Egrets’ Cove Common Agreement
 on Housing and Land Use
 
As noted in our By-laws, this Common Agreement serves as a guideline, and therefore is open to renegotiation at any time.
 
Interests and Principles we are trying to serve with this agreement
 
Egrets’ Cove Common Agreement on Housing and Land Use serves as general design and use guidelines for planning the construction and renovation of household and community dwellings and for the use of land immediately surrounding those dwellings.  While these guidelines are not to be taken as rules, they are intended to serve as reference points for discussions about design and land use.  The guidelines are intended to enhance sustainability through choice of building materials; to support the social community through consideration of the influences design has on the community esthetics; to encourage consideration of the lives of wild animals, flora and fauna; and to do the least amount of unrecoverable damage possible to geological structure; and other such ecological considerations as may arise with building and land use practices.
 
Common Agreement on the Building, Maintenance, and Alteration of Housing
 
There are two types of buildings in Egrets’ Cove: buildings held and used in common, and buildings held and used by individual households.  Common buildings include the Egrets’ Cove Community House, community utility buildings, and any buildings constructed for experimentation with designs and technologies which have potential for enhancing sustainability.  Individual buildings include individual houses and any associated utility buildings.
 
Criteria such as the following help in the selection of building materials and in design of structures:
·        Use of natural materials that have the potential for sustainable harvesting.
·        Simplicity of design
·        Efficient energy use
·        Attention to reducing embedded energy of building materials
·        Elegance of appearance
·        Appropriateness to a rural setting
·        Respect for the biosphere
·        Long term well being of land, people, and animals
 
Design Parameters for Community Houses, Individual Houses and Utility Buildings
 
Article V, “Holding the Land and Dwellings”, of the community bylaws contains the following fixed agreements about resident dwellings:
·        Each dwelling will include a common kitchen, bathroom, and heating system along with other living space appropriate to the size of the household.
·        Dwellings will be built, maintained, and improved according to the standards described in the Common Agreements on the Building, Maintenance and Alteration of Housing.
·        The grounds around the house will be used in ways consistent with the goals and plans of the community and accordance with decisions of the members.
 
The following parameters are meant to clarify the agreements in the bylaws.  Exceptions to parameters are always possible, however members’ design plans should incorporate the following considerations.  Although there is no formal decision making process for exceptions, members are expected to seek the council of other members regarding major design plans and to respect the spirit of cooperation and consensus in their decision making processes.  At times discussion of such plans may be placed on the agenda of a regular community meeting.
 
All Buildings and Structures
 
As a way of visually tying buildings together in a common esthetic, baked enamel metal roofing of a consistent green color should be considered for all buildings.
 
Individual Houses
        
Design Process
·        Keep the possibility of expansion and contraction of a dwelling in mind when designing the original house.  A household with different needs for living space may occupy the house in the future.
·        Work around the goal of keeping living and storage space per person to the 1960 American average of approximately 400 square feet per person.  Include in this calculation both the personal cabins and the portion of the community house that replaces functions typically present in individual homes.
·        Supply household water with a cistern fed by household dwelling and outbuilding roofs
·        Treat household sewage through composting toilets and constructed wetlands
·        Keep plumbing, electrical utilities and heating within local codes.
·        Generate household electrical supply by photovoltaics.  Keep in mind that it may become possible to feed “extra” generation back into the local grid.
·        Invitation for community participation in the design and construction of all dwellings is encouraged.  However, neither extending an invitation nor accepting an invitation to participate is a requirement.
 
Completion of Structures
·        A primary goal is to have new household dwellings sufficiently complete for occupancy within one year of beginning construction.  Article VII of the community by-laws, “Entering and Leaving the Community”, states in section 1-C “Becoming Full Members” that: “If after one year, the construction of a new dwelling is not complete, the memberships of those in the household can be reviewed and the members may be required to relinquish their membership.”  While there may be circumstances for which exceptions to this agreement are appropriate, the intent is for construction of structures to be completed within reasonable time periods.
 
Routine Maintenance and Repair
·        Members of households are responsible for maintenance and repair of their own dwelling, outbuildings, and surrounding grounds.
·        All buildings should be kept in good repair and attractive appearance. Repairs should be substantially similar or superior to original construction and in keeping with the goals of sustainability, efficiency, and minimal environmental impact.
·        Maintenance and repair should meet or exceed state and local permits, codes, and regulations.
 
Additions, Alterations, and Improvements
·         The community expects that any major addition, alteration, or improvement to the structure of a dwelling will be discussed with the community as a whole, preferably at a community meeting.
·         Additions, alterations, improvements should meet or exceed state and local permits, codes, and regulations.
·         Invitation for community participation in the construction of additions, alterations, and improvements is encouraged.  However, neither extending an invitation nor accepting an invitation to participate is a requirement.
 
Community Buildings
 
Design Process
·        Approval of the final design of all community buildings will be by consensus of community members.
·        Community House water supply will be through cisterns fed by the building’s roof and the roofs of associated utility buildings.
·        Community House sewage will be treated through the standard septic system in place as of 2003.
·        All plumbing, electrical utilities and heating will meet or exceed local permits, codes, and regulations.
·        The local commercial electric grid is the major electrical supply for the Community House.
 
Additions, Alterations, and Improvements to the Community House and to Community Utility Buildings
·        All additions, improvements, or major alterations of the Community House will be considered by and approved through community meetings.
·        Additions, alterations, improvements should meet or exceed state and local permits, codes and regulations.
·        Work on community buildings is considered to be a community undertaking.  Agreements about individual responsibilities and commitments for each project will be part of the community planning process.
 
Completion of Structures
·        Community building projects should be completed within a reasonable amount of time.  “Reasonable amount of time” will be defined as part of the planning process.
 
Routine Maintenance and Repair
·        Community dues and contributions from non-member users of community property will be used for routine repair and maintenance.
·        One individual will be chosen at the annual meeting to pay special attention to major needed major repairs and to coordinate repair and maintenance crews for the following year.  All members are encouraged to pay attention to needed repairs and to report their observations of major repair needs to the maintenance and repair coordinator. Minor repairs and patchwork can be done at anytime by members without the necessity of speical reporting and crew formation.  Maintenance and repair of community property is a mutual responsibility of all community households.  Schedules and assignments of routine maintenance tasks will be compiled at community meetings and posted in the Community House.
·        Should unusual repairs be necessary (e.g. storm damage), special fees may be assessed from each household.
 
Use of Community Buildings
·        Use of community buildings and property by non-members is encouraged.  Hikes, visits, and other such informal use of community buildings and property by small numbers of guests need not be approved through a formal consensus process.  Respect for the privacy and living space of members during such activities should be kept.  Formal use, such as meetings in the community house, workshops and demonstrations, tours, and use by large numbers of guests should be approved and scheduled by community members through the usual consensus process. 
·        A calendar for posting community events will be placed in the community house.  Members may also post informal visits by friends and non-resident family members if they choose.
·        Reservations for guest rooms should be placed on the calendar of community events in the community house in advance when possible.
·        People and groups using community buildings are responsible for the cost of utilities, clean up, repair of damage, security, and so on.
 
Land Held and Used in Common
 
All Lands
·        No dumping, injection or burial of trash or environmentally hazardous material is allowed.  All such material will be disposed of outside the bounds of community property in a manner that is lawful and as sustainable as possible.
·        Paper, plastic and other material should be recycled when possible.
·        Community meetings must approve any activities that may produce toxic by-products.
·        No outdoor advertising structures such as signs or billboards shall be displayed on community or household property except as necessary for agricultural, forestry, habitat and wildlife conservation, non-commercial outdoor recreational use of property, or other circumstances approved by the consensus of the community.
·        The use of organic pest control methods, fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides, insofar as possible, is strongly encouraged.
·        The use of organic and permaculture practices is encouraged.
·        Preserving viable trees and minimizing the expanse of lawns is encouraged.
·        Extensive landscaping, topographical alterations, fencing, and other land use should be approved by community consensus.
·        The community should be notified and an informal consensus formed ahead of time when members are expecting large numbers of guests to be using any community land.  If there is some question about this use, a community meeting can be called to discuss and resolve the questions by consensus.
 
Community Food Production: Gardens, Orchards, etc.
·        It is recognized that not all members have an equal talent or interest in all aspects of food production and preservation.  Yet, it is also recognized that all members need to make a contribution of labor and time to the overall goal of producing a significant amount if the food members consume.
·        Certain areas will be set aside for use in producing food for the community members.  The location of these areas will be designated in community meetings.
·        Community food production is a common responsibility.  Work crews will be formed at community meetings and as the need arises from time to time.
·        A head gardener will be designated at the annual meeting to serve as coordinator for planning food production for the following year.
·        All community members are encouraged to routinely tend the gardens and other food production areas.  Members are encouraged to note any problems and point them out to other members, especially the head gardener.
·        Preserving, storing, and keeping food is a community undertaking.  Crews for this purpose will be formed on an informal basis as the opportunity arises.  Planning for preserving, storing, and keeping food is expected to be a constant topic of conversation.
·        Members are free to use food produced by the community.  Formal distribution plans are not necessary except in extraordinary circumstances of scarcity.
 
Community Green Space
·        Certain spaces will be designated as community green space.  Community green space can be used for hiking, exploring, and “ramblin round”.
·        The community may construct formal trails for exercise, walking, and observing the natural areas.  So long as excessive damage is not done all green space is open for exploration. 
·        Maintenance of green space (e.g. trails, erosion) is a community responsibility.  One person will be designated at the annual community meeting to pay special attention to the needs of community green space.  Work crews may be formed from time to time on an informal basis or as designated in community meetings for this maintenance work.  All community members are encouraged to pay attention to the condition of green space and bring any problems to the attention of the community.
 
Community Parks
·        The community will designate certain spaces as community parks.  These parks are open to use by any community members.  Reasonable respect for others should be paid in terms of noise level, time of day used, keeping grounds clean, and so on.  Small groups of non-members may also use the parks when with members or with the permission of community members. 
·        Maintenance of parks, repair of park equipment, and construction of park equipment is a community responsibility.  One person will be designated at the annual community meeting to pay special attention to the needs of community parks.  Work crews may be formed from time to time on an informal basis or as designated in community meetings for maintenance, repair, and construction work.  All community members are encouraged to pay attention to the condition of parks and bring any problems to the attention of the community.
 
Community Wild Space
·        Certain spaces may be designated by the community as “wild spaces”.  Members should leave wild spaces untrammeled and unused for recreation as much as possible.  However, an ecological study of the spaces by members is encouraged.  Any ecological study of community lands, including wild spaces, by non-members must be approved through the consensus of the community.
·        Attention to wild space is a community responsibility.  One person will be designated at the annual community meeting to pay special attention to encroachments on community wild space.  All community members are encouraged to pay attention to the condition of wild space and to bring any problems to the attention of the community.

HOME