Full buildout brings the community to its planned density and completes the ecological infrastructure (food forest reaching maturity, constructed wetlands fully established, perennial landscape reaching productive potential). At full buildout, the community governance and economic systems should be fully resident-controlled, with the development team’s role having transitioned from builder to technical resource.

Phase Three and beyond also involves refinement: adjusting systems that aren’t performing as designed, adding infrastructure that Phase One and Two residents identified as needed, and beginning the long-term succession of founding members and leadership. Communities that plan for this succession — including formal processes for membership transition and leadership development — are significantly more resilient than those that depend on a charismatic founding generation.