Bristol Township Contemplates Restricting Bamboo Plant

Bristol Township officials during a council meeting Thursday mulled over the prospect of banning bamboo after several resident's complaints of the plant's virulent growth and destructive nature.

Bamboo, according to the American Bamboo Society, is a type of perennial evergreen native to Eastern Asia and is the world's largest member of the grass family.

The issue came about several months ago when Croydon resident Patti Nickels pleaded to the township to do something about the property damage inflicted on her property from her neighbor's bamboo plant. Township Solicitor Russ Sacco proceeded to look into finding any similar ordinances in neighboring township that would set precedent to either restrict or possibly ban the plant. He said he found none.

"I think (Bristol Township) may be the first township to try this," Sacco said.

Township council was reluctant to outright ban bamboo, citing the rights of homeowners to plant what they choose on their property.

"My intention isn't to ban bamboo, but to enforce a measure to control it's growth," Township President Rick Pluta said. "It's your right to plant whatever you want -- but you need to maintain that plant."

Despite the talk of its destructive nature, the United States Department of Agriculture does not recognize bamboo as an "invasive species."

According to the USDA's 2006 guideline clarifications, an invasive species is "an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health."

Nickels said bamboo should qualify for that label, referencing the pain she said she felt when her yard was invaded and destroyed by the plant.

"It'll just kill you," Nickels said.

Three years ago, she said her neighbor planted a patch of bamboo on his property. According to Nickels, the plant's roots quickly spread across the property line and began damaging her lawn. Three years later, Nickel's said her driveway needed to be completely ripped out, her inground pool was damaged, bushes needed to be cut down and her home siding was damaged. In all, Nickels claims to have received over $20,000 in property damages over the course of the three years.

"It just spread out all over," Nickels said.

Township is planning to use the yet-to-be-written ordinance to force resident's who plant bamboo to adhere to specific guidelines and procedures, like surrounding the plants roots with a barrier or cement or metal to prevent its hasteful growth.

"We need to help protect peoples property without invading their homes, but we also have to ensure we prevent their homes from being invaded as well," Township Vice President Linda Tarlini said.