Community Land Trust

Community Land Trust Vision

Introduction

Bob is presently establishing a Community Land Trust (CLT) within a larger farm (600ha) in the Hawkes Bay. The owners of the farm are committed to developing a new ‘path’ for the farm and their lives which includes a settlement of people within the Community Land Trust.  The exact form of the CLT and its relationship within the farm is being developed over the next few months.  Keep in touch with developments through our newsletter.  If you are interested in receiving our newsletter directly by email or post, please contact us.

Introduction to Community Land Trusts

Community Land Trusts have evolved over the last forty years, predominantly in the USA and the UK. There are many different types, however they generally have the following key features.

1. They are charitable trusts, or not for profit legal entities, with a Deed of Trust and a Purpose Statement to direct the Trusteees in protecting community values, and promoting community development within a defined area, district or region.
2. Sections of land and/or resources owned by the Trust are leased to individuals or groups for their exclusive use. These leases, and their conditions, protect the rights of the tenants for privacy and security, and protect the rights of the Trust in maintaining community values. Leases for house titles are frequently up to 99years, leases for land uses or businesses would usually be shorter.
3. The conditions under which leases can be sold are set within the ‘ground’ conditions of the lease. These preserve the affordability of the housing or resource use, and prevent market driven appreciation of values. These measures have the advantages of :-
• encouraging easier entry into trust properties for young people and those on low incomes.
• encouraging capital investment in productive purposes rather than speculation
• encouraging a strong community economy
4. The governance of the Trust is performed by a board of Directors, who are chosen by a defined ‘community’. This can vary depending on the nature of the Trust. Some will be exclusively representatives of tenants, others may include representatives of the wider community.
5. The trustees of the Community Land Trust are responsible for using available funds to invest in development which furthers the goals of the community according to the Trust Deed and constitution.

The Vision - Purpose Statement (Draft)

Purpose: To acquire and hold land and other assets in trust, in order to provide:-

• use for those who wish to engage in Permaculture systems and lifestyles within a community development plan, developed and continually updated by the Board of Directors.
• affordable secure access to its land and assets, with appropriate conditions and covenants.

Project Development Principles (Draft)

1. It will have a rural nature, and be in a district where this will almost certainly remain so in the forseeable future.
2. It will have good soil and water resources to support a strong productive capacity for the long-term self-reliance of the community.
3. It will provide for both clustered and non-clustered housing
4. It will provide for clustered sites for ‘cottage’ industry
5. It will provide for a range of community facilities, including a marae, education facilities, food processing/storage facilities, facilities for light earth processing and building , some small rentable cottages for those without much capital whom the community wishes to attract to add to its strength.
6. All roading infrastructure will give preference to walking and ‘along the contour’ interaction between clusters to reduce the need for motor vehicles
7. The common infrastructure will be managed by the Trustees and/or appointed representatives
8. Economic development will be driven by individual and co-operative enterprise
9. There will be sufficient good land to encompass a small dairy farm, to at least serve the needs of the community.
10. It will have enough high quality arable land to grow crops for self-reliance.
11. The cost of the land purchased for the development will be close to its ‘normal’ productive value, and not affected by the inflated prices close to cities or the dairy boom. This is likely to mean we choose a small dairy farm, sheep farm or forestry land in a relatively isolated area. This also fits with our personal preference to
• live in an rural area
• avoid having a community economy dominated by people commuting to a service centre
• avoid the normal ‘influences’ of a busy mainstream culture ‘next door’
12. There will be use of ‘gatekeepers’ to protect the direction of development, these may include:
• Limited or no grid electricity to foster alternative and low energy use
• Prescriptions on the heat dynamics of housing to encourage passive heating requirements
• Prescriptions on housing materials
• Organic management of commons
• Others
13. The initial investment in infrastructure will be set by the core design group, and will based on a balance between planning for a “lifeboat community” (a high level of self reliance in food, housing, and energy),and ongoing participation in the “mainstream society” (export of high value products, associated with the resources of the land and surrounding district, and the vision and skills of the settlers, plus long-staying students and interns and other similar people based industries)
14.  It is expected that their will be between 25-30 house sites which will cost between $80-120,000 each. (this will include all infrastructural and initial economic development). The range of costs will depend on the size and quality of the land, and its isolation.
15.  A site will be set aside for the Koanga Institute, and its commitment to both its seed collection, and research and education on sustainable development. It is intended that this will include an ongoing formal relationship with the Permaculture Research Institute (Australia)
16. We will be specifically seeking people who are committed to self reliance and who have the necessary skills and commitment to contribute towards a dual economic development, based primarily on self reliance for the community, and the parallel use of this self reliance base to create ‘export’ opportunities which may include :-
• high quality natural food and health
• low tech sustainable housing and energy applications
• multi purpose forestry and perennial fibre and craft resources
• crafts
• research and education in sustainable development (for national and international students)
• appropriate technology product development
• consultancy and design (both nationally and internationally)

Development Stages

• The land will be owned by a development company for the first stage of the development, made up of a core design group and the investors. This core group will produce a ‘prospectus’ for development (including a Trust Deed and Constitution) and gather sufficient financial and moral support for the prospectus before securing the land.
• Once resource consent has been granted, the land ownership will be transferred to a Community Land Trust, with investments secured on the land.
• The development company will retain control of the development process until such time as a set number of leases are sold, and an agreed level of infrastructure and development is completed
• Once enough settler sections have been sold, the investors will be paid back from proceeds of the sales

Governance

• The Community Land Trust (CLT) will have a clear Purpose statement which directs the development of a ’sustainable’ community
• The CLT will be directed by a small group of trustees, who will be selected for their ability to hold and manage the vision
• The exact governance of the trust, how trustees will be selected, and covenants in the leases will be detailed upon further investigation of successful models in the UK, and the USA.