Meadow Wood Project Milestones
The Bartimaeus Cohousing project began about three years ago, as the outgrowth of a “friendship mentoring” ministry. Those involved, coming from several area churches, began praying about how they could be more effective, given the constraints of their current lifestyles. Since then, the group has grown, and plans have unfolded – not always smoothly, but with continual evidence of God’s grace and love. Here are some of the milestones we have recorded so far:
2001
Autumn - Members of the friendship mentoring program begin praying and talking about the possibility of a residential community.
2002
Spring - Initial meetings are held for all interested parties regarding “residential community vision.”
Summer - The group learns about the concept of cohousing and meets with a representative from Cohousing Resources, LLC. Later that summer, the first web site, booklet and brochure are produced.
October 25 - Two-day financial planning workshop with Cohousing Resources, LLC.
December 9 - The venture is incorporated with Washington State as “Bartimaeus Cohousing Community, LLC.”
2003
June 23 - Bartimaeus legally “ties up” the current site with a $5,000 deposit. Actual purchase of property is dependent on county approval of a site plan.
Autumn - First marketing event: a small booth at the Kitsap County Fair. Afterwards, the local weekly newspaper, the Central Kitsap Reporter, publishes the first article about the project. 2004
April 2 - A site plan is submitted to the Kitsap County Department of Community Development.
May 14 - Technical Review with the Kitsap County Department of Community Development.
August 26 - Public Hearing before the Kitsap County Hearing Examiner.
September 15 - The Hearing Examiner grants our Performance-Based Development request.
September 30 - The group purchases the property on Fairgrounds Road!
November 15 - The application for our Site Development Activity Permit (SDAP) is submitted.
December 1 - The first residents occupy the existing three-bedroom house on the property.
2005
February 11 - Construction loan approved by Frontier Bank!
February 18 - The group submits the application for building permits.
March 9 - Kitsap County approves the SDAP application. Excavation can begin for infrastructure improvements.
April 4 - Seton Construction starts excavating.
August 16 - County building permits issued for all six residential buildings, plus the common house!
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