Richmond’s current farmland survey says, “The Ministry of Agriculture’s guidelines suggest a maximum house size of [a stated floor area].” It’s as though one size fits all parts of the province. Not so.
In reality, the ministry’s Guide for Bylaw Development in Farming Areas suggests limiting new houses on local ALR land to a “floor area commensurate with urban areas.” With that guideline, the maximum ALR house size can vary to suit each BC municipality.
Our city staff calculated the size limit for new ALR houses in Richmond at about 300 m2. (They said 303 m2, but let’s round it.) They informed council in their report of April 19, 2017.
The point of the guideline is to stop making the local ALR land more attractive than the local urban neighbourhoods for building urban homes. With the 300 m2 limit, we’d succeed. The callous loss of farmland could end.
We would, I hope, still let farm families build beyond the basic limit to meet verified farm needs. Richmond’s bylaw to streamline that process could be tweaked to enable up to 500 m2 of farmhouse for those exceptions.
In these ways, we can save our soil for our farmers to farm.
_____________
Notes:
Before doing the survey, it’s helpful to read and print this colourful Survey Guide or this black version.
Let’s Talk Richmond calls it Farmland Housing Regulations 2018. The survey page also includes info about open houses on Feb 7, 8 and 15.
Ministry of Agriculture Guide for Bylaw Development in Farming Areas, 2.4.6.5.3, page 19: “The maximum floor-area—farm residence(s) is the lesser of floor area commensurate with urban areas or . . . 500 m2. . . .”
Also read the “SOS” article on this blog.
Natural legacies versus waste 
Thanks Jim for including a helpful and informative guide to city survey.
300 square meters sounds about right. The mega mansions are what is hurting the farmland…..making it desirable for the real estate speculators than for farming. Bravo, this would be a long overdue move.