Decisions

1. All Associates and Members will keep the coordinating team up to date with their involvements with other cohousing groups/organizations.
2. The LLC will fund the entire accommodation and meal expense for all Associates and members. Prospects are welcome to attend and their meal expenses will be covered, but they will be responsible for their own $55 accommodation expenses. All retreat attendees will be responsible for their own travel expenses and arrangements.

Action Items

Agenda
1. Opening Activity
Introductions: Name, What your interest is in cohousing, Current role within the group

2. Review of colored cards and ground rules
Dwight did so

3. Announcements and approval of agenda
Several people announced they would be leaving early.
Kim reminded people to please come to meetings on time so that we can start on time.

4. Review and Approve minutes from previous meetings
Minutes from previous meeting approved.

5. Proposals to revise associate requirements
Dwight Proposed: All Associates and Members will keep the coordinating team up to date with their involvements with other cohousing groups/organizations.
Dwight clarified the reason behind his proposal, which is that we had a recent experience of indirectly finding out that an Associate was also involved heavily with another local cohousing group - this was very surprising to learn and somewhat upsetting for some people.
Lisa asked why we need to know about other people's involvement with other groups? Several people answered with various reasons: trust, honesty, investment of time and relationship energy, potential for conflict of interest.
Approved by consensus.

6. Break off into pairs
We broke off into pairs with someone we didn't know very well and shared a key think we'd like to get out of cohousing.

7. Lincoln Land discussion
Concerns about Lincoln: zoning problems, delay in time in order to get proper zoning, price, will they be open to 40b?,

40b Discussion:
Kai has learned that Lincoln is very close to their 10% minimum of affordable units (only need 24 more units), and they have indicated to
Bridget talked to someone on the town board and they indicated that they would be open to a friendly 40b. This person also mentioned going through a zoning change process - they've indicated they would be open to it as well.
Kim spoke to John Abrahms. He cautioned us against using 40b because it really complicates things. You still have to go through the town meeting process even if they are friendly to it.
Greg asked about the lottery issue for 40b: we can have people within our group apply to be a part of this lottery process. We can't discriminate, though.
Kai's experience is that there is usually already a waiting list from the town for people that qualify for the lottery. However, a person would still have to meet all the requirements to become a member of the group.

Bridget talked a bit about her "group" and added information to the emails that have already been sent out to introduce themselves.
Kai asked about how they would feel about us going into researching Lincoln. We don't want to step on their toes if we find land. Bridget responded that she thinks it would be great if we find land that works in common. Bridget wants to ask how we would feel about Karen look into the feasibility in Lincoln because she's an expert in real estate in Lincoln - she has a lot of inside contacts. Some people in her group are questioning whether the timing is right for them to pay a lot of money for a consultant before they even have land. She has been getting a lot of questions from the people in her group. She doesn't want her group to feel rushed into a decision about land … she is asking us to wait for them to have a meeting about how they want to go forward with possible land in Lincoln. Sees a few options:
1) form their own group, make offer on land, and then see if we want to join in with them
2) merge groups before land is found
3) have us go ahead and they might join us as individuals or a group

Cat clarifies that while it makes sense for Karen to continue researching land in Lincoln, she feels that Chris would probably ask different questions about the land from a cohousing point of view. Bridget responds that, of course, if we want to have Chris look into the town we should go ahead - but her group isn't ready to put the funds toward paying for Chris right now. She would like it if we could continue to share information about Lincoln property we may find.

How would they feel about Chris contacting Karen about land search? Karen and Bridget clarify that they want to be careful about not getting on our bad side if they discuss things with Chris and they end up not joining our group. Steph mentioned her concern about the opposite - how they would feel about us going forward on a piece of land in Lincoln without them. Bridget doesn't want us to miss an opportunity to make an offer on land.

Karen talked about the town planners in Lincoln being very open to working with alternative projects, such as ours, but they don't want to be forced into anything - they want to be involved from the beginning.

Karen mentions that there is a property that has become available in Stow: 50 acres for 1.2mil. We already know that this property wouldn't work - couldn't build on it.

Kim asked if Bridget and her group have plans to meet: not right now - they don't really plan to until there is property that looks promising.

Decided to take a break and come back to discuss how we will handle the potential merging of groups.

----BREAK----

Came back from break, had the light and lively, and John proposed that we pursue some kind of social event together with the two groups.
John suggests and Karen and Chris talk and share information.

Lincoln Land (Karen spoke)
Lincoln has said, as a town, that they would be interested in cohousing and low-income housing. They see it as being better in certain parts of the town than others and there are ways that they would like to have it happen.
Karen asks if there is a person in the group she could contact first, rather than using up the time with Chris. We clarified for Karen, that we want Chris to talk to her and the folks in Lincoln.

Three parcels of land that Karen is looking into right now. One piece of land is probably not feasible because it is too visible (and the town would probably not be friendly to a cohousing development there). The other is more private and nestled among conservation land. The third site has a deed restriction that probably would make it impossible to use, but it is nice because it is close to the train (1 mile-ish) and close to town center.
Septic issues would be a problem for the second site - Page Road.
Each site has some problems to address.
It is extremely rare for there to be three parcels on the market right now. It just happens that this market is slow right now. These would normally sell as estates, but because the market is slow the owners might be more open minded.
Greg clarifies that in order to get to the point of knowing whether a piece of land will work, you have to do feasibility. Waiting until the other group has decided whether they want to move on the land

8. Light and Lively
We sang the song Song of the Soul by Cris Williamson with Christie playing the guitar.

9. Process Check-in
No process issues.

10. Action Items
Cat did send out the reminders and appreciates feedback from people that got back to her.

11. Team Reports
Land/Site:
No real update.
Steph reminded people that Chris offered to come out to our retreat on Saturday.
We have an ongoing contract with Chris and will keep going with CR unless we decide to

Finance
Cash call for $5100 was met.
Cat will talk to Dwight and Kai about a proposal regarding new equity members.

Marketing
There is an article in the Boston Parents paper about cohousing and us in particular.

Secretary
Steph will reserve Parmenter for June/July
Christie will take over reserving Parmenter after June.

12. Proposal for Retreat Funding
Proposal: "The LLC will fund the entire accommodation and meal expense for all Associates and members. Prospects are welcome to attend and their meal expenses will be covered, but they will be responsible for their own $55 accommodation expenses. All retreat attendees will be responsible for their own travel expenses and arrangements." Approved.

The way we will collect money from prospects (and Associates if they wish to make an additional contribution) is that they may pay the treasurer in cash or check (made out to Owl's Nest) before or during the retreat.

People need to bring their own bedding. We need to start thinking about room assignemnts. If you think you want to come, please let us know ASAP.

13. Future Agenda Items, Dates, Etc.
5/5/02 3:30-6:30 General Meeting at Parmenter
5/18/02 Christie is performing at the South Shore Pride festival
5/19/02 1:00-3:00 Intro Meeting at Parmenter
5/19/02 3:30-6:30 General Meeting at Parmenter
5/21/02 Cat's performance
5/3-5/18 Judy's play

Social ideas: Gore place in Waltham is having a sheep sheering festival next weekend. Drumland is a great place to hang out with kids.

14. Review of Meeting and Closing
Orange cards to John for facilitation

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Last modified: May 17, 2002