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Officials propose tougher rules to control running bamboo in Greenburgh
Summary
Deputy building inspector Liz Garrity and Aaron Schmidt, deputy commissioner of Community Development, presented amendments to clarify who is responsible for running bamboo and to provide enforcement tools including defined limiting distances, removal procedures and fines.
Liz Garrity, deputy building inspector for the Town of Greenburgh, told the board the town is proposing amendments to its running-bamboo rule to clarify ownership and strengthen enforcement.
Garrity said the existing code lacked key elements, including a clear statement of who owns bamboo that spreads off private property and a definition of how far plants may encroach on town right-of-way before the owner must act. "We've defined that further here," she said, describing a new "limiting distance" intended to prevent bamboo from invading town property and obstructing sight lines.
Aaron Schmidt, deputy commissioner of the Department of Community Development and Conservation, told the board the town has an active enforcement case that has dragged on more than a year and has consumed substantial staff time. "I've spent really countless hours, but I'd say at least 70 to 80 hours of my time handling this specific one instance of a violation," Schmidt said, noting repeated court appearances and coordination with the building-inspector and legal departments.
The draft amendments would allow the town to seek removal when bamboo encroaches on town property and to recoup removal costs through property tax liens if the town board approves. Garrity also described new language for how removed bamboo must be disposed of, and higher fines and violation notices modeled on building-safety enforcement.
Officials emphasized the technical difficulty of eradication: cutting stalks alone does not stop spread because running bamboo propagates via underground rhizomes. Schmidt said the proposed language requires removal of rhizomes and roots where necessary and leaves chemical controls limited to products approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The presenters urged private property owners abutting town rights of way to act proactively: excavation, rhizome barriers or other containment are often required to prevent re-growth. The board did not take a final vote; staff said a redlined amendment will be circulated for further review.
