Smoking Outside: NC Bradfield Farms

Neighborhood bans smoking at pools
MICHELE WAYMAN
mwayman@charlotteobserver.com

July 6, 2006

Leaders in Bradfield Farms voted recently to ban smoking at both of its neighborhood pools, a topic that spurred debate on its online forum.

Now board members are considering a special meeting to let both sides have their say.

Board president Doug Morris said parents who bring their children to the pool asked neighborhood leaders to consider restricting smokers.

Board members considered creating a smoking area at each pool, but figured it would be too difficult to keep the smoke from wafting toward the nonsmokers. They also considered allowing smoking at one pool and banning it from the other, but ultimately decided on an all-or-nothing approach.

They figured they were making a decision to protect residents’ health, Morris said.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona’s report released June 27 calls second hand smoke a serious health hazard and urges people to avoid it.

Those against the ban note that the report doesn’t mention open air smoking, and that the danger is lessened outdoors. They also say that smoking is legal and their right, and they pay homeowners dues like their nonsmoking neighbors.

But others said secondhand smoke is still intrusive to people with allergies and children shouldn’t be exposed to it, indoors or out.

Morris is polling board members on whether to have a neighborhood meeting on the issue. The board could reconsider the decision or let it stand. If it stands, lifeguards and other pool staff would enforce it.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Does your neighborhood pool have a smoking policy? Should it? Post your opinion on the topic here, or e-mail mwayman@charlotteobserver.com. Some comments may be published in Sunday’s Neighbors of University City.