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Progress Updates (most recent at top) Spring 2011 - Roger is working hard with engineers to complete drafting necessary for City permits. We're excited about the potential for synergy in our vision of a Trillium Creek community. Imagine the synergy of creative, problem-solving, contributing people sharing a neighborhood! Take a look at the "Vision" link in the menu to the left. Winter 2010/2011 - We're exploring ideas of neighborhood shared spaces that we hope will bring together freedom, responsibility and sharing in new ways. Take a look at the "Common Hall" link and contribute ideas through the "Contact Us" link. (See menu at the left.) Lots are expected to be legally completed and available this year. Fall 2010 - Grass we planted to protect the soil is sprouting, and we are getting ready to plant indigenous trees and shrubs around the periphery of the sites. We are working on City of Arcata requirements, including formalizing the nature reserve, Homeowners' Association structure, CC & Rs, and finetuning the permeable road design. Summer 2010 - The home sites have been cleared, and a great deal of work has been done to heal the land and protect drainage. March 4, 2009 - The Arcata City Council voted to approve the Trillium Creek Project! Fall 2008 - In the interest of maximum affordability possible, we decided to include a neighborhood gathering space at Roger's and Peggy's home instead of building a separate common building. This will allow a maximum number of lots among which to share overall costs. The Year of 2008 - Many public meetings with the City of Arcata Planning Department, Planning Commission and the City Council, carefully coming to consensus on Trillium Creek plans. Although at times pressured and stressful, we completed the process with many new friends among our neighbors, and have the support of commissioners and council members. Democracy works! January 24, 2008 – Neighborhood Information Meeting: 17 neighbors came to the meeting to look at maps and plans, ask questions and express concerns. Some wanted reassurance that the public access trail was not going to be reintroduced later as part of the project. It will not be. Others were concerned that a trail within our property could still attract unwanted visitors. This concern is something that is shared by those of us who will be living at Trillium Creek and it’s a consideration that will be addressed in the process of designing and building the roads, sidewalks, landscaping and fencing. As in most neighborhoods there will be a clear delineation between the public access road and private side and back yards. The creek area will be part of our backyards and people who are attracted to living here are the kind of people who will be out in this area a lot and providing an ongoing “Neighborhood Watch”. Any trail will be routed to and from private areas. There was concern about a trail near the creek and the possibility of damaging the creek. This is also a concern of ours and will be addressed in the design and installation of any trail in an approved way that prevents damage. Other concerns expressed will be addressed as plans develop. Thanks to all of those who participated in the meeting. If you were not able to come and want to have input in the planning process please email us or fill out a survey. December 2007 – After completing additional studies and revisions requested by the City the development application has finally made it to the top of the pile. Agency referrals were sent out and the deadline for response has passed. We received a third visit from the California Department of Fish and Game and a third positive response to project design, restoration plans and protection of sensitive habitat. The proposed public access trail was discussed at the December Transportation and Safety Committee meeting and there was a great deal of opposition to the trail expressed by neighbors both written and verbal. Because of the matrix of property ownership at the access point, trail access to the community forest was dependant on approval from the surrounding neighborhood. And since opposition to the trail was clearly growing with approval increasingly unlikely, the trail was removed from the project. March 2007 – Completed application package turned in.
March 2006 – After four months of exploring the possibility, the City abandoned their plans to include a buried 2 million gallon water tank in our development. Besides helping to create a benefit for the City there were potential benefits for the development in reducing engineering and road development costs. However, there were downsides such as having a public utility in the middle of the neighborhood even if buried under a large flat round lawn area. The tank installation may also have delayed the development. November 2005 – After lots of investigation, consultations, field trips and many rounds of negotiation, escrow closed and the property became “ours”. August 2005 – After returning from home from traveling we called the property owners to follow up on the letter. They had recently put the property on the market and they referred us to their realtor. As we were talking to the realtor who said the property was in escrow, someone else in the office said that the sale had just fallen through the previous day. Good timing! June 2005
-- Wrote a letter to the owners of the 24 acre parcel asking if
they would be interested in selling. (They had been willing to
sell ten years before but the cohousing group at the time decided
to buy another property.)
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