Cohousing-L Mailing List: Private Gardens on Common Area Land

[Norman Gauss (normangauss]

We at Oak Creek Commons in Paso Robles, CA, are wrestling with landscaping
issues that have arisen when occupancy of our condo units changes.

In conformance with the cohousing philosophy, we have encouraged condo
owners to be creative in designing and installing private gardens adjacent
to their units usually on their own water.  When the original owners sell
their units, the question has arisen as to how the private garden is to be
maintained.  Since our climate is on the dry side, irrigation is needed.

So if a beautiful garden requiring extra water is created, how do we have
this garden taken care of under the new owner, especially if the new owner
has no interest in maintaining the garden?  The Landscape Committee does not
want extra work just because a condo unit is sold.  We would like the new
owner to agree to take care of the garden or else pay for the expense of
converting the garden back to its previous condition which is a drought
tolerant landscape watered once per week with a drip system.  

Norman Gauss