I have had some questions about the "one hectare rule", which was enacted sometime around 2010 at the insistence of the Province of BC. The rationale behind the rule was an increase in septic system failures in residential neighborhoods.  The problem is especially dangerous/expensive for properties located near lakes and other sources of drinking water.  We face a slightly different problem on the West Bench: silty and unstable soils.  Indeed, we just about lost a front end loader in a sinkhole while doing work in Mariposa Park.

 At bottom, the rule means that the minimum parcel sizes specified in the zoning bylaws are subject to "servicing requirements" (basically sewer and adequate water).  Lots without sewer require a septic system and the minimum parcel size for a conventional septic system is now 1 Ha (or about 2.5 acres).