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East Vincent adopts ordinance to address invasive bamboo and noxious weeds; EAC review to follow
Summary
The board adopted Ordinance 24-253 to give code enforcement new authority to compel removal or containment of invasive bamboo and extreme weed neglect; the measure includes exemptions for meadows, farm operations and regulated wetlands and will be routed to the Environmental Advisory Council for recommended refinements.
The East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 7 to adopt Ordinance 24-253, a new code provision targeting invasive bamboo and severe weeds on properties the township says are unmaintained and a nuisance.
The ordinance gives staff a legal pathway to notify property owners and, if necessary, require removal or containment of plantings judged to be invasive or negligently maintained. It also sets out exceptions for cultivated gardens, established meadow plantings, active farmland, wetlands, and other environmentally sensitive areas.
"We have tried other options and we just don't have the enforcement tools," the township manager said in a presentation to the board, describing repeated resident complaints about bamboo stands and properties with unchecked growth.
Supporters — including residents who described bamboo runners reaching 30–35 feet onto neighboring property — said the new law addresses an urgent local problem. "It's become a real burden to me," said Mark R., a resident who presented photos of bamboo encroaching on his lot, and asked the board for remedies. The board directed staff to send initial notice letters to affected neighbors and to create a baseline inventory to distinguish preexisting stands from new plantings.
Board members and residents raised concerns about overreach and protecting desirable, wildlife‑friendly landscapes. Several speakers asked that meadow plantings and native landscaping not be treated as violations. The adopted ordinance explicitly lists exceptions for woodlands, ornamental grasses used for landscaping, flower and vegetable gardens, established prairies or meadows, steep slopes, and areas within identified stormwater or conservation plans.
Chair members asked that the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) review the ordinance language and return recommendations to the board; the EAC has been asked to deliver comments promptly. The solicitor and staff agreed to attend the EAC meeting to advise on legal form.
The board also approved staff direction to consult the township arborist in making property‑by‑property determinations (for example, whether planting is newly introduced and therefore subject to removal). The ordinance is effective as adopted but the township said it will emphasize notification and education before pursuing fines or enforcement actions.
Next steps: staff will circulate the ordinance text to EAC for suggested edits, prepare public notices and a baseline survey of known bamboo locations, and distribute guidance on compliant containment measures such as root barriers and removal options.
