Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: State Legislative Suggestions/Models

[RPD iCloud (rphilipdowds]

For better or worse, housing development is mostly governed by local zoning and 
subdivision law.  This local law is a function of local tradition and 
geography, local community sentiment and politics, and the interactions and 
ambitions of local developers and landowners.  While it’s possible to pursue 
the intellectual exercise of “model legislation” as a universally useful 
template, the chances of any locality saying Wow, this is just what we wanted, 
aren’t particularly good.  Nor will much good come out of a state trying to 
dictate development policy to the local level.

In my opinion, the best way for a progressive state government to promote 
cohousing — and affordable housing generally — is to invent and maintain a 
program of incentives for localities to increase allowed density (dwelling 
units per acre), and to better tolerate site design flexibility strategies like 
cluster zoning, PUDs, and multi-family building types.

Thanks,
Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing
Cambridge, MA
On Sep 11, 2019, 2:05 PM -0400, Ann Lehman <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>, 
wrote:
> My State Rep (Oregon), Rob Nosse is offering to meet with us and talk about 
> any legislative suggestions to promote cohousing. I’m looking for model 
> legislation or suggestions?
>
> Ann Lehman
> Principal
> Zimmerman Lehman
> forging futures for nonprofits
> https://zimmerman-lehman.com/
> 510.755.5701
>
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> Board Member
> CoHousing Association of U.S.
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