Nuts and Bolts of Forming an Intentional Community

So you’re dreaming about forming an Intentional Community…
but wondering about the details of what’s involved? Come for a potluck and presentation to see what it looks like in real life.

For the past three years, we've been working to turn the idea of Puyallup Cohousing into an actual community. We’ve just submitted an application for permits to Pierce County and we’re still in the process, so this isn't a polished story about how everything worked perfectly. It's a candid look at what we've learned—including the surprises, challenges, dead ends, and discoveries along the way.
Bring a dish to share for a potluck, tour, and informal open house at the Puyallup Cohousing site from 3:00-4:30pm, followed by a presentation and plenty of time for questions and conversation from 4:30-6:00pm. Here's what we'll cover:

• Evaluating the land — including how to use the county's Public GIS to investigate zoning, development potential, environmental constraints, neighboring properties, and much more.
• Determining feasibility — what studies you may need, what they can cost, and how to find people who can do them.
• Finding the right professionals — including our experience finding and working with a local civil engineer and a modular home builder.
• Navigating the building codes — where to find the applicable codes and how to begin figuring out what they actually mean for your project.
• Turning a community vision into a site plan — fitting homes, common spaces, roads, parking, trails, buffers, utilities, stormwater, and all the other pieces together.
• Designing the buildings — balancing the community's social goals with the practical realities of designing and building.
• Entering the permitting process — what happens when you actually submit the plans to the county, and what comes next.
• Legal structure - cottages, condos, and cooperatives…oh my!

This is intended for anyone who is dreaming about starting an intentional community, looking for land, already working on a project, or simply curious about what it takes to make one happen. If you and a few of your friends have been causally talking about living together someday, this might be a good excuse to meet and start to get a bit more serious.

Check out https://puyallupcohousing.org for more info.