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Residents and committee debate possible ban on running bamboo; containment exception proposed
Summary
A resident and arborist told the committee bamboo can damage structures and spread; the committee discussed drafting an ordinance that would ban invasive bamboo in ground plantings while allowing contained (potted) specimens. They agreed to explore model language from another town.
Rochelle Park officials discussed a potential ordinance to address invasive bamboo at the Dec. 10 township committee meeting after resident Michael Warren and staff outlined property and maintenance risks.
"I know it's a nuisance...if it's grown in the wild, it can grow fast, quickly, wildly, and, uh, perhaps cause some damage to fencing, etc.," Michael Warren told the committee, urging an ordinance while asking for an exception for bamboo grown in self-contained pots or planters.
Committee members noted examples from other municipalities and said they would seek language that allows contained plantings while prohibiting unrestricted ground growth. One member summarized a model from a neighboring town that exempts running bamboo whose root system is entirely contained above ground in a planter.
The committee did not introduce or adopt an ordinance that night but directed staff to investigate draft language and report back for a potential introduction in a future meeting.
