HE-16 Anne Love - Laserfiche WebLink

HE-16 Notes from Oakleigh Meadow Co-Housing vs Neighbors in Mediation. Mediator was Jennifer Frenzer Barbara, Jan, Maj Hutchinson Tami, Antonio, Bryn Thoms David Adee and Shawn Johnson sat at two tables in a V-shape facing the audience. On Sept. 27, 2013 Neighbors mediated with Oakleigh Meadow Co-housing at the River Road Annex on River Road. The Neighbors were once again finding that some of the paying members of OMC were misinformed on the key information of this project. One didn’t know what the Greenway was, or where it was. That is withholding information to members. She also doesn’t own a bike to commute, yet supports this way of transportation. OMC members stated it would cost them $6,000 a month to postpone the hearing. OMC was eager to share that figure, however one member said the figure on the common house of $125 sq. ft. was loose and very low amount. Another said there are too many factors to get a realistic dollar amount. Neighbors ask for some alternative choices. OMC said collaborating is happening. OMC feels the common house is a largest part to the project and is not willing to downsize. The conclusion of the meeting was up to OMC with the proposal from the neighbors that OMC decides if they would postpone th the hearing and email Bryn Thoms by midnight of Sunday, Sept. 29 . Bryn received an email early Monday morning saying they wanted to us talk to the neighbors again and tell us what their answer was. OMC shared that they did not want to delay the hearing due to financial reasons and sent out a letter to us. I have included that letter. OMC says most co-housing projects have 24-34 units to make it feel like a community. Most of the members live in south Eugene, so that is why they drive to the weekly or monthly meeting on Oakleigh Lane. OMC was say they don’t have answers to the traffic issues. Listed Topics generated from the Neighbors were; Hearing Postponement, Concentrating on collaboration, downsizing units count, Traffic issues, and financial figures. OMC reflected on how neighbor feel and said they understand the fear and appreciate it. We don’t want neighbors to feel fear. Neighbors made a point the OMC hired a California architect and a project manager that is not familiar with the area, nor listen to neighbors’ concerns. OMC shared that the project changed from its original plan and they need to trust the architect and project manager. The project manager created a 500 category spreadsheet in which they have to trust the expert to come up with cost on parr with that OMC feels comfortable with cost and have a number to shoot for. OMC feels it is important to have a golden number, the more units equals less cost. The street improvements would happen if in result of 50% or more neighbors wanting it once they knew the costs.