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Dear Commissioners Eisenhour, Brotherton, and Dudley-Nollette,
Firstly, we want to thank you all for your time and consideration this morning, and your kind words about our project, Newt Crossing Cohousing. We also want to thank you all for your
hard work during your respective tenures on moving our county towards having affordable housing, climate-resilience, and making our county a more livable place - which are all goals
of Newt Crossing Cohousing as well.
Secondly, in answer to the insightful questions that you brought up this morning, we want to address Commissioner Dudley-Nollette's question about the replicable nature of this project.
Cohousing communities stand on the shoulders of those who went before, and help each other in so many ways. This morning, Dr. Kolff spoke to the Board. The Port Townsend Ecovillage,
as well as Rosewind Cohousing, and Quimper Village Cohousing, have all been instrumental in our navigating the waters of membership growth, governance, design questions, legal questions
and more.
Here are some ways to make cohousing replicable in Jefferson County:
1. Promoting Smarter Land Use
Facilitating the better arc of land use, which prioritizes affordable, sustainable, a functioning neighborhood, where people know each other and support each other more if they desire,
is a quest well-embedded in your comprehensive plan.
2. Start with a Successful Example
First and foremost—get the first cohousing community in Jefferson County built as effortlessly as possible. Like many innovations, land use reform benefits from successful real-world
models that can be studied and replicated. These examples can demonstrate how child-friendly, senior-friendly, and family-friendly land use can be both feasible and beneficial to both
the residents and the county as a whole. If early projects are perceived as overly difficult or obstructed, subsequent projects and future efforts are less likely to take root.
3. Strengthen and Embrace the Planned Development (P.D.) Process
A robust Planned Development application can be a powerful tool—especially if the county embraces the broad intent:
“What land use best facilitates and advances our comprehensive plan’s goals—beyond the limits of current zoning and codification.”
Topography, aesthetics, escarpment cannot appropriately be developed through adherence to rigid zoning designations. Planned development allows flexibility and innovations—supporting
diversity in lot sizes, building types, and layouts. It can accommodate high-functioning neighborhoods, multiple housing developments, and mixed-used developments better than traditional
zoning.
4. Use Newt Crossing as a Model for Flexible Cohousing Development
Newt Crossing could serve as a clear and successful example of what a thoughtfully crafted and flexible P.D. can achieve. The goal is not simply increased density, but rather minimizing
negative impacts, being good stewards of the land, and fostering a viable, supportive community—where neighbors can easily connect and care for one another, if they choose.
Moreover, the changes we are requesting today—including proposed updates to Jefferson County’s PRRD rules—will create a more accessible and navigable path for future cohousing projects.
These code updates could remove unnecessary burden for communities that aim to cluster homes intentionally, limit sprawl, reduce infrastructure burdens, and preserve vital natural habitat.
In this way, Newt Crossing can serve as a catalyst—not just a singular solution, but a prototype that others can learn from, adapt, and build upon.
As Planning Commissioner Matt Sircely said, what we really need is a “path of least resistance.” Whether that path is through a PRRD rule change or another streamlined mechanism, we
are eager to collaborate to identify the most effective route. We respectfully request a meeting with Josh Peters and Commissioner Eisenhour early next week to discuss these next steps,
and to work toward a solution that allows our project—and others like it—to flourish, to the benefit of our county and our shared environment.
Thank you again for your time, attention, and your continued commitment to the future of Jefferson County.
Warm regards,
Newt Crossing Cohousing Community
https://newtcrossing.org/