Local entrepreneur pitches ‘Tiny Territory’ tiny-home community to county supervisors

Tara Kovven told the Washington County Board of Supervisors at its April 17 meeting that her project, "Tiny Territory," is a thoughtfully planned small-housing community intended to offer attainable, stable living while preserving open space and minimizing environmental impact. Kovven described personal experience with serious illness and financial instability as the motivation behind the project and said she wants to work collaboratively with towns such as Argyle, Salem, Fort Ann or Hartford on site selection and regulatory compliance.

Kovven asked the board and town officials to begin a conversation about zoning pathways and requested county support for studies and planning to identify appropriate land and infrastructure. She said the project's priorities include community fit, environmental sensitivity, and economic contribution; she emphasized transparency and working within local regulations.

No county action or vote was taken on the proposal at the meeting. Kovven asked county staff and local boards to continue discussions and to consider environmental baseline studies (air and water measurements) before major changes to waste- or land-use practices that might affect residents.

What happens next: Kovven said she would continue outreach to town officials and seeks meetings to explore zoning, regulatory pathways and potential pilot sites. County planning staff were not recorded as committing to a timeline during the meeting.