Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Architectural Review

[Elana Kann (ekann]

Norm and others,
Cohousing is not a legal definition; it is one variation of common-interest
development. In your case apparently it is one variation of a condominium
type of common-interest development. We in cohousing communities still are
subject to all the laws and physical realities and concerns that all other
common-interest developments face. Certainly we have more active social
engagement among members, and more member input into the operation of the
community, than most other common-interest developments. That does not make
us an entity unto ourselves. We still need to figure out the management end,
and we still need to set standards. There is much to learn from resources
like the Community Associations Institute (www.caionline.org) --including
how to establish workable guidelines for Architectural Review, which is an
age-old issue for common-interest developments.
--Elana Kann, Westwood Cohousing Community in Asheville, NC



-----Original Message-----
From: OCC11NG [mailto:normangauss [at] charter.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 1:11 AM
To: Cohousing-L
Subject: [C-L]_ Architectural Review

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

 
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