Marenal is the Culmination of a Lifelong Mission
From WWII Survivor to Voluntarist Community Builder
Franz Xaver Meier was born in Munich, Bavaria in 1939, 6 months before World War II began. He experienced the destruction of war, as well as the hardships of the post-war reconstruction period. Those experiences shaped his rejection of aggression and his commitment to voluntary cooperation over coerced force.
He resisted the military draft, and left Germany when he received his induction papers to the "new" German Bundeswehr. That decision reflected principles he would study and acquire over the next five decades after his arrival in America in 1960.
The Hospitality Career
Franz spent 50 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry in Europe and the USA. He served as Vice President of Food and Beverage at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, where he worked since 1966 for Charles Fraser, one of America's first eco-community developers. In 1976 Franz moved to Charleston and, with his working partners, started several restaurant concepts that eventually employed over 300 people.
In 2010, the city of Charleston recognized Franz as one of 35 visionaries who shaped the city. His career demonstrated operational competence, long-term thinking, and the ability to build sustainable enterprises.
During his years in South Carolina, Franz also started a Commercial Real Estate company and owned a manufacturing plant producing advanced building panels for the telecom industry.
THE PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNEY
Please note: Franz wants to preface his philosophical journey that he was, and still is, only a self-educated businessman with a high school education, endowed with a dose of common sense and reason. He is not an academic nor an intellectual.
Beginning after his arrival in America, he studied political systems and economic theory. He read Ayn Rand and learned about Objectivism. He studied Ludwig von Mises and Austrian Economics. He absorbed Murray Rothbard's work on voluntary society and anarcho-capitalism. His beliefs were influenced among many others, by Bill Bonner, Doug Casey and Gary Barnett. In the late 1990s, after reading G. Edward Griffin's "The Creature from Jekyll Island," Franz concluded that the monetary system will eventually lead to the destruction of the Dollar and that a plan "B" became necessary.
Aiding him to better understand what is going on in our world today are Franz's Network Affiliations. He subscribes and reads....
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Mises Institute (Austrian economics research and education)
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Cato Institute (libertarian public policy research)
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Foundation for Economic Education (classical liberal education)
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Tom Woods and the Ron Paul educational networks (libertarian political education)
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The Atlas Society
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Students for Liberty
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The Reason Foundation
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The Humanist Society
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Tom Woods
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Jon Rappoport
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Gary Bennett
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Bill Bonner, and
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Doug Casey ‘The International Man’
If you have never heard of Rothbard, Mises, Hayek, Hoppe, or the Austrian school of economics, Marenal maintains an extensive library of many of their works. Our goal is to attract partners who are like-minded and who are willing to accept, learn and live by these principles.
Franz lives at Marenal full-time since 2024 . He oversees property operations daily and guides the community's development.
Our Operating Philosophy
Franz Meier's inspiration for this community concept goes all the way back to Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, and the third president of America. He read that Jefferson's ideal political order, although committed to States' rights, called for an even greater decentralization, in which small sections of the country would be self-governing wards, who would make virtually all of its political decisions without outside interference. His goal was a system in which no entity of a higher order would infringe on the just prerogatives of one of a lower order.
If the world were organized thusly, the chances of military conflicts and wasteful spending would be minimized and peace and free trade would have a better chance.
Franz believes that a return to small, like-minded communities that unite in self-rule, political neutrality, and in the right to defend their families and properties against harm and illegal takings by individuals or societies, can be the basis of peaceful co-existance.
This is why he adopted Voluntaryism and Sociocracy as the core principals for
Marenal. Here is a brief overview.
VOLUNTARIYSM
Voluntaryism holds that all human interactions must be based on voluntary consent, not on coercion, force, or aggression. This is not just a preference. This is a foundational principle.
At Marenal, Voluntaryism means:
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No one forces you to participate in community activities
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No one imposes rules you did not consent to
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No one takes your property or dictates how to act without your agreement
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All your relationships and obligations are voluntary
SOCIOCRACY
Sociocracy is a governance system based on consent, not majority vote. Consent is not consensus. Consensus means everyone agrees. Consent means no one has a principled objection that would prevent a decision from moving forward.
A principled objection is not "I don't like this" or "I prefer something else." A principled objection is "This decision would harm the community or me in this measurable way, and here's why."
Consent involves everyone. It works from the ground up, not from the top down.
How consent-based Governance Works:
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Proposal: Someone proposes a new solution to a perceived problem.
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Discussion: MPA members discuss and raise their concerns.
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Consent round: Each member is asked if they have a principled objection to the proposal.
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Outcome: If no objections are voiced, the decision proceeds. If someone obStylejecStylets, the proposal is explained again, modified, or withdrawn. If no consent can be reached after discussion and modifications, the proposal does not move forward. The status quo remains.
No voting. No forcing decisions over objections. This protects minority positions from the tyranny of simple majority rule.
SUCCESSION
Franz is 87 years young and his succession is planned when he is retiring.
His son Xavier will oversee operations and finances. His daughter will advise on health, exercise, and nutrition. Ariana will continue to operate GLP with her loyal staff. They will ensure that the MPA concept continues.
The MPA structure is independent of Franz's involvement and all contracts will be unaffected by his status. The legal framework is designed to outlast Franz.
Marenal is self-governing and will continue to grow and mature through its owners!
