reminded of their responsibilities for keeping 
contractors aware of relevant agreements and rules. 

D. At this meeting there is an opportunity to hear from any interested RoseWind 
members, regarding the above, and/ or other matters such as floor plans and  
building materials. These are personal perspectives and informational or 
advisory only.

E. The AR is approved, or if there are matters which need follow-up action, or 
additional information, arrangements are made to accomplish what is necessary, 
prior to approval being finalized. 

FOR OTHER CONSTRUCTION OR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES:
A.  Talk to your immediate neighbors and get their approval.  
B.  Then contact a member of the Committee.   Inform them of the change you wish
to make and your time line.  Drawings, plans and/or descriptions are useful and 
may be requested.  If a meeting is deemed appropriate, a committee member can 
help arrange a mutually agreeable time and place.  Immediate neighbors will 
always be notified and depending on the impact, all members may be notified at 
the committee's discretion. 
C.  Simple changes may be handled informally.


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Notice that there is very little required for subsequent changes. If I wanted 
to paint my house pink, it would be nice of me to check out the reactions of 
neighbors who would have to look at it every day, but they don't have the power 
to tell  me I absolutely can't. One woman installed a fairly dense wooden 
"privacy" fence around her yard, which is right on a busy street. It was fine 
with her only close neighbors, so that was that. Another woman built a 
garage-type storage building on her property, and posted plans in advance, 
asking for any input. No one would even think of having to get some sort of 
permission to change something like windows. The bottom line could be seen as: 
Does this take anything from someone else, like their sun or view or right to 
pass through? Otherwise, it's pretty much an individual matter. 
Lynn at RoseWind, Port Townsend WA
where the common house is progressing on interior finishing, a beautiful big 
custom home is up for resale, and lots of people are away on vacations. Web 
site: www.olypen.com/sstowell/rosewind