Cohousing-L Mailing List: Architectural Review

[OCC11NG (normangauss]

Our community is wrestling with the requirement in our CC&R's of an 
Architectural Committee.  I know that in typical common-interest 
developments, there is usually some kind of review body that evaluates 
proposals to make changes in community-owned facilities, most commonly 
landscaping, walkways, and building exteriors.  These typical homeowners 
associations are set up with governing  boards that set the standards.

In our community, the mere mention of the term "governing board" sends 
shivers of revulsion throughout our membership.  Nevertheless there is a 
recognition of the need to have some control over the esthetic appearance 
and quality of the resulting changes.   We regard ourselves more as a 
cohousing association than a condominium, although our legal foundation 
specifies that we are a condominium.

Can anyone out there in cohousing land give me some ideas on ways that the 
community assets can be protected from poorly planned or executed projects 
that may end up being ugly or shoddy?

Norm Gauss