General Design Plan Agreement |
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This document is intended only to convey a general idea of the site design plan. The actual designs are being created by the Members with professional help as development proceeds. This work includes overall site design, design of all common buildings and facilities, design of SJC-built homes, landscape architecture of common areas, and determining design guidelines for private areas and owner-built homes. A rough overall site design was completed in May 1997.
Balance of Privacy & Community
The community will be designed to create a balance between private and common spaces so residents can easily move from one to the other as they choose.
Clustering & Open Space
Homes will be clustered to foster community and preserve open space. Our specific intent is to preserve wetlands, prime agricultural land, forested land, and wildlife habitat. The vast majority of the land will be set aside as a Nature preserve.
Footpaths, Roads, & Parking
Roads and parking will remain at the perimeter, creating a pedestrian oriented neighborhood designed to encourage lots of spontaneous and safe social interaction amongst all of us (adults and children). Footpaths and gathering nodes will be arranged to encourage easy interaction.
Private Home Design
Each home will have a front yard oriented towards the common areas and a backyard landscaped for privacy. The more social rooms within the homes will be oriented to the front and the more private rooms will be oriented to the back.
Common Facilities
The common house will contain facilities for social gathering as well as shared resources that will allow us to avoid needless duplication amongst the households. The common house will be centrally located for easy access by all residents. Common facilities located either in the common house or elsewhere will include such things as a dining room, office space, guest rooms, children’s play areas, greenhouse, laundry, and work shop.
Mixed Development Model
Members will be able to choose to purchase either a private vacant lot and a share of common lands and facilities (owner-built) OR a completed home on a private lot and a share of common lands and facilities (SJC-built). The community as a whole will be responsible for the design and construction of the common facilities and whatever landscaping may be necessary on the common lands. Members purchasing a vacant lot will be responsible for the design and construction of their private homes. They will be free to build as they please within certain design and construction guidelines based on aesthetic, social interaction, environmental, and construction schedule considerations. All Members will be responsible for the landscaping within their private lots.
Standardization of SJC-Built Homes
In order to reduce construction costs, the designs of SJC-built homes will be standardized. We will design 3 to 6 basic floor plans and have a limited menu of options available to choose from. The options may include such things as an addition of a specific extra room, flooring package, window package, etc. Customization by the hired builders will be discouraged and when allowed, the cost will be borne fully by the homeowners. Customization consistent our design and construction guidelines after the home is completed by the hired builders is fine. We will also attempt to specifically create home designs that are less expensive to build.
Attached Homes
In order to reduce construction costs and make better use of our land, many (and possibly all) of the SJC-built homes will have shared walls. These will most likely be duplexes. We will specifically design the homes to ensure plenty of quiet, light, and privacy. Owner-built homes will most likely be detached, but it may be possible that an owner-built home could be attached to another owner-built home.
Resource Efficiency
Buildings will be designed to make efficient use of Earth’s resources, including building materials, water, and energy. We will consider alternative technologies to achieve this goal. Additionally, buildings will be designed and situated for passive solar efficiencies to the extent possible.
Sweat Equity
In order to reduce construction costs, we will create opportunities for Members to perform some sweat equity. The vast majority of the work, however, on SJC-built homes will be done by hired builders. Owner-builders may perform as much sweat equity as they wish.
Healthy Homes
All SJC-built homes will have menu options available which will make the living environments within the homes more healthy for the occupants. The specific options will be researched and determined later, but will address such issues as floor coverings, radon control, backdrafting, paint, varnish, adhesives, cabinets, and ventilation. The common house will be designed and built to create a healthy environment.
Construction Phasing
Homes will be constructed in 2 phases. Phase A will proceed as quickly as possible and will include the common house, SJC-built homes, and some owner-built homes. Phase B will happen when appropriate for the Phase B buyers and will most likely only include owner-built homes, but could possibly include SJC-built homes. There will be some construction deadline for both Phase A and B which will be determined later. Phase B homes will be clustered in order to minimize the construction impact on Phase A.
Balance of Privacy & Community
The community will be designed to create a balance between private and common spaces so residents can easily move from one to the other as they choose.
Clustering & Open Space
Homes will be clustered to foster community and preserve open space. Our specific intent is to preserve wetlands, prime agricultural land, forested land, and wildlife habitat. The vast majority of the land will be set aside as a Nature preserve.
Footpaths, Roads, & Parking
Roads and parking will remain at the perimeter, creating a pedestrian oriented neighborhood designed to encourage lots of spontaneous and safe social interaction amongst all of us (adults and children). Footpaths and gathering nodes will be arranged to encourage easy interaction.
Private Home Design
Each home will have a front yard oriented towards the common areas and a backyard landscaped for privacy. The more social rooms within the homes will be oriented to the front and the more private rooms will be oriented to the back.
Common Facilities
The common house will contain facilities for social gathering as well as shared resources that will allow us to avoid needless duplication amongst the households. The common house will be centrally located for easy access by all residents. Common facilities located either in the common house or elsewhere will include such things as a dining room, office space, guest rooms, children’s play areas, greenhouse, laundry, and work shop.
Mixed Development Model
Members will be able to choose to purchase either a private vacant lot and a share of common lands and facilities (owner-built) OR a completed home on a private lot and a share of common lands and facilities (SJC-built). The community as a whole will be responsible for the design and construction of the common facilities and whatever landscaping may be necessary on the common lands. Members purchasing a vacant lot will be responsible for the design and construction of their private homes. They will be free to build as they please within certain design and construction guidelines based on aesthetic, social interaction, environmental, and construction schedule considerations. All Members will be responsible for the landscaping within their private lots.
Standardization of SJC-Built Homes
In order to reduce construction costs, the designs of SJC-built homes will be standardized. We will design 3 to 6 basic floor plans and have a limited menu of options available to choose from. The options may include such things as an addition of a specific extra room, flooring package, window package, etc. Customization by the hired builders will be discouraged and when allowed, the cost will be borne fully by the homeowners. Customization consistent our design and construction guidelines after the home is completed by the hired builders is fine. We will also attempt to specifically create home designs that are less expensive to build.
Attached Homes
In order to reduce construction costs and make better use of our land, many (and possibly all) of the SJC-built homes will have shared walls. These will most likely be duplexes. We will specifically design the homes to ensure plenty of quiet, light, and privacy. Owner-built homes will most likely be detached, but it may be possible that an owner-built home could be attached to another owner-built home.
Resource Efficiency
Buildings will be designed to make efficient use of Earth’s resources, including building materials, water, and energy. We will consider alternative technologies to achieve this goal. Additionally, buildings will be designed and situated for passive solar efficiencies to the extent possible.
Sweat Equity
In order to reduce construction costs, we will create opportunities for Members to perform some sweat equity. The vast majority of the work, however, on SJC-built homes will be done by hired builders. Owner-builders may perform as much sweat equity as they wish.
Healthy Homes
All SJC-built homes will have menu options available which will make the living environments within the homes more healthy for the occupants. The specific options will be researched and determined later, but will address such issues as floor coverings, radon control, backdrafting, paint, varnish, adhesives, cabinets, and ventilation. The common house will be designed and built to create a healthy environment.
Construction Phasing
Homes will be constructed in 2 phases. Phase A will proceed as quickly as possible and will include the common house, SJC-built homes, and some owner-built homes. Phase B will happen when appropriate for the Phase B buyers and will most likely only include owner-built homes, but could possibly include SJC-built homes. There will be some construction deadline for both Phase A and B which will be determined later. Phase B homes will be clustered in order to minimize the construction impact on Phase A.
Revised 12/31/97