Report of Mission committee

[cass]

Proposed Mission Statement:
• Residents take an active part in planning and operating our own village.

• We are united by mutual desires to know our neighbors, and thus enjoy a safe, friendly atmosphere for ourselves and our families.

• We work to live in harmony with nature, such as by creating a more environmentally sustainable community and by producing quality organic food.

• We seek to encourage a diverse community, balance group harmony with individual growth, and follow the principles of ecological soundness, social awareness, and long-term economic viability.

[cass]

New Mission Proposed Statement for the Umbrella Group:

Nashville CoHousing is a group of diverse individuals and households seeking to work cooperatively, to design, develop, construct and actively manage their own neighborhood(s), in the Nashville Tennessee area. This group sees themselves identifying appropriate building sites in urban, suburban and rural areas that will be financially supported by those interested in living in such areas, as they become available, and proceeding in managing neighborhoods chosen, as well as continuing to support and serve the Nashville Cohousing group. As sites are identified, and neighborhoods emerge, this group will continue to offer information, education and opportunities to the public regarding ‘cohousing’. Each neighborhood, as it is owned and developed will form it’s own management group, name it’s neighborhood and set up it’s own LLC or non-profit organization.

We are united by mutual desires to know our neighbors, live in harmony with nature, enjoy a safe, friendly environment for ourselves and our families and to encourage the production of quality organic food. We are creating our own diverse communities, balancing group harmony with individual growth and following the principles of ecological soundness, social awareness and economic viability.

These Cohousing neighborhoods will be developed according to the ‘Cohousing model’, as begun in Denmark and since developed in several areas of the United States and Canada. Using this model, along with our own desires for living in community, will assist us in meeting our goals.

We plan to choose neighborhood sites that will support simple, yet elegant private housing that will meet the individual’s need for affordability, comfort, privacy and aesthetics while also meeting the ecological, environmentally sustainable, community and financial standards agreed upon by it’s residents.

In addition to individually financed and owned private residents, each neighborhood will also include a commonly owned multi use building known as a ‘Common House’, walkways, sitting and garden areas, peripherally located vehicle sites and common use buildings as decided upon by each neighborhood group. A variety of housing designs and ownership will be considered including condominium, duplexes, single family, private ownership and rental units.

Each individual community or neighborhood will include homes and common areas that will enable and encourage a variety of activities as well as providing for privacy needs. Activities can be socializing, including regular shared community meals, gardening, sports and recreation, music, art, and play as well as hobbies and home businesses that will benefit from the sharing of tools, equipment, experience, efforts and talents of the residents.

Present membership, and those who join this effort at later dates, will be expected to learn and practice the consensus model of decision making. Participants are encouraged to attend ‘Non Violent Communication’ workshops to enable a safe, positive environment. All residents and/or households will be expected to take part in the decision making and activities necessary for the managing of their communities.

Easy access to public transportation will be a sought after feature of our building sites. If such is not available, then residents will assist each other with ride sharing. Recycling, composting, sun drying of laundry and similar energy saving activities will be encouraged in these neighborhoods. Building products that save energy and the environment will be encouraged with strong consideration of methods of passive and and active energy conservation such as water conservation methods, geothermal energy, wind and sun power. We will all be open to planning our residences in a manner that will save energy for the conservation of our environment as well as our personal budgets.

[Linda Ray Miller]

Great Work! This seems very complete and well thought out. I'm a little worried about putting access to public transportation in there, since one of the first sites we are considering (McCrory Lane) does not have any access to public transportation, other than driving your car to the Bellevue Park N Ride, but then, maybe that counts. And it is NOT a requirement, so my concern may be for nothing.

[pierckc]

We tried to make the public transportation issue as a desirable option, but not a requirement. I, personally, would consider a nearby 'Park and Ride' as a p.t. option.
With all the planned development near the McCrory property I would expect even more p.t. in the future as well as possible greenways, parks and natural areas.

I, Cass and John appreciate all the input from everyone on this statement.

[cass]

Mission Statement approved at Dec 11, 2011 meeting:

"The mission of Nashville Cohousing is to facilitate the establishment of planned neighborhoods in Nashville, TN, that make it easy for residents to know their neighbors, live in environmentally friendly housing, and create a safe community for its residents and surrounding neighborhoods.”