BCO Coastal Gems: Tofino

Tofino is a magical place - a blend of old-school charm and new luxury; of hippies and yuppies, surfers and fishermen; of long-time residents and visiting tourists. Somehow it takes all the opposing factors and blends them into one captivating place.

With a permanent population of approximately 1800 and a transient population of many times that, Tofino offers all amenities and services one could need. It also offers a plethora of outdoor activities, from surfing and kayaking to whale watching and wilderness tours. There are also numerous spas, resorts and fine dining opportunities.

 

 

Although many people are drawn to Tofino initially for the Pacific Rim National Park that it neighbours, it soon becomes apparent that Tofino itself also has much to offer. Modern west coast architecture sits snug to older homes and ramshackle hostels, while a bustling waterfront shows the resource base of the town.

 

Whether one goes to surf, wander the beaches, or stay in one of the many resorts that dot the shoreline, Tofino quickly reveals a depth of character that enhances any stay.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Alternatives for Waste Disposal on Unconventional Properties

More than an Outhouse.

Even with indoor plumbing on a remote property, a conventional septic system may not be an option. While some people are content to turn to the convenience and tradition of an outhouse, not everyone wants the basic hole in the ground. There are many other options out there in the world of alternative systems and they are getting easier to find.

Many of the systems available still require pumping and disposal of the waste from a holding tank. These can be great options for those living on larger islands where pumping services are available (such as Quadra, Cortes or Gabriola), however that is not the case for many recreational and more remote properties.

There are three other waterless options that property owners can consider.
*Composting Toilets. These are toilets that use aerobic processing through composting. This is a controlled composting system that protects the surrounding environment. These are popular systems and readily available in many countries.
*Incinerating Toilets. As the name implies these toilets burn the waste. This can be done in a few ways depending on the system's design but generally the waste is reduced to an ash in a holding tank and then can be safely disposed of.
*Evaporating Toilets. These systems actually dry-out the waste and create a sterile, compact waste that can be safely disposed of in the trash system. There are both passive systems that require no outside electricity and systems that do require some energy input. Evaporating toilets are very low maintenance.

Living without a regular flush toilet does not automatically relegate one to an outhouse if that is not wanted. There are options out there and doing a little research will lead to suppliers and resources.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

BC Coastal Gems: Port McNeill

Port McNeill sits on the NE coast of Vancouver Island, and is the gateway service centre for the Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait. With a population of 2500, Port McNeill provides most services and amenities. It is also houses the headquarters for the Mt. Waddington Regional District as well as the ferry terminal for the Sointula (Malcolm Island) and Alert Bay (Cormorant Island) BC Ferries route.

Port McNeill from the air

Port McNeill is a pretty town and attracts a fair number of visitors every year, for fishing, wildlife viewing and boating excursions. It is only 26km north of Telegraph Cove, the world renowned whale watching centre.

Historically Port McNeill was a forestry hub, and to this day the largest employment source is forestry.  The town is home to the world’s largest burl.

bear on the side of the turn off to Port McNeill

From Campbell River it is about a two hour drive along Hwy 19. There is no cell service along the highway after Campbell River, although once in Port McNeill there is reception.

Wells - Water Issues

Dealing with properties outside of an urban centre brings up many questions. One of the big ones we ask/get asked is where does the water come from? The answer can vary from cistern collection, to a water licence on a local creek, to a well.

Wells generally come in two forms - dug wells and drilled wells. A dug well does not mean necessarily dug by hand, a bucket auger may be used for deeper wells. You will often hear Ed or Shelley reference these types of wells as shallow or deep dug wells, meaning of course the depth of the well. Drilled wells are just as they sound, drilled by a machine to reach water.

The level of the underground water aquifer, the type of ground material, and the cost of the project all help determine what type of well will be installed. In BC a well should be installed by a qualified well pump installer, and there are specific rules that should be followed during installation. These rules are set out in the Ground Water Protection Regulations of BC.

Well documentation is something that is very useful to have when it comes to selling a property - well logs, installation, etc - so keep good records if your property has a well!

Just another part of the BCO office workings.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Use of Water in BC

Remote properties do not generally tie in to a city water system and so one needs to think about how to collect and use water for domestic purposes. In BC water is often used for power as well, even on small properties. If there is a stream or other ground water source either on or near the property, then there is a possibility of using that water as a resource.

Having water available on your property does not automatically mean it can be used. All ground water use requires a license in the province of B.C. The application process is clear, and the Province will take a number of things into consideration when deciding to grant a license. One of the first things will be to see if anyone else has a license on that source. You can find this out yourself on line here.

Having a water license in place for power or domestic water use is a nice feature for a remote property, as it eases the concern over water resources. One can also apply for a short-term water use permit, for instance to use a local water source while one drills a well. This is a different application from the more permanent license.

The Province of BC has excellent information about this process at the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. That webpage can be found here.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Investigating Archeological Sites

Archeological sites are a hot topic in the news these days. They can be controversial, but they are an essential part of developing property these days on the coast of BC so it is important to know what needs to be done.

Some properties have already had assessments done and have marked archeological sites on them. Understanding the implications of these sites is important, as an owner, or potential owner, needs to know what can and can't be done with the property.

 You can first determine if there are any known sites on the property by contacting the provincial government through their Archaeology Branch. This is something that we at BC Oceanfront, a part of the Royal LePage Advance Realty team, do on most of our listings. We have found the Arch. Branch to be very easy to deal with, and the forms required are straight forward to fill out. We submit directly from online.

Round Island has known archeological sites.

If you wish to build on a property or make major alterations to a property, then an archeological assessment is generally required. Most municipalities and regional districts will require an assessment during the permitting process.

From the Archaeology Branch's FAQ document, these are two things they see as important to property owners: "The current use of the property is seldom affected unless the use involves significant land alteration. A house on a fully developed lot is not affected by overlapping with an archaeological site. An active gravel pit is a concern, because this current use will damage or destroy a site.
New development, such as changing the building footprint, major landscaping, or installation of an in ground swimming pool, will be a concern, because the new activity may damage the archaeological site. When planning for land use change, ensure that a professional consulting archaeologist is part of the planning process. They can determine if the new development will have an effect on the archaeological site.
In many cases, the archaeological site is not within the development zone. As an example, sites on waterfront properties are usually close to the water and are often contained within zoning setbacks set up to protect other environmental values."

Owning property on the BC Coast is a dream for many, and it is important to have all the information on hand when making those dreams reality.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

BCO Coastal Gems: Sonora Island

Sonora Island is one of the larger islands in the Discovery Islands Group, with a land mass of 30 square km and several mountain peaks. It is also one of the more northern of the island group.

Sonora is known for its world class resort, Sonora Island Resort, as well as some of its larger exclusive estates. There are also small land holdings here, typical of all the Discovery Islands.

The island is surrounded by rapids, including Hole in the Wall between Sonora and Maurelle Islands - a favourite with locals and tourist boat groups - and the Yaculta Rapids. They feature drops, whirlpools and fast water.

Access to Sonora Island is by boat or float plane as there is no ferry service. In the summer there is regular water taxi service from Campbell River.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!