Creating Community
(Page 7 of 8)
June/July 2003
By Dan Chiras and Diana Leafe Christian
ZONING: THE BANE OF ECOVILLAGES
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Like most urban cohousing communities, Ecovillage at Ithaca underwent the expensive, time-consuming process of petitioning local planning authorities for a higher population density per acre through clustered housing and preserved open space. Instead of engaging themselves in potential planning battles, Dancing Rabbit and Earthaven residents established their villages in counties with no zoning. But the founders of O.U.R. (One United Resource) Ecovillage in rural British Columbia helped create a whole new zoning designation in their district specifically to accommodate ecological demonstration sites like theirs. In 1999. with the help of permaculture designers, a local land-use consultant, interested local elected officials and the planning board, they undertook a series of public hearings and on-site open houses for neighbors. Taking into account the suggestions, needs, and concerns of these sources, members of O.U.R. Ecovillage and the local planners wrote the new legislation, which allowed for multiuse zoning on their property: Woodlands/Wetlands Conservation, for sensitive ecosystems, woodlot management areas and nature trails; Agricultural, for organic gardening and animal husbandry; Ecological Education and Infrastructure, for educational activities and guest housing; and Residential, for clustered housing and natural-building demonstration sites. After receiving overwhelming public support for this initiative, the Regional District gave unanimous final approval in 2002.
SEEDS OF CHANGE
"We stand at the junction between two millennia," says Albert Bates of the Global Ecovillage Network. "The past millennium was about building societies that ran on fossil sunlight and militarism. The next one, still a mystery, must be more conscientious and humane, or we won't survive. It's on the shoulders of ecovillage pioneers that the dream rests for peace, security, prosperity, family and happiness for the coming generations of our children—whether we or they recognize it yet."
Author Dan Chiras writes about community issues, natural building and energy efficiency. Diana Leafe Christian is editor of Communities magazine and author of Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities (see MOTHER's Bookshelf, Page 94). She lives at Earthaven Ecovillage in North Carolina.
Resources
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities, Diana Leafe Christian. On MOTHER'S Bookshelf, Page 94.
Communities Directory. Fellowship for Intentional Community, 2002. (800) 462-8240; directory.ic.org
Communities magazine. Quarterly publication of the Fellowship for Intentional Community. (800) 462-8240; fic.ic.org/cmag/
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