NEWTON — A resident in Newton's Panorama Ridge area says big parties in the neighbourhood are driving locals crazy.
But they're not the kind of parties you might imagine.
"There are two houses on the ridge that are used as banquet halls," said Bob Campbell, a member of West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association.
"No one lives in these homes," he added.
As far as he can tell, large homes have been purchased for the sole purpose of renting them as South Asian wedding banquet halls, parties that often run for a whole week.
"This usually includes the erection of multiple large tents, loud music, parties attended by hundreds of well-wishers, streets so clogged with cars that only a single lane can barely pass, fireworks, multiple processions of limousines and honking cars - and all of this happens for three to seven nights in a row and often until quite late at night. All in a single-family residential neighbourhood," Campbell said.
In some cases, he said so many cars pack the neighbourhood's streets that he doubts emergency vehicles could get through.
He said the problem began about three years ago and estimates about 10 celebrations have gone on thus far.
At one such event in May, Campbell said he approached a member of the wedding party, who indicated they were from Calgary and had rented the home for five nights for $5,000 and said the owner assured them that all the neighbours were OK with holding parties at the house.
"The individual was horrified to learn that this was all illegal and the neighbours were not OK with these parties," Campbell said.
"It is amazing that someone can purchase a house in a single-family residential neighbourhood and then use it to operate a commercial banquet hall, a clearly commercial activity - an activity totally incompatible with a residential area - and get away with it."
Campbell said he brought the matter to the attention of the city more than a year ago and is frustrated that the problem persists.
"Everyone indicated that they were astounded that this activity was taking place," he said of a meeting with city officials.
Campbell says as far as he can tell, the city has "completely dropped the ball."
Jas Rehal, Surrey's bylaws manager, said the city has been aware of the issue for more than six months and that it's a complicated matter.
The activity, if confirmed, is most certainly illegal, Rehal said.
"Businesses are not permitted to be run in residential neighbourhoods unless it's a home-based business," he said.
"The issue of stopping it, that's where it gets a bit complex. If we're trying to investigate something like this we need proof that it's actually being rented. A lot of the time it's very difficult to determine if there's a contractual agreement."
He said the city is often told the homes are being loaned to family, which is legal.
"It's very hard to take the next step and determine that it's not," he said. "We have to prove it's a business."
The bylaws department currently has four active cases open, two of which are located in the Panorama area.
Rehal encourages residents to call bylaws (604-591-4370) to report the activity; as well he said the RCMP's non-emergency line (604-599-0502) can be used to report nuisance activity as well.
"Calling us is important because the more calls we get, it helps," he said.