PORT TOWNSEND–EcoVillage, an “intentional community” that seeks to build a sustainable environment for its residents, wants you.
“We are on the verge of resolving all of our issues with the city,” said Helen Kolff, who co-owns the land on which the community resides with her husband, former Port Townsend Mayor Kees Kolff.
“We are actively recruiting people who are interested in becoming part of this community.”
After six years of tilling the soil at 510 35th St. in Port Townsend, the project is poised to move into its next phase, as it divides 7.5 acres for individuals ownership and maintenance.
Eventually, about 14 families will call EcoVillage home, building 1,200-square-foot houses on 4,000-square-foot lots, which, as Kolff said, “some people would see as being really small.”
New residents won’t be restricted to that space, as the new community is all about sharing resources and maintaining connections with each other.
There is the expected shared laundry, garden and shop along with more ephemeral elements.
I’ve lived in a nuclear family environment before and I may do so again,” said Mark Weinblatt, whose children are presently the only youngsters in the village.
“But right now I am passionate about living in a community and this is a great community.”
Urban-rural balance
Kolff said that EcoVillage strikes a balance between an urban and a rural environment, with the best aspects of each.
It is close enough to walk or bike into downtown, but has views of a variety of natural wonders.
Kolff said the Port Townsend city government has helped to pave the way for the project.
City Development Services Director Rick Sepler returns the compliment, saying that EcoVillage’s mission is sound, if unconventional.
For this reason the city needs to set some limits and define the areas that are adjusted by the community concept, he said.
Building codes
City building codes require a certain amount of parking for each residence, but EcoVillage’s shared areas make this unnecessary.
“These details always surface when someone tries to do something different,” Sepler said.
“We need to define these now, so it’s clear for the future owners.”
Sepler said the obstacles are administrative and will not require City Council approval.
While there are several covenants designed to sustain the sustainability process, the membership requirements are fairly simple.
It costs about $110,000 to buy a parcel of land, and an undetermined amount to build a house.
There are several options, such as a sustainable pod home that costs about $100,000, or a hyper-insulated “passive” home.
“We are looking into passive homes even though they cost about 15 percent more to build,” said Kees Kolff. “But it will cost a lot less to heat.
“Eighty percent of home ownership has to do with heating,” he said, “so with the savings, a passive house will pay for itself in a few years.”
Sustainability concept
Anyone can buy into EcoVillage, which is off San Juan Avenue, as long as he or she pays the asking price, but there is another sort of “buy in” that is required.
Anyone living here — and who doesn’t want to make himself or herself and everyone else miserable — needs to believe in and support the sustainability concept.
This includes the idea of “consensus,” where all decisions require unanimous approval.
In a democracy, 10 people favoring a measure overrule the two who do not.
In a consensus, the measure will not go forward until the two dissenters agree that it is acceptable.
Opposition, however, cannot be based on whims. Objections must be argued from the viewpoint that the proposed action counters the group’s core values.
In its four years of existence, there hasn’t been a lot of dissent, resident Bekka Bloom said.
“This is an outstanding group in the way it responds to each other,” she said.
Throughout, it is these values that will keep the group together through its expected growth spurt.
“Soil is the only security we have,” said Lawrence Cole, who manages the on-site compost process.
“Real homeland security comes from taking care of the land.”
For more information about the Port Townsend EcoVillage, phone 360-343-1355, e-mail info@ptecovillage.org or see www.ptecovillage.org/.
_________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
