Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common house permitting and Cities...

[Becky Weaver (beckyweaver]

On a visit to Swan's Market cohousing in Oakland, I learned that they had 
installed some (not all) lower-height stove burners & counters in their common 
house kitchen to accommodate member(s) in wheelchairs, and found that they also 
were well-suited to children, short people and those cooking in large (tall) 
pots. So you might consider accepting the ADA kitchen rules even if you don't 
currently have any members who use wheelchairs. 
   
  Maybe this will help you negotiate out of the wheelchair-friendly shower on 
the non-wheelchair-accessible floor! 
   
  Becky Weaver
  Kaleidoscope Village
  Austin, Texas
  

Lyle Scheer <wonko [at] monkeyhouse.org> wrote:
  They still believe it's a "public" building, and they are pushing for
ADA (american disabilities act) compliance for the kitchen and the
upstairs bathroom. This means special cooktop and lower counters for
the kitchen and then because the only shower in the building is in the
upstairs bathroom they still want it a handicapped shower (regardless
that we won't have an elevator up there).

Has anyone argued this successfully with your particular planning
department (about the public/private and ADA)? If so, what arguments
did you use?

- - Lyle