Succession Protection
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Property management team continues operations
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MPA governance structure remains intact
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All purchase agreements and contracts honored
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Legal framework persists independent of Franz
WHAT IS THE MARENAL PARTNER ASSOCIATION (MPA)
The Marenal Partner Association is registered as a limited liability company (SRL) under Costa Rican law. When 11 shares are distributed, it will be activated and managed as a Sociocracy. This is not a homeowners' association with a Board of Directors and majority voting. This is a member-owned company controlled by cuota holders and managed by a General Council (GC) and its Sub Circles (SC) through sociocratic consent-based decision making.
Structure when the Phase One cuotas are distributed:
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4 existing cuotas (Franz, his son and daughter, and Ariana Ugalde)
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7 Founding Partner cuotas: 1 per founding partner
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11 total quotas = 11 Founders of MPA
WHAT THE MPA CONTROLS
The MPA operates through informed recommendations of its member partners. No change moves forward as long as a partner has a principled objection that cannot be resolved. This protects minority positions and ensures thoughtful decisions.
After its formation, the MPA General Council and its Sub Circles can modify all existing Guidelines, Rules and Regulations, and legal documents. They can create relationships with organizations, agencies, and government departments, as advisable. MPA uses GLP S.A. for the daily operation of Marenal. GLP is presently owned by Franz and managed by Ariana, who is also a cuota holder. This relationship protects the interests of all partners, because both parties have common security and development interests including:
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Property and road maintenance
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Security and gate management
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Utility and infrastructure development
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Pool and social center operations
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Farm operations and agricultural land use
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New lot development timing
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Community property development
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Commercial property use and disposition
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Budgeting and monthly fees
We have elected to be a "Comunidad Agricola" (Agricultural Community) because it is the best suited format for our Sociocracy and Voluntaryist concept.
An agricultural community is simpler and easier to manage than other common forms of ownership, such as condominiums, cooperatives, or community associations.
A Comunidad Agricola can be a Sociedad Limitada (S.R.L.) and does not have to be (although it could be) a Sociedad Anonima. The Limitada has cuotas instead of shares and can be operated by a sociocratic general council, whereas a Sociedad Anonima has shares and a board of directors.
A Comunidad Agricola operated as a Sociedad Limitada is limited to 50 members, and all properties must be at least 5,000 sqm, and the dwelling size on each lot is limited to 350 sqm, approximately 3,850 sqf.
Our Marenal Partner Association will be the legal entity who eventually will own all Common and Commercial properties that are not leased by Franz to GLP S.A.
Since Phase One lots all have access to Road 143, a public national road, different rules apply and the lots can be smaller in size, meaning that all of the lots can be maintained by their owners , or by GLP at owner's choice.
Our interior off-grid properties in Phase 2 are not fronting a public road and lots must therefore have a minimum of 5,000 sqm according to Costa Rica law. All lots will have delineated building sites. The building platforms are where homes and gardens can be built. They should be maintained by the owners, or they can be maintained by GLP at owner's expense. The rest of the Lot will be administered and its use determined by MPA.
However, one may say "but I bought a Lot of approximately five thousand square meters, why can I not use all of it myself"?
Here are some of the reasons:
In order to function properly as a "Comunidad Agricola", a "Sociedad Limitada S.R.L. is the preferred structure.
A Partner needs to accept only that he is purchasing a building pad, as he would in a condominium, and that the rest of his land becomes land that is taken care of by the community. He still remains the legal owner and can sell his property at any time.
Since he will be a part of the organization that manages and administers all properties and is an equal owner of the common and commercial properties, it should be easy to understand the advantages of this approach.
We are convinced that the General Council Partners will put all properties to their best use, based on location and terrain. It does fit well with our co-housing community concept.
The Team
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Franz Xaver Meier: Founder, 87, lives on-site full-time, oversees all operations.
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Ariana Ugalde: General Manager of GLP S.A., the property management company for Marenal. She has been with Fanz in that capacity for more than 15 years. She also handles administration and vendor coordination.
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Marlon Muñoz: Operations Manager of GLP. He is a native of Tronadora on Lake Arenal. His responsibilities are property maintenance, farm activities, machinery and equipment maintenance, and construction coordination.
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Manuel Talavera: Construction Manager, owner of Constructora y Remodelaciones Talavera Orozco S.A., is our in-house construction company. He is qualified for any projects in Marenal.
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Kenneth Artavia Mora: Architect (CFIA A-37226), Costa Rican licensed architect with sustainable design expertise. He is a native of the Arenal region, and is familiar with our climatic conditions and the best building systems.
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Diane Greenleaf: Physical Therapist and Health Advisor. A native of Trinidad/Tobago and a long time resident on Lake Arenal. She is experienced in many fields, including construction administration and accounting. Dianne can provide many valuable services to our partners.
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Helen Rodas: Assistant to Franz and Partner Relation Manager. Helen speaks English and Italian and has extensive experience in customer relations, travel bookings and human resources. She has artistic talents, studied graphic design and paints in her free time.
Our Off-Site Support
Legal: Mural Legal - Gonzalo and Sharon Murillo Álvarez, Abogados y Notarios
Accounting: Despacho Gómez y Asociados, Giovanni Gómez
Insurance: INS - Dianey Murillo Gutierrez
Banking: Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, Sucursal Nuevo Arenal