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Smokers forced indoors at Ladner’s Lynden Court

A resident at Ladner’s Lynden Court townhouse complex says it’s crazy that people are being forced inside their units if they want to smoke.
Lynden Court
A resident at Lynden Court is taking issue with how Delta’s smoking bylaw is being enforced.

A resident at Ladner’s Lynden Court townhouse complex says it’s crazy that people are being forced inside their units if they want to smoke.

The resident, who contacted the Optimist but would not provide her name for fear of reprisal from others in the complex, is taking issue with the way a civic bylaw is being enforced.

She said residents received two notifications last month from Metro Vancouver, which manages the 48B Avenue family rental complex.

“The first one [notification] just banned smoking by your front door. It was prompted by complaints but I'm not sure by who,” she said.

“The neighbours I've spoken to are extremely upset because they don't want to smoke indoors around their children, and also ruin all their belongings with smoke. I'm concerned because my children often play with other neighbour children in their homes, and I don't want them to be exposed to that.”

She said she feels it’s ridiculous to rent a place with a backyard and be told you cannot smoke out there because other people might smell it.

“This bylaw is not intended for this purpose, it's for commercial facilities to protect the smoke from getting into vents and exposing others. Telling everyone to smoke inside is just wrong and insane,” she said.

Ulryke Weissgerber, Metro Vancouver’s manager of housing area operations, said Metro is just following City of Delta bylaws.

“Initially, I agreed with them [residents] and generally speaking when we have had issues about second-hand smoke both municipalities as well as residential tenancy has agreed that the balcony, courtyard or backyard is part of the residential premises that are rented and if the tenancy agreement speaks to the fact it is a no smoking property then there is some teeth in it and if not, my understanding has been people have the right to smoke,” said Weissgerber.

“Some of the people at Lynden Court are of this opinion, others are saying no, municipal bylaw says you cannot smoke in any outdoor area, so City of Delta bylaws have told us that their bylaw is very restrictive and residents can only smoke in their units. We have no alternative but to adhere to municipal bylaws.”

Delta council made amendments to the city’s smoking bylaw last August aimed at bringing it more in line with other municipalities. There’s now a minimum 7.5-metre distance a person who is smoking must be from a door, openable window, air intake of a building, transit stop, park, municipal land or public event.