At last Tuesday’s RA meeting, a Citizen concern was raised regarding complications resulting from the current process for private parcel sales, which often leads to confusion and disappointment. During the subsequent discussion, it was agreed that private parcel sales should only be conducted with the assistance of an Estate Manager. The process concerning land purchases is addressed in the General Covenant, https://cdsdemocracy.org/cds-themes/ This is the appropriate place to make a note that private land sales may only be conducted with the assistance of an Estate Manager.
It was also suggested during the RA meeting that the general limitations on the maximum number of parcels which may be owned by one individual may be relaxed, given the continuing availability of a substantial number of parcels for sale throughout CDS. Certain zones within CDS shall retain ownership limitations as detailed in the covenants for those regions. The General Covenant addresses the issue of Maximum Land Ownership and is the appropriate place to make this policy adjustment.
During the review of the current covenant, it was also observed that under Tier Meter Expiration, clarifications are necessary for exactly when an owner's responsibility for monthly fees ends. This point has been expanded.
Lastly, several grammatical errors were corrected.
I offer the following proposed draft text for the relevant sections of the General Covenant. For simplicity and readability, I have moved the Maximum Ownership statement to the Purchasing Land and Paying Tier section, and separated the point concerning the Linden Lab Premium land allowance into its own item. The RA intends to vote on these proposed updates at the next scheduled meeting on 23 June.
General CDS Covenants
(These covenants apply to all CDS regions. You must read these general covenants AND the region specific covenants for the region you are purchasing in; see links at bottom of this page for those.)
Purchasing Land and Paying Tier:
Step 1: Buy the land through the About Land tab. Your first month’s tier is paid when you purchase the land (no cost for the land itself).
Step 2: An Estate Manager will set the tier box to your name, and include your first 30 days as ‘paid’. You pay the tier box at the end of your 30 days and keep it current in order to maintain your ownership and your citizenship.
**By purchasing a parcel you become a citizen of the CDS. We encourage you to get to know your fellow citizens, come to events and meetings, and read the constitution and laws on the CDS website.
a. Tier is paid to CDS and not to Linden Lab. You do not need a Premium account to become a citizen in CDS.
b. The Linden Lab Premium Account land allowance does not apply to and is not credited towards ownership of land within CDS.
c. Status as a citizen in this community is dependent upon making regular payment of the monthly fee for at least one parcel.
d. Land owners may directly sell their parcel to another individual only with the assistance of a CDS Estate Manager.
e. Some zones within individual CDS regions have specific parcel ownership restrictions.
Tier Meter Expiration
f. Your responsibility for monthly parcel fees continues until you mark the tierbox "Won't Renew", you abandon the property though About Land, you notify the Chancellor in writing of your intention to vacate, or you are evicted for non-payment
g. Your status as a citizen in this community is dependent upon making regular payment of the monthly fee for this land, which will be reclaimed by the community if you do not make this payment.
h. Your rights to sell the property are revoked once tier is in arrears